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ARS Home » Southeast Area » New Orleans, Louisiana » Southern Regional Research Center » Commodity Utilization Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #238847
Title: Recurrent selection for sucrose has altered assimilate partitioning between growth and storage in sugarcane internodes

Author
item Lingle, Sarah
item Johnson, Richard
item Viator, Ryan
item Tew, Thomas
item Boykin, Deborah

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/27/2009
Publication Date: 7/7/2009
Citation: Lingle, S.E., Johnson, R.M., Viator, R.P., Tew, T.L., Boykin, D.L. 2009. Recurrent selection for sucrose has altered assimilate partitioning between growth and storage in sugarcane internodes (abstract). Annual Meetings Abstract CD-ROM, International Annual Meetings of ASA-CSSA-SSSA, Nov. 1-5, 2009, Pittsburgh, PA.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Sucrose yield in sugarcane is a function of sucrose content of the cane and cane yield. Selection for sucrose content is a high priority in sugarcane breeding programs. Louisiana sugarcane breeding programs have used a modified recurrent selection program whereby genotypes with high sucrose content are crossed to produce the next generation of seedlings from which to select new cultivars. There have now been six cycles of recurrent selection for sucrose in the Louisiana breeding programs, resulting in seven generations of cultivars. We planted five cultivars from the foundation generation (Generation 1) and the most recent generation (Generation 7) of cultivars. We flagged 20 stalks per plot, and marked the topmost internode on each. We then sampled one of the marked internodes at one to two-week intervals for 12 weeks, and measured length, fresh weight (FW), dry weight (DW), water content, and soluble sugars. Internodes of Generation 7 cultivars were shorter than those of Generation 1 because they elongated for slightly less time. Internodes from Generation 7 cultivars had a lower FW, but the same DW as those from Generation 1. After elongation stopped, water content of the internodes started to decrease. Water content decreased faster in Generation 7 cultivars than in Generation 1. Internodes of Generation 7 cultivars accumulated more total sugar and more sucrose, and had a higher sucrose:total sugar ratio than those of Generation 1. We conclude that recurrent selection for sucrose has altered the partitioning of assimilates between growth and storage.