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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #148468
Title: A Comparison of Sugar Metabolism in Sugarcane Genotypes Adapted to Louisiana and Hawaii

Author
item Lingle, Sarah
item Tew, Thomas

Submitted to: American Society of Sugar Cane Technologists
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/7/2003
Publication Date: 6/15/2004
Citation: Lingle, S.E., Tew, T.L. 2004. A Comparison of Sugar Metabolism in Sugarcane Genotypes Adapted to Louisiana and Hawaii [abstract]. American Society of Sugar Cane Technologists. 24:89.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Different strategies of sugarcane (Saccharum sp. hybrids) breeding programs in Hawaii and Louisiana produce very different genotypes. Hawaiian genotypes are adapted to two-year production cycles and produce high cane tonnage in a tropical environment. Louisiana genotypes are adapted to a 9-month growing season and have early sucrose accumulation. We compared sugar concentration and enzymes of sucrose metabolism, soluble acid invertase, neutral invertase, sucrose synthase and sucrose-phosphate synthase, in internodes 2 and 18 from the top of four Hawaii (HI) and two Louisiana (LA) genotypes. Sucrose concentration in Internode 2, which was still expanding, was similar in all genotypes. Sucrose concentration in Internode 18 was significantly higher in LA than HI genotypes, and there was a significantly higher sucrose to total sugar ratio in LA genotypes. While soluble enzyme activities were different among genotypes, the differences were not consistent between LA and HI genotypes. Cell wall acid invertase activities in both internodes were significantly greater in LA than in HI internodes. This result suggests that the higher activity of cell wall acid invertase enhances sucrose unloading into the internode tissue. Thus, the cell wall invertase gene may be a good candidate for improving sucrose accumulation in sugarcane.