Source: TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY submitted to
SUGARCANE IMPROVEMENT FOR SUGAR AND ENERGY PRODUCTION IN ARID, ALKALINE ENVIRONMENTS
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
TERMINATED
Funding Source
HATCH
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0212841
Grant No.
(N/A)
Project No.
TEX09281
Proposal No.
(N/A)
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Program Code
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Nov 14, 2007
Project End Date
Nov 13, 2013
Grant Year
(N/A)
Project Director
Da Silva, J.
Recipient Organization
TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
750 AGRONOMY RD STE 2701
COLLEGE STATION,TX 77843-0001
Performing Department
Weslaco-TAMU Agr Res Cntr
Non Technical Summary
High yielding varieties are required for the sugar industry and growers to remain competitive. New varieties will be developed through traditional breeding and biotechnology. New sugarcane varieties will allow the grower to increase production and lower costs through yields of higher sugar per acre and increased resistance to pests and environmental stresses.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
2012020108010%
2032020108130%
2042020108130%
2112020108110%
2122020108120%
Knowledge Area
211 - Insects, Mites, and Other Arthropods Affecting Plants; 204 - Plant Product Quality and Utility (Preharvest); 203 - Plant Biological Efficiency and Abiotic Stresses Affecting Plants; 212 - Pathogens and Nematodes Affecting Plants; 201 - Plant Genome, Genetics, and Genetic Mechanisms;

Subject Of Investigation
2020 - Sugar cane;

Field Of Science
1080 - Genetics; 1081 - Breeding;
Goals / Objectives
1. To breed and select sugarcane varieties adapted to arid, alkaline soils, with superior traits for yield, sucrose content, early ripening and resistant to pests and diseases, by conventional methods. 2. To test sugarcane varieties released in Florida and Louisiana for their adaptation to South Texas growing conditions. 3. To tag agriculturally important genes to use as tools for genetic improvement. 4. To evaluate transgenic sugarcane containing new genes for important traits, and assess their suitability for commercial production.
Project Methods
To make hybridization crosses, involving elite germplasm; grow the resulting seedlings in the field for a series of five selection/clonal propagation stages; plant outfield competition trials of elite material, on grower's farms in five different sites in South Texas, for agronomic performance comparison with commercial varieties, used as checks. Commercial release of potential genotypes with better performance as compared with the checks.

Progress 11/14/07 to 11/13/13

Outputs
Target Audience: Sugarcane growers and scientists Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Annual Sugarcane Research Reportto theFIELD OPERATIONS COMMITTEEOF THERIO GRANDE VALLEY SUGAR GROWERS, INC. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? In summary, based on the results of the stage 5 trial, the following material have been increased for further observation: Crop Stage Cycle 2012/2013 Season Variety Third Ratoon TCP06-4777, TCP06-4786 Second Ratoon TCP07-4817, TCP07-4820, TCP07-4815, CP76-1602 First Ratoon - Plant Cane TCP09-4888, TCP09-4877, HOCP85-845

