Assessment on Breeding Value of Six Yuetang Parents of Sugarcane and Their Cross Combinations

Abstract:

In order to understand the genetic characteristics and effects of combination selection of Yuetang parents of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum), the genetic effects, economic breeding values of 6 main traits of F₁ population from 55 combinations were estimated by using family test method, which families were combined from 6 Yuetang parents, such as ‘YT00-236’, ‘YT03-373’, ‘YT93-159’, ‘YT94-128’, ‘YT99-66’, and ‘YT08-1966’. The results showed that among six parameters, the stalk diameter was controlled primarily by female and male additive genes effects and non-additive genes effects. The plant height, brix, sugar content and cane yield were mainly controlled by male additive genes effects and non-additive genes effects. The tiller number was controlled just by male additive genes effects. The general combining ability (GCA) of cane yield and economy breeding value (EBV) in ‘YT94-128’ as female were the highest among six varieties, which could be used as high-yield female, while ‘YT93-159’ possessed the highest GCA of sugar content and relatively high EBV as male, which could be used as high-sugar male. Among the 55 combinations, the cross combinations ‘YT94-128’בGuitang02-761’, ‘YT00-236’בGuitang94-119’ and ‘Guitang02-467’בYT93-159’ had better special combining ability and EBV than the others, which could be considered as the most important productive families. Therefore, these would provide helpful information for using Yuetang parents in cross combination.