Notice of release of sugarcane variety HoCP 14-885

Authors: Todd, James; Dufrene, Edwis; Hale, Anna; Pan, Yong-Bao; WHITE, WILLIAM - Retired ARS Employee; Grisham, Michael; GRAVOIS, KENNETH - LSU Agcenter; JACKSON, WENDELL - American Sugar Cane League; DALLEY, CALEB - Former ARS Employee; WAGUESPACK, HERMAN - American Sugar Cane League; KIMBENG, COLLINS - LSU Agcenter; Naquin, Michael; Spaunhorst, Douglas; Duet, Michael; Landry, Cory; Verdun, David

Submitted to: Sugar Bulletin
Publication Type: Trade Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/19/2021
Publication Date: 5/1/2021
Citation: Todd, J.R., Dufrene Jr, E.O., Hale, A.L., Pan, Y.-B., White, W.H., Grisham, M.P., Gravois, K.A., Jackson, W.R., Dalley, C.D., Waguespack, H.L., Kimbeng, C., Naquin, M.J., Spaunhorst, D.J., Duet Jr, M.J., Landry, C.J., Verdun, D.L. 2021. Notice of release of sugarcane variety HoCP 14-885. Sugar Bulletin. 99(8):19-20.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The Agricultural Research Service of the United States Department of Agriculture, the Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station of the LSU Agricultural Center, and the American Sugar Cane League of the U.S.A., Inc., working cooperatively to develop improved sugarcane varieties, have jointly developed and hereby announce the release of a new sugarcane variety, HoCP 14-885, for commercial planting in the summer of 2021. HoCP 14-885 is an offspring of the cross between the female parent Ho 07-613 and the male parent Ho 05-920 made at Canal Point, Florida in 2009 and selected and assigned at USDA commercial program in Houma, Louisiana in 2014. The variety HoCP 14-885 produced superior sugar yields (lbs/acre) when compared to L 01-299, the most widely grown commercial variety in Louisiana, in plant cane crop individually and over a complete crop cycle (Table 1). All comparisons are made with L 01-299, the most widely grown sugarcane variety in Louisiana. In 31 plant-cane outfield variety trials, HoCP 14-885 had significantly higher sugar/ton (lb./ton of cane, 279 vs. 258 lbs.) and sugar per acre (lbs./acre, 10,637 vs. 8809). The new variety produced a similar stalk population of ( stalks/acre 29,692 vs. 30,057), but individual stalk weight was significantly greater (lbs./stalk 2.61 vs. 2.31). In 20 first-stubble outfield variety trials, HoCP 14-885 yields were similar to L 01-299 in sugar yield (8,470 vs. 8062) and for cane yield (31.1 vs. 31.2), but more for sugar /ton of cane (lb./tons 270 vs 259).In first ratoon, HoCP 14-885 produced less stalks/acre, when compared to L 01-299 (30,239 vs. 34,773), but its stalk weight was higher (2.11 vs 1.83). In eleven second-stubble outfield trials, HoCP 14-885 sugar yield (9302 vs. 8554), sugar/ton cane (266 vs 258), cane yield (34.4 vs 32.7) and stalk population (36147 vs 37076) was equivalent to L 01-299, but stalk weight (1.95 vs 1.76) was significantly higher. From an average of 41 tests in line trials, nurseries, and infield trials, HoCP 14-885 had a fiber content of 10.3%, which is 17% lower than L 01-299 in the same tests, indicating favorable milling characteristics. Based on one cold tolerance trial, HoCP 14-885 is rated as moderate, similar to L 01-299.HoCP 14-885 is an early maturing sugarcane variety and ranked third in maturity while check cultivar L 01-299 ranked seventh. In regards to entomology studies, there was no statistical difference in Diatraea saccharalis bored internodes between HoCP 14 885 and resistant or susceptible checks during two yield reduction tests in Houma, LA. However, in treated plots, sugar per acre was significantly increased, indicating that HoCP 14 885 is not resistant to borers like L 01-299 or HoCP 85-845. During separate evaluations in St. Gabriel, LA, and Beaumont, TX, HoCP 14-885 was found to be highly susceptible to both Diatraea saccharalis F. and Eoreuma loftini (Dyar). HoCP 14-885 is resistant to smut caused by Sporisorium scitamineum, mosaic caused by Sorghum mosaic virus (SrMV) brown rust caused by Puccinia melanocephala. It has moderate susceptibility to leaf scald caused by Xanthomonas albilineans and is susceptible to ratoon stunt caused by Leifsonia xyli subsp. xyli. Seed cane of HoCP 14-885 will be distributed by the American Sugar Cane League of the U.S.A., Inc., in accordance with procedures to be announced to all sugarcane growers in Louisiana on or after July 1, 2021. Inquiries concerning seed cane should be directed to the American Sugar Cane League, 206 East Bayou Road, Thibodaux, LA 70301. Neither the United States Department of Agriculture nor the Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station has seed cane available for distribution.