GENETIC DIVERSITY ASSESSMENT IN SUGARCANE USING PRINCIPAL COMPONENT ANALYSIS (PCA)

Abstract

Ten accessions of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.)  viz. CP-77-400, CP-72-2086, BF-129, CPF-234, SPF-213, HSF-242, HSF-240, Col.72, Triton and No. 46  were evaluated for twelve characters and genetic diversity investigations were done using Principal component analysis (PCA). The experiment was conducted in triplicated randomized complete block design (RCBD). Analysis of variance portrayed highly significant differences among the accessions for all the traits. In PCA number of millable canes, number of stools per plant and internodal distance contributed positively towards genetic diversity while all other traits had negative contribution, in first two PCs i.e. PC1 and PC2. Most of the varieties showed greater extent of genetic diversity contributed by morphological traits. The cluster having high mean values for yield could be selected for yield per se as well. These results are applicable to parents studied in that particular environment. These parents can be used to produce high cane yielding and better sugar producing varieties of sugarcane.