VISUAL SELECTION FOR BRIX YIELD AT SINGLE CLUMP (RATOON OF SEEDLING) STAGE IN SUGARCANE (SACCHARUM INTERSPECIFIC HYBRIDS)

Abstract

Three visual selection mefhods, viz. superior, random and poorwere carried outin a ratoon crop of seedlings of three open (general) crosses of sugarcane. The selection methods were compared by evaluating the clones in the settling nursery under normal and restricted itrigation for brix yield. and U, component traits. Superior selection was foufld advantageous for increasing me;tn brix yield and also for identifying promising clones as compared to poor and random selection methods. The results suggested that the large population of a crosS can be reduced by lejectiilg poor ratooned clumps on the basis of visual assessment as ratoonability is animportarU commercial trait in sugarcaIle,