Rapid Assessment of Rind Hardness in Sugarcane and Its Association with Biochemical Traits

Rind hardness in sugarcane plays a major role in lodging resistance, and internode borer resistance,screening of sugarcane for rind hardness is essential for reducing yield loss. In order to identify the suitability of soil penetrometer for rapid rind hardness measurement, the rind hardness testing was carried out in two sugarcane clones of different rind hardness variability viz., Co 13003 (hard rind type) and Co 14002 (soft rind type). The investigation was carried out by three methods viz., pendulum type impact test rig, texture analyzer,and soil penetrometer and theresults revealed that thehard rind type Co 13003 sugarcane clone was observed with significantly greater hardness. Significant correlation between the three methods for the rind hardness trait and among the three methods the soil penetrometer method of determination of rind hardness is easy and rapid. Two-way hierarchical cluster analysis of studied biochemical traits has revealed a better classification of hard-rinded and soft-rind sugarcane clones. The Co 13003 was recorded as least susceptible to borers with high rind hardness (>200 psi), along with better fibre. The NG 77 a hard rind type clone was also observed with high lignin compared to soft rind Gungera.