Publications


    Progress 01/01/12 to 12/31/12

    Outputs
    OUTPUTS: During the 2011 Crossing Campaign in Canal Point, FL a total of 94 crosses were set up, including bi-parental and polycrosses. However, the seed resulting form these crosses were only sent to Weslaco on March 12. The seed was germinated and seedlings produced went to the field in mid spring 2012. The crossing facilities recently built at the Agrilife Annex farm in Weslaco were utilized by the first time on the spring of 2011, with photoperiod treatments applied on April-May. These treatments induced flowering on some varieties. However, most of them did not produce viable pollen, given the strong winds and hot temperatures observed, and could only be used as female parents, resulting on a limited number of crosses made. Seedlings produced on 2009 were selected, resulting in 192 individual clones selected to the first line trial. Selections made at the first line trail were not advanced to the second line trial because another evaluation will be made at the first ratoon stage, in order to include ratooning ability as an additional criterion for selection. Thirty-three clones entered the Infield test (Stage 3), whereas fifteen clones entered the Seed Increase (Stage 4). Twelve elite clones from the TCP09 series entered the Stage 5 trials in 2011. These trials were planted on three sites: Texas AgriLife-Annex, AgriLife-Hiler and Rio Farms. Trials at the plant cane stage were harvested at three locations: AgriLife-Annex farm, A. C. Fuller farm and Rio Farms. The new elite clone TCP08-4852 out performed all checks with statistical difference on sugar/acre, due to its outstanding cane production, while maintained the same sugar content as the check CP72-1210. Six other new TCP elite clones produced the same amount of sugar/acre as the three checks. In addition to these two trials, two others were planted at Mr. Vassber's farm and at Mr. Neuhause's farm, under request of these two growers. A combined analysis was performed with the germplasm that was common between these two trials, which included CP70-321 as the common check. Ten of the new TCP elite clones tested yielded the same amount of sugar/acre as the check, with emphasis for TCP08-4870, TCP08-4843 and TCP08-4867. Results of the combined analysis of trials at the first ratoon stage showed no new genotype producing the same yield of sugar/acre as the commercial checks. The combined analysis of the trials at the second ratoon stage indicated the elite clone TCP06-4764 with significantly higher sugar/acre yield than the best checks in this trial, TCP89-3505 and CP72-1210. Three other elite clones, TCP06-4797, TCP06-4762 and TCP06-4781 yielded the same as these two checks. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals working on this project were: Martin Zamorano, Nora Solis-Garcia, Jong-Won Park, Adan Solis, Thiago Benatti, Victoria Mora and Everton Barreto. Partner organizations were: Rio Grande Valley Sugar Growers, Inc.; USDA Sugarcane station in Canal Point, FL.; Chevron Technology Ventures, Inc. US Sugar, Inc., HARC - Hawaiian Agricultural Research Center and BP Biofuels, North America. TARGET AUDIENCES: Sugarcane growers from the state of Texas and energy production companies of the private sector in the U.S. and abroad. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

    Impacts
    Promissing Material Based on the results of the outfield (stage 5) trials, the following material should be further expanded for observation: TCP04-4730, TCP04-4688; TCP05-4751, TCP05-4738, TCP05-4734, TCP05-4757, TCP05-4756, TCP05-4733; TCP06-4764, TCP06-4797, TCP06-4762, TCP06-4781, TCP08-4852.

    Publications

    • No publications reported this period


    Progress 01/01/11 to 12/31/11

    Outputs
    OUTPUTS: During the 2010 Crossing Campaign at the USDA sugarcane station in Canal Point, FL a total of 105 crosses were set up with Texas sugarcane varieties and fuzz from 79 of them were sent to Texas for the Texas AgriLife Variety Improvement Program. A total of 6,678 seedlings were produced. In addition, 1,672 seedlings have been produced at the new crossing facilities built at the Texas Agrilife Research Annex farm, Weslaco, Texas. A Collaborative Research Agreement between Texas Agrilife Research, Texas A&M University System and Hawaii Agricultural Research Center (HARC), Kunia HI has been established, for germplasm production through hybridization crosses. Cuttings of 31 elite clones were sent from Agrilife to HARC, to be used as parents. The 2010 seedlings were harvested on the plant cane stage, leaving the first ratoon crop for the selection of individual plants to be performed on 2012. Seedlings produced on 2009 were selected on the first ratoon stage, resulting in 1,078 individual clones selected to be planted at the first line trial. For the Second Line trial, 216 clones have been selected, whereas 77 clones entered the Infield test (Stage 3), and 26 clones entered the Seed Increase (Stage 4). The twelve "TCP09" elite clones shown on the list below entered the Stage 5 competition trials in 2011 for sugar production. These trials were planted on three different sites in Weslaco, as follows: Texas AgriLife-Annex farm, Texas AgriLife-Annex Hiler farm and Rio Farms. The conserved intron scanning polymorphism (CISP) technique identified DNA polymorphic, informative markers within the intron regions of the genes involved lignin biosynthesis. When comparing the three main generea of the Saccharum Complex, in terms of biomass production, Saccharum, Erianthus and Miscanthus, these markers identified 96 polymorphism between Saccharum spp and Erianthus spp, 53 polymorphisms between Saccharum spp and Miscanthus spp. and 45 polymorphisms between Erianthus spp and Miscanthus spp. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals working on this project were: Martin Zamorano, Nora Solis-Garcia, Jong-Won Park and Adan Solis. Partner organizations were: Rio Grande Valley Sugar Growers, Inc.; USDA Sugarcane station in Canal Point, FL.; Chevron Technology Ventures, Inc. and US Sugar, Inc. TARGET AUDIENCES: Sugarcane growers from the state of Texas and energy production companies of the private sector in the US and abroad. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

