Evolution, identification, evaluation, and characterization of a stable salinity tolerant sugarcane variety CoG 7.

From the fluff generated during 2005, after the preliminary experiments (2005-2007), a promising clone G2005047 has been identified. It showed moderate resistance to red rot (3.6 on a 9-scale scoring system), less susceptibility to shoot borer (13.25%) and internode borers (25.35%), and resistance to woolly aphid (0%). In the Advanced Yield Trials (2008-2011), it showed advantages over check for cane yield (CY) (11.79%), commercial cane sugar percent (CCSP) (0.35%), and sugar yield (SY) (20.33%). To ascertain its large-scale cultivation suitability, it has experimented under adaptive research trials (2012-2014) at farmers' fields. It exhibited 18.04%, 1.27%, and 19.55% supremacy over the check Co 86032 for CY, CCSP, and SY respectively. The stability of G2005047 under salinity was ascertained through a multi-environment-based experiment (2015-2017). AMMI (Additive Main-effects and Multiplicative Interactions) and GGE (Genotype × Genotype-Environment interaction) biplots were utilized. ANOVA revealed that the genotypic variation exerted the most significant effect followed by genotype × environment interaction and environment. G2005047 had the highest mean values for yield and quality traits with minimal ASV (AMMI stability value) (2.38:CY; 0.57: CCSP; & 0.58:SY) indicating its good-yielding ability and stability. AMMI I, AMMI II, and GGE biplots confirmed the stability of G2005047. In the jaggery quality assessment trials (2018 and 2019), it yielded 37.1% increased jaggery over the check. Also, the clone G2005047, exhibited moderate resistance to red rot disease, less susceptibility to shoot borer (13.25%) and internode borer (25.35%), and resistance against sugarcane woolly aphid (SWA). Due to supremacy for yield, quality, better performance under salinized situations, and tolerance to disease and pests, the clone G2005047 was released as a variety CoG 7 in 2022.