Correlation and path coefficient analysis in sugarcane

Correlation and path coefficient analysis was undertaken among agronomic and bio-chemical characters of importance in sugarcane. Correlation between agronomic characters revealed positive and significant ( P = 0.01) correlation between plant volume and number of millable stalks (0.874), plant volume and weight per stalk (0.812), plant volume and weight of millable stalks (0.962), plant volume and stalk thickness (0.842), number of millable stalks and weight of millable stalks (0.889) and other agronomic characters. There was a non-significant but positive correlation between number of millable stalks refractrometer brix (0.05), number of millable stalks and stalk height (0.285) and other characters. In case of bio-chemical characters, positive and significant ( P = 0.01) correlation was recorded between Pure Obtainable Cane Sugar (POCS) and pol (0.901), POCS and purity (0.763) and pol and purity (0.780). Negative but non-significant correlation was observed between POCS and fibre. Correlation studies indicate that for sugarcane yield plant volume, plant height, number of millable stalks per stool, stalk thickness and weight of millable stalks are the most important characters. However, for biochemical characters POCS, pol and purity are the most important characters. Path coefficient analysis in the case of agronomic characters showed revealed that the weight of millable stalks was the most important character with the highest direct effect on sugarcane yield followed by stalk height, number of millable stalks and stalk thickness among agronomic traits. In bio-chemical characters highest direct effect was on percent POCS followed by percent purity and percent fibre. In nutshell correlation and path coefficient analysis in present study suggests that clones or varieties with high plant volume, plant height, and other agronomic characters should be used in hybridization programme.