    Impacts
    Three new elite clones, TCP07-4807, CP96-1602 and TCP07-4821presented the same sugar yield per area as the commercial varieties, used as checks on the Plant cane stage. Results of the combined analysis of trials at the first ratoon stage showed TCP06-4797 and TCP06-4762 as promising material on sugar per area, whereas the combined analysis of the trials at the second ratoon stage indicated TCP05-4735 and TCP05-4734 as top varieties.

    Publications

    • Park, J-W., Gracia, N.S. Trevino, C., and da Silva, J.A. 2011. Exploitation of Conserved Intron Scanning as a Tool for Molecular Marker Development in the Saccharum Complex. Molecular Breeding, Digital Object Identifier (DOI) 10.1007/s11032-011-9683-6.


    Progress 01/01/10 to 12/31/10

    Outputs
    OUTPUTS: Crossing During the 2009 Crossing Campaign at the USDA sugarcane station in Canal Point, FL a total of 198 crosses were set up and fuzz from 132 of them were sent to Texas for the Texas AgriLife Variety Improvement Program. A total of 6612 seedlings were produced from 78 of those crosses as presented on Table 30. In addition to those, 6000 seedlings were produced from remnant seed of 2006 and 2007 crosses, in a total of 12000 seedlings produced. Cuttings of TCP elite clones were not sent to the USDA in Canal Point, FL to be used as parents because diagnostic tests revealed none to be free from disease. These clones are being cleaned through meristem culture to be sent in 2010 for future crossing campaigns. Selection of seedlings and clonal trials The 2007 seedlings were harvested on the plant cane stage, leaving the first ratoon crop for the selection of individual plants to be performed on 2010. Seedlings produced on 2006 were selected, resulting in 910 individual clones selected to the first line trial. For the Second Line trial, 198 clones have been selected whereas 86 clones entered the Infield test (Stage 3), and 28 clones entered the Seed Increase (Stage 4). RSD screening by colorimetric immuno-blot. As in previous years, sugar cane stalks sent by cane growers to the seed cane-testing laboratory, at TAES - Weslaco Center, were tested for RSD. A dot blot assay based on colorimetric detection was utilized to detect Leifsonia xyli, the causal agent of RSD, in sugar cane juice expelled from single-internodes with pressurized air from ten stalks sampled from each field. When one of these samples had a positive signal, the respective field was considered infested with RSD. A total of 134 fields were tested during the seed cane monitoring and 35 of those were positive for RSD infection. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals: Jorge A da Silva, Jong-Won Park, Nora Solis-Gracia and Martin Zamorano Partner Organizations: Rio Grande Valley sugar Growers, Inc. Chevron Technology Venture TARGET AUDIENCES: Target Audience: Sugarcane growers; Bio-energy companies. Efforts: Sugarcane field day. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

