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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Canal Point, Florida » Sugarcane Field Station » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #341315
Title: Identifying Yield and Regrowth Traits for Flowering and Non-Flowering Sugarcane Cultivars in Florida

Author
item Zhao, Duli
item Aria, Philip

Submitted to: American Society of Sugar Cane Technologists
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/15/2017
Publication Date: 11/25/2017
Citation: Zhao, D., Aria, P.J. 2107. Identifying Yield and Regrowth Traits for Flowering and Non-Flowering Sugarcane Cultivars in Florida. American Society of Sugar Cane Technologists. 37:25

Interpretive Summary: N/A

Technical Abstract: Sucrose yield of sugarcane (a complex hybrid of Saccharum spp.) depends on cane yield and commercial recoverable sucrose content. These two yield components are associated with genotype, growth environment, management practice, and harvest time. Although suckers and side shoots during harvest season directly or indirectly influence sugarcane juice quality and yield components, it is unknown if there are any correlations between variety flowering character and these regrowth traits. A study has been established at the USDA-ARS Sugarcane Field Station, Canal Point, FL. The objectives of this study were: (1) to investigate the side shoot growth, suckering, and juice quality during harvest season for flowering and non-flowering sugarcane cultivars in Florida and (2) to determine potential effects of the side shoots and suckers on yield components as well as the relationships between flowering and the regrowth traits. Flowering dates were recorded weekly in 108 clones starting from early November 2016 through mid-March 2017. The side shoots and suckers were rated on in early Match 2017 using a scale from 1 (lowest) to 10 (heaviest) with intervals of 1. Juice glucose, fructose, and sucrose concentrations of mature stalks, suckers, and the side shoots were also determined in March. Preliminary results indicated that early flowering cultivars generally had more side shoots than late-flowering cultivars. The side-shoot rating was significantly related to flowering date (r = -0.97**) across test clones, but the relationship between sucker ratings and flowering behaviors was relatively weak (r = -0.56). These regrowth parts can considerably reduce juice quality due to high reducing sugars and dilute sucrose concentration, although they contribute to a part of tonnage. Therefore, sugarcane growers in Florida should consider harvest time based on cultivar flowering character. Early flowering cultivars should be harvested earlier than non-flowering or late flowering cultivars in order to improve juice quality and profits.