A Study on Genetics of Red Rot Resistance in Sugarcane

Out of 7 crosses with one or both the parents resistant to red rot, five crosses produced predominantly resistant progenies ranging from 61.64% in Co 7201 x 96-195 to 83.72% in Co 86002 x 96-38. In two crosses with one of the parents resistant there was a higher proportion (77.61 to 91.67%) of susceptible progenies. The cross Co 7201 x 96-104 (MR x MR) produced maximum proportion (80.0 %) of resistant seedlings. In the crosses with Co 86002 (S) as female parent and three other moderately resistant male parents, the proportion of resistant progenies was higher compared to susceptible ones. In the cross involving female parent as MR and male as MS (Co 7201 x 96-195) the proportion of resistant seedlings was 61.64% and susceptible 38.36%.The parents 96-38, 96-195, 95-108 (F1 of improved S.officinarum x S.spontaneum) produced more resistant progenies.The parent Co 7201 was identified as a good general combiner and found to transmit resistance to majority of its progenies.