Abstract Preview:
Smallholders cultivated sugarcane for household consumption, immediate cash, and feedinglivestock in Ethiopia. However, its production and productivity are constrained by a lack ofimproved varieties. Sugarcane germplasm was collected from Districts of West Gojjam,Ethiopia, to evaluate yield and its contributing characters and quantify the phenotypic diversityat Mankusa, Jabitehnan, Ethiopia. The experiment was conducted using a randomised completeblock design with three replications for two crop cycles, from April 2020 to March 2023. Datawere recorded for the number of tillers, internode length, sellable stalks, plant height, stalkdiameter, cane yield and biomass yield from twelve genotypes collected. The data recorded weresubjected to analysis of variance, and means were separated using the Duncan Multiple RangeTest at a 5% significance level. Variance and multivariate analysis indicated the existence ofhigh phenotypic diversity between genotypes in all quantitative traits studied. Acc 7/20 and Acc5/20 genotypes produced the highest number of tillers and longest internodes, while Acc 6/20produced the highest number of sellable stalks. The genotype Acc 4/20 was the longest, and thethickest genotype, which could be elite donors for it respected quality traits through crossing.The highest cane yield was recorded from Acc 4/20 (178.04 t/ha), Acc 7/20 (151.41 t/ha), Acc8/20 (134.1 t/ha) and Acc 12/20 (132 t/ha), producing 58, 34, 19 and 17% advantageous fromthe overall genotypes mean, respectively. Cluster analysis grouped the twelve sugarcanegenotypes into four clusters, indicating the possibility of broadening the genetic basis bycrossing genotypes in the different clusters. It also indicated that a cross between cluster II andIII genotypes could create the thickest canes with many sellable stalks. Therefore, genotypes Acc04/20, Acc 07/20, Acc 8/20 and Acc 12/20 have been recommended and must be evaluated in other sugarcane growing areas to exploit their potential.Keywords: Cluster Analysis, PCA, Sugarcane, Variability, Yield
Full Abstract:
Smallholders cultivated sugarcane for household consumption, immediate cash, and feedinglivestock in Ethiopia. However, its production and productivity are constrained by a lack ofimproved varieties. Sugarcane germplasm was collected from Districts of West Gojjam,Ethiopia, to evaluate yield and its contributing characters and quantify the phenotypic diversityat Mankusa, Jabitehnan, Ethiopia. The experiment was conducted using a randomised completeblock design with three replications for two crop cycles, from April 2020 to March 2023. Datawere recorded for the number of tillers, internode length, sellable stalks, plant height, stalkdiameter, cane yield and biomass yield from twelve genotypes collected. The data recorded weresubjected to analysis of variance, and means were separated using the Duncan Multiple RangeTest at a 5% significance level. Variance and multivariate analysis indicated the existence ofhigh phenotypic diversity between genotypes in all quantitative traits studied. Acc 7/20 and Acc5/20 genotypes produced the highest number of tillers and longest internodes, while Acc 6/20produced the highest number of sellable stalks. The genotype Acc 4/20 was the longest, and thethickest genotype, which could be elite donors for it respected quality traits through crossing.The highest cane yield was recorded from Acc 4/20 (178.04 t/ha), Acc 7/20 (151.41 t/ha), Acc8/20 (134.1 t/ha) and Acc 12/20 (132 t/ha), producing 58, 34, 19 and 17% advantageous fromthe overall genotypes mean, respectively. Cluster analysis grouped the twelve sugarcanegenotypes into four clusters, indicating the possibility of broadening the genetic basis bycrossing genotypes in the different clusters. It also indicated that a cross between cluster II andIII genotypes could create the thickest canes with many sellable stalks. Therefore, genotypes Acc04/20, Acc 07/20, Acc 8/20 and Acc 12/20 have been recommended and must be evaluated in other sugarcane growing areas to exploit their potential.Keywords: Cluster Analysis, PCA, Sugarcane, Variability, Yield
