Ratooning traits in sugarcane progenies of ROC varieties as female parents: Ratooning traits in sugarcane progenies of ROC varieties as female parents

Thirty-one cross combinations consisted of thirteen ROC varieties including ROC1,ROC6,ROC8,ROC9,ROC10,ROC11,ROC20,ROC22,ROC23,ROC24,ROC25,ROC26 and ROC28 as female parents were made,and methods of family evaluation and ratooning ability(RA)were combined together for evaluating the ratooning traits of progeny populations under natural drought conditions.The results showed that the progenies were more significantly affected by ratoon crop than plant crop.Moreover,heritability of ratoon crop in cane yield,sugar yield and stalks were higher than that in plant crop,availing to breeding the strong ratoon offspring.Among the thirteen ROC female parents,the general combining ability(GCA)of main traits from ROC25,ROC11 and ROC24 were all higher in plant crop and ratoon crop.Furthermore,values of gca in cane yield,sugar yield and brix of ratoon crop were higher than that of plant crop.Thus these ROC parents could be excellent female parents with drought resistance and strong ratooning traits.The special combining ability(SCA)of main traits in plant crop and ratoon crop of ROC25×Dezhe 93-88 were higher than that of other cross and the ratooning ability of sugar yield and cane yield were 13.7% and 20.4% higher than those in ROC22 respectively.These ROC25×Dezhe 93-88 could be excellent cross for breeding the new varieties which could combat drought and have strong ratoon sugarcane.