ARS | Publication request: 2008 Louisiana "hocp" Nursery and Infield Variety Trials

Submitted to: Sugar Cane Research Report
Publication Type: Experiment Station
Publication Acceptance Date: April 30, 2009
Publication Date: May 20, 2009
Citation: Dufrene Jr, E.O., Duet Jr, M.J., Tew, T.L., White, W.H. 2009. 2008 Louisiana "HoCP" Nursery and Infield Variety Trials. Sugar Cane Research Annual Progress Report 2008, LSU Agricultural Center, p. 63-73.

Technical Abstract: Three years after selection in single-stools at the seedling stage, scientists in the breeding program assign permanent “HoCP” or “Ho” numbers to experimental varieties advanced for further testing. These newly assigned varieties are planted in replicated nursery trials at three locations (Ardoyne Farm in Schriever, Iberia Research Station in Jeanerette, and Sugar Research Station in St. Gabriel). The year after assignment, varieties advanced for further testing are replanted in nursery trials located on three commercial sugarcane farms, each representing a different region of the sugarcane belt. Two years after assignment, active varieties are replanted in three infield tests (Ardoyne Farm and two additional farms). In addition, two years after assignment, varieties are introduced to outfield locations and primary stations. USDA nursery test plots are planted during the year of assignment in a randomized complete block design with two replications. Plots are sixteen-feet long by six feet (one row) wide with a four-foot alleyway between plots. A minimum of three commercial varieties (LCP 85-384, HoCP 96-540, Ho 95-988, L 97-128, L 99-226 or L 01-283) are planted in each test for comparison purposes. In addition to experimental commercial varieties, clones from the USDA Recurrent Selection for Borers (RSB) program are included in nursery trials. Yield data collected on RSB clones give breeders needed agronomic information to aid in deciding what crosses should be made with these borer-resistant clones. The year after assignment, varieties from the USDA program, combined with varieties from the LSU program, are planted in nurseries on commercial farms. Plot length in these tests are increased to 20 feet.