Hierarchical cluster analysis of sugarcane germplasm based upon response to flowering stages

Abstract

Two experiments were conducted at El-Sabahia Research Station (31^o 12ʹ 54″ N 29^o 58 ʹ 23″ E), Alexandria, Egypt, during 2018/2019/2020 season (plant cane crop) and 2020/2021 season (first ratoon crop) to investigate the flowering performance of sugarcane germplasm to facilitate crossing between synchronized germplasm at full flowering time. Eighty-seven sugarcane germplasm from various origins were used in this study. In the middle of August, 2018 three–budded/cuttings of each genotype were planted. The experimental design used was randomized complete blocks with two replications. After flowering season, all plots of 2018 plant-cane were cut on March, 2020 and allowed to grow the ratoon on March, 2021. The eighty- seven sugar cane germplasm under study were categorized into four groups. The first group included thirty-one sugarcane genotypes that flowered in both two seasons were grouped into four clusters. The second group consisted of twenty-seven genotypes that flowered only in plant cane’s season were clustered into five clusters. The third group included six genotypes that flowered only in first ratoon season and they were 86E409, EH77/31-56, EH85/3-35, Mex 58-1866, CI 47-83 and G 2008-52. The fourth group included twenty-three genotypes that did not show any flowering response neither in plant cane nor first ratoon.