Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Canal Point, Florida » Sugarcane Field Station » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #263177

Title: Selection criteria and performance of energycane clones (Saccharum spp. x S. spontaneum) for biomass production under tropical and sub-tropical conditions

Author
item LEÓN, RAMÓN - Earth University
item GILBERT, ROBERT - University Of Florida
item KORNDORFER, PEDRO - University Of Florida
item Comstock, Jack

Submitted to: CEIBA: A Scientific and Technical Journal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/15/2010
Publication Date: 6/20/2010
Citation: León, R.G., Gilbert, R.A., Korndorfer, P.H., Comstock, J.C. 2010. Selection criteria and performance of energycane clones (Saccharum spp. x S. spontaneum) for biomass production under tropical and sub-tropical conditions. CEIBA: A Scientific and Technical Journal. 51:11-16.

Interpretive Summary: The growth and invasiveness of fifteen energycane clones and other grass species were evaluated in Costa Rica and Florida. All the energycane clones grew faster than commercial sugarcane varieties in Costa Rica; their growth was exceeded by Pennisetum purpureum var. Merkeron. All clones of the energycane flowered and produced viable pollen. Unlike in Florida where flowering was less and viability of pollen was restricted, energycane in Costa Rica will have to be evaluated more critically for their invasive potential.

Technical Abstract: The urgent need to reduce our reliance on oil and at the same time reduce carbon emissions, has triggered the search for alternative energy sources such as biofuels. New technologies have made possible the conversion of cellulose and hemicellulose into sugars that can be fermented to produce ethanol. This opened the possibility that any plant species can be used for ethanol production. Species that produce large amounts of biomass in a short time are desirable. For this reason, one of the most critical steps in the development of biofuel production is to identify appropriate species that will provide the necessary biomass for lignocellulosic ethanol or direct combustion. Energycanes are wide crosses of commercial sugarcane (a complex hybrid of Saccharum spp.) (Saccharum officinarum) with Saccharum spontaneum clones which produce high-biomass plants with high fiber content and good cold and disease tolerance as well as excellent ratooning ability. A large scale study has been established to evaluate biomass production, growth characteristics and invasive potential of energycane clones under tropical (Limón, Costa Rica) and subtropical (South Florida) conditions since 2008. In Florida in a low fertility sandy soil, energycane clones and the grass species Pennisetum purpureum var. Merkeron showed the highest yields ranging from 50 to 78 ton ha-1 of fresh weight. These clones were not susceptible to smut (Sporisorium scitaminea) unlike the energycane L79-1002 which is currently the most widely grown clone of energycane. Most clones showed lateral vegetative growth, but no pollen or seed viability. In Costa Rica, the evaluation of 15 energycane clones is still in progress, however preliminary results indicated that the energycane clones had faster and more vigorous growth than the commercial sugarcane varieties, only exceeded by P. purpureum. In comparison with commercial sugarcane varieties, the energycane clones recorded 37% higher leaf area index (LAI) and height, and 65% more stalks per unit area. No evident disease susceptibility was observed in the energycane clones in the tropics, although lateral vegetative growth was observed in all clones. Additionally, all clones flowered and produced viable pollen which suggests that these clones have a higher invasive potential in the tropics. The information available until now suggests that the behavior of energycane germplasm varies importantly between tropical and sub-tropical conditions. Therefore, selection and breeding programs must be carefully developed accounting for the unique responses that this germplasm could show under these two different climatic conditions.