ARS | Publication request: Early Selection on Sand: Preliminary Studies on Repeatability

Submitted to: Sandland Sugarcane Field Day
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: June 2, 2008
Publication Date: June 9, 2008
Citation: Del Blanco, I.A., Glynn, N.C., Davidson, W., Comstock, J.C., Glaz, B.S., Edme, S.J., Irey, M. 2008. Early Selection on Sand: Preliminary Studies on Repeatability. Sandland Sugarcane Field Day.

Interpretive Summary: A new breeding strategy for obtaining sugarcane cultivars adapted to sand soils is proposed. Previously only late stages were tested on sand soils, the new approach consist in evaluating early stages (Stage 1 and Stage 2) on sand. The main objective is to avoid loosing sand-adapted genotypes at early stages by selecting them only in organic soils. Since sand soils are considered more variable than organic soils, repeatability will be studied and compared for different traits and different soil types.

Technical Abstract: Greater improvement has been achieved for sugar cane genotypes cultivated on organic soils than on sand soils. The expansion of the sugar cane crop will necessarily involve the planting on sand and /or poorer soils. Previously selection on sand soils has been done at later stages: one location in Stage 3, and two locations in Stage 4. A new breeding approach involves the selection at Stage 1 and Stage 2 in locations having sand or poorer soils to avoid losing the best adapted genotypes early in the breeding program. Sand soils have been reported as more variable than organic soils. A study in repeatability will address this concern. Genetic variances and heritability of the genotypes will be compared for sand and organic soils on the basis of different traits to address this issue.