Inadequate rainfall in the sugarcane-growing regions is a major constraint. This study evaluated 33 diverse sugarcane (Saccharum spp. complex) genotypes for drought tolerance to address this issue. Significant (< 0.05) variances across environments (normal, mild water stress, and rainfed) due to genotypes and environments along with higher heritability (> 60%) and genetic advance (> 20%) for CCS (t ha-1) and related traits justified strong potential for genetic improvement. Novelty lies in the combined use of “Eberhart and Russell Regression” and “GGE biplot” analyses. The Regression’s model better identified the adaptability of genotype(s), while the GGE biplot effectively characterized the environments for their discriminating power. Traits like number of millable canes (NMC), sucrose (Pol %), total soluble solids (TSS %), relative water content (RWC), membrane stability index (MSI), proline, and superoxide dismutase (SOD), emerged as the key yield contributor, highlighting their utility as selection indices. Significant higher expression of 10 drought-responsive genes (P5CS, SOD, DEH, BADH, IGS, cAPX, LEA, TPS, ProT, and DRP) in F 391/14 (CoPb 19182) and lower expression of four genes (SOD, DRP, ProT, and BADH) in CoJ 64 provided molecular insights into stress tolerance. These findings offer valuable strategies for breeding resilient cultivars.
Sugarcane (Saccharum spp. complex), drought tolerance, genotype × environment interactions, stability and adaptability
Sugarcane (Saccharum spp. complex) clone F 391/14 (CoPb 19182) exhibited tolerance under drought conditions.