CHARACTER ASSOCIATION AND PATH ANALYSIS OF THE PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES UNDER MOISTURE STRESS IN SUGARCANE VARIETIES

Abstract

Fifty two commercial varieties of sugarcane (Saccharum sp.) were evaluated based on the morpho-physiological responses to moisture stress. All the varieties were planted in pots under green house conditions and two replications were subjected to moisture stress by withholding irrigation after two months of growth. The appearance of the wilting symptoms of each variety under stress condition were recorded and analysis of moisture stress related physiological traits such as proline, electrical conductivity (EC), relative water content (RWC) and chlorophyll content were done 8 days after stress induction under stress and unstressed conditions. RWC (stress), chlorophyll content (stress) and EC (unstressed) showed positive correlation and total contribution effect on moisture stress tolerance which measured in terms of the days taken for appearance of wilting symptoms. Therefore, improvement in moisture stress tolerance in sugarcane could be achieved by selecting breeding materials with high EC (unstressed), RWC (stress) and chlorophyll content (stress).