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Title: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE-AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE STATION SUGARCANE FIELD STATION AT CANAL POINT, FLORIDA; PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE

Author
item Comstock, Jack
item Glaz, Barry
item Tai, Peter
item Edme, Serge
item Morris, Dolen
item GILBERT, ROBERT - UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

Submitted to: International Sugar Journal
Publication Type: Popular Publication
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/20/2004
Publication Date: 12/20/2004
Citation: Comstock, J.C., Glaz, B.S., Tai, P.Y., Edme, S.J., Morris, D.R., Gilbert, R.A. United States Department Of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service Station Sugarcane Field Station at Canal Point, Florida; Past, Present, and Future. International Sugar Journal 106:662-669. 2004.

Interpretive Summary: This paper describes the history, the present status and future research direction of the USDA-ARS Sugarcane Field Station at Canal Point, Florida and its role in producing CP-cultivars of sugarcane. An outline of the CP-Variety Development Program, a cooperative program between the USDA-ARS, the University of Florida, IFAS and the Florida Sugar Cane League is given. A description of the research of the Canal Point scientists is presented. The major contribution is true seed for the cultivar development programs for U. S. mainland sugarcane industries. Over 90 % of the sugarcane grown in the mainland U. S. is from seed originating from crosses made at Canal Point.

Technical Abstract: The USDA-ARS Sugarcane Field Station at Canal Point has a long history of sugarcane research and cultivar development. It was established in 1920 at Canal Point and had a small impact until the 1960s when the Florida sugarcane industry expanded. During the 1970s, CP-cultivars developed by the cooperative program between the USDA-ARS, the University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences and the Florida Sugar Cane League expanded in the Florida industry. Currently, the Sugarcane Field Station produces true seed for cultivar development programs in Florida, Louisiana and Texas and cultivars developed in programs in the three states from true seed made from crosses made at the Canal Point facility occupy 90, 88 and 100 % of the acreage, respectively in these states. CP-cutlivars are also grown in several foreign countries and occupy a major acreage in several Central American countries.