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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Houma, Louisiana » Sugarcane Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #304511

Title: Impacts of the basic breeding program

Author
item Hale, Anna

Submitted to: American Society of Sugar Cane Technologists
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/10/2014
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The USDAs basic sugarcane breeding program began in the mid 1950s with the objective of moving genes from wild sugarcane germplasm into commercial cane. Several releases have been made from this program, but it is a very long process. To date, the pedigree of seven commercial Louisiana varieties can be traced to the basic breeding program. A test planted in 2012 and harvested in 2013 shows that recently advanced basic clones are performing well in yield trials in comparison to commercial varieties. Molecular markers have been integrated into the crossing program to hasten the process of breeding for disease resistance. With modifications to the program, and additional data collection, varieties are being advanced through the program more quickly than in the past. This is primarily because the number of generations of backcrossing required to recover commercial sucrose has been reduced.