Relative effects of parents on some economic characters in sugarcane

Studies on the relative effects of parents on some economic characters in sugarcane have given indications of maternal influence in the progeny performance in certain crosses with regard to millable canes at harvest, height of stalks and brix per cent in juice, irrespective of the fact that pollen parent effect was positive or negative. As judged from a study of the progeny of the direct crosses and reciprocals among the varieties studied, particularly use of Co. 678 as a pistil parent in the breeding programme for improving the mean height of the progeny and Co. 527 as a pistil parent for increasing number of millable canes at harvest and brix per cent in juice is clearly indicated. These indications should also prove useful for application in adopting the polycross method of breeding as well.