Disclosure of productive and stable sugarcane genotypes for cane yield and quality traits using various stability statistics

Abstract Sugarcane an important agro-industrial crop, is cultivated under varied environmental regimes of the world. Development of stable performer better yielding varieties across multi environments is major concern to the breeders. The present study was planned to identify most stable sugarcane genotypes combining better cane yield and juice quality among the 52 genotypes developed over the years. Different stability statistics viz., AMMI, GGE and various others were executed on the experimental data recorded during six crop seasons (2015-16 to 2019-20) under subtropical India. The ranking of stable genotypes differed with different stability models. To draw a common consensus of stability, cumulative tend (CT) rank was calculated for each genotype based on the nine stability coefficients of different stability models. Combining cane yield and sucrose% Co 15023 (G48), Co 0238 (G8), Co 06037 (G21), Co 0331 (G12), G 0118 (G4) and Co 06034 (G18) were identified stable performer genotypes. Among them Co 0118, Co 0238, Co 06034 and Co 15023 are already gazette notified for commercial cultivation under NWZ of India. Cultivation of these varieties will sustain the sugarcane and sugar production in India and serves as valuable genetic resources for breeding programme utilizing them as one of the parent in developing cultivars for future sustainable global sugar production.