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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Canal Point, Florida » Sugarcane Field Station » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #304772
Title: Development of energy cane cultivars in Florida

Author
item Gordon, Vanessa
item HARDEV, SANDHU - University Of Florida
item Comstock, Jack
item GILBERT, ROBERT - University Of Florida
item EL-HOUT, N - Bp Biofuels North America, Llc
item ARUNDALE, R - Bp Biofuels North America, Llc

Submitted to: Sugar Journal
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/15/2014
Publication Date: 6/18/2014
Citation: Gordon, V.S., Hardev, S., Comstock, J.C., Gilbert, R.A., El-Hout, N., Arundale, R. 2014. Development of energy cane cultivars in Florida. Sugar Journal. 34 pg. 79.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Energy cane is a relatively new generation of energy crops being bred as a source for biofuel feedstock and ethanol production. Current energy cane breeding strategies have focused on selecting high biomass hybrids from wide crosses between commercial sugarcane cultivars and S. spontaneum, which is characterized by high stalk counts and fiber content, excellent ratooning ability, and tolerances to abiotic and biotic pressures. A cooperative energy cane cultivar development program has been established between the USDA-ARS Sugarcane Field Station (Canal Point, Florida), the University of Florida-EREC (Belle Glade, Florida), and BP Biofuels North America, LLC (Houston, Texas) to produce high-yielding, and disease-resistant cultivars. As a result of four years of testing, five energy cane cultivars (UFCP74-1010, UFCP78-1013, UFCP-82-1655, UFCP84-1047, UFCP87-0053) developed in Florida have been approved, and are in the process of being released this year. Yields of the new cultivars are comparable to, or exceed L79-1002 (released in 2008); but are not quite as robust as Ho02-113 (released in 2013). Rapid progress has been made in clone improvement; with several cultivars currently in Stage II far exceeding the yields and disease ratings of both L79-1002 and Ho02-113.