Vol. 10, Issue 11 (2021)

There was a significant and positive correlation among biochemical characters, CCS% exhibited significant and positive correlation with Sucrose %, Pol % , Brix %, Purity % , fibre % on the other hand it showed negative and significant correlation at (P = 0.05) for juice % (-0.250*). Correlation studies indicate that germination % at 45 DAS, number of tillers at 120 DAS and node length are the most important characters for sugarcane yield t/ha. It also revealed that cane height, number of shoots at 240 DAS, single cane weight and germination % at 30 DAS had directly affected cane yield t/ha. However, for biochemical characters, Juice %, Brix %, Pol %, Sucrose %, Purity % and Fibre % was positively and significant correlated at (P=0.01) to CCS %. Path coefficient analysis in the case of agronomic characters revealed that the CCS t/ha, germination % at 30 DAS and number of millable cane at harvest, cane height, number of tillers at 120 DAS were the important characters. It also showed highest indirect effect by node length, germination % at 45 DAS, cane diameter and single cane weight on sugarcane yield. In bio-chemical characters highest direct effect on CCS% was from sucrose percent followed by Pol percent, purity and fibre percent. Therefore, selection for higher yield in sugarcane can be on the basis of these positively correlated traits with higher direct effect. Those characters which are showing little direct effects but significantly correlated with yield should be selected via other positive significant traits showing higher indirect effect. In nutshell correlation and path coefficient analysis in present study suggests that clones or varieties with high germination %, number of tillers, node length, cane height and other agronomic characters should be used in hybridization programme.