EXPLORATION OF SOMACLONAL VARIATIONS IN ELITE THREE SUGARCANE GENOTYPES

Abstract

Sugarcane is commercially important and major cash crop of Pakistan. According to the increasing
demand of sugarcane somaclonal variation play vital role to overcome problems for sugarcane breeding. The aim
of this study to evaluate genetic variation developed through soma clones and for this purpose three sugarcane
genotypes were optimized under in- vitro conditions. In parents all parameters except treatment X concentration
and concentration X variety was non-significant for height of cane, number of tillers and width of internodes. In
soma clones treatment X concentration was non-significant for number of tillers, internode and width of
internodes. As compare this effect of growth hormones and varieties X concentration at width of internodes was
again non-significant at p < (0.05) vice versa. According to mean comparison at p < (0.05) LSD revealed all the
auxins used positively stimulated number of tillers, height of cane, number of internodes and width of internodes.
Somaclonal variation is good source of creating genetic variability in the genotypes of sugarcane and developing
new varieties. Maximum genetic improvement was induced in NIA-2012. Minimum genetic improvement was
induced in Gulabi- 95. Application of 2, 4-D and picloram were efficient for achieving higher, phenotypical
trait, cytological and economic traits of sugarcane soma clones.