Abstract

Sugarcane variety development programmes primarily envisage breeding of varieties with high cane yields and high sugar content in specific environmental conditions. Key components associated with sugar yields are tonnes of cane per hectare and sucrose content. A study was undertaken to evaluate 22 introduced sugarcane genotypes with three checks (KEN 83-737, EAK73-335 and D8484) for sucrose content in western Kenya. The experiment was planted in a Latin square design with three replications at three sites namely Sugar Research Institute Kibos, South Nyanza Sugar Company and Mumias Sugar Company. Data was recorded on refractive brix, stalk thickness, fresh cane yield, sucrose content, fibre content, juice purity and sugar yield. Significant differences at (p<0.05) were observed among genotypes for, sugar yields, brix percent cane,  pol percent cane, fibre percent cane and juice purity. The effects of locations on quality were significant in all the traits tested (p<0.05). Effects of G×L were not significant for all the quality traits with exception of brix% cane. Significant positive correlations were detected between sucrose content, juice purity and fiber percent cane.7 Genotypes exhibited superiority to check cultivars in quality traits and their genetic potential can be exploited for high sugar production.

Key words: Checks, correlations, genotype, location, sugarcane, quality traits.