SELECTION INDEXES FOR SUGARCANE IMPROVEMENT AT 3 STAGES OF SELECTION

Selection indices at different stages of selection were estimated for a biparental mating population of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.). At the seedling stage indices constructed from primary characters are better than selection for yield alone. At the clonal stage the superiority of index selection over direct selection was marginal. In the seedling stage, selection based on index can lead to better selection efficiency in succeeding clonal stages. This was confirmed by a sample study.