    Impacts
    Variety trial results Statistical analysis of all stage five trials showed high coefficient of variation, indicating a high degree of variation due to environment (non-controlled). Early Samples None of the new elite clones presented the same sugar content as the check TCP87-3388. However, three elite clones, TCP06-4781, TCP06-4786 and TCP06-4802, presented higher sugar content as compared to the check TCP89-3505. Plant Cane Two new elite clones, TCP06-4793 and TCP06-4762 presented the same sugar yield per area as the checks TCP87-3388, TCP89-3505 and CP72-1210. Cane/acre production of new clones TCP06-4762, TCP06-4764 and TCP06-4793 was higher than the check CP72-1210, and equal to the checks TCP87-3388 and TCP89-3505. First Ratoon Results of the combined analysis of trials at the first ratoon stage showed five elite clone yielding as much sugar/acre as the check CP72-1210 - which was the check variety with the highest yield. However, emphasis is given to TCP05-4735, which has got the top position in terms of TSA, the statistically highest yield. This clone has yielded more TSA than the checks at the plant cane stage and now is confirming its superiority in terms of ratooning ability, at least at the first ratoon stage. Next on the list is TCP05-4751, which yielded the same as CP72-1210 at the plant cane stage and the same ratooning ability as CP72-1210 at the first ratoon stage. Second Ratoon The combined analysis of the trials at the second ratoon stage indicated no elite clone with the same sugar/acre yield as the best check in this trial, CP72-1210. However, TCP04-4714 yielded the same as the other checks, TCP87-3388 and TCP89-3505. Third Ratoon Trials at the third ratoon stage were harvested at Rio Farms and at Mr. Vasberg's farms. However the one at Rio Farms presented too much coefficient of variation. As a result, the data was not used for the statistical analysis and the third ratoon stage result is only presented form the trial harvested at Mr. Vasberg's farms. In summary, based on the results of the outfield competition trial, the following material should be further observed: Second Ratoon Stage: TCP04-4714 First Ratoon Stage: TCP05-4735 and TCP05-4751 Plant Cane Stage: TCP06-4793 and TCP06-4762 The list of elite clones entering the outfield competition trials in 2009 is shown below. These trials were planted on six different sites, as follows: A. C. Fuller, Byron, Duda, Harbison Farms, Rio Farms, and Texas AgriLife-Annex farm. Maps of these trials are available at the Texas AgriLife Research center in Weslaco, attention Jorge da Silva, under request. CP72-1210 (check) TCP87-3388 (check) TCP89-3505 (check) TCP07-4804 TCP07-4805 TCP07-4806 TCP07-4807 TCP07-4811 TCP07-4814 TCP07-4815 TCP07-4817 TCP07-4820 TCP07-4821 TCP07-4830 TCP07-4837 CP96-1602 Disease Incidence Disease incidence was evaluated on April 2010. No mosaic symptoms were observed on any of the field trials. Smut and rust mild symptoms were present in several varieties and locations of the 3 growth stage trials, as shown on Tables 27-29. Acknowledgement Funds for this research were provided by the Rio Grande Valley Sugar Growers, Inc.

    Publications

    • No publications reported this period


    Progress 01/01/09 to 12/31/09

    Outputs
    OUTPUTS: The principal investigator resigned from Texas AgriLife Research in March, 2009. A major effort is being made to recruit a new breeder is in progress, and several candidates have been invited for interviews. The crossing and selection programs for sucrose production continued from seedlings through first and second line trials, infield, seed increase, and the most promising lines have been moved to outfield trials at several locations across the region. Research agreements with other groups have allowed us to broaden our germplasm base in making crosses in order to increase diversity and ultimately chances for success. Additionally, approximately 20 clones that were not selected for sucrose have been identified as potential candidates based on biomass in an energy program. We are also continuing to work with other sugarcane relatives such as Miscanthus spp. to supplement the sucrose program with stress resistance and vigor traits, and the energy program for biomass, stress resistance, vigor, etc. PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

    Impacts
    The methodology developed in this project will improve the efficiency of the genetic breeding for biomass for energy and sugar production. The elite genotypes obtained represent a valuable source of germplasm for the sustainability of the Texas sugar industry.

    Publications

    • No publications reported this period


    Progress 01/01/08 to 12/31/08

    Outputs
    OUTPUTS: SUGARCANE IMPROVEMENT FOR SUGAR AND ENERGY PRODUCTION IN ARID, ALKALINE ENVIRONMENTS During the 2007 Crossing Campaign in Canal Point, FL a total of 133 crosses were set up and sent to Texas, but only 27 were produced, due to no-germination, giving rise to 9,675 seedlings. In addition to those crosses, true seed from 23 others, made in 2006, were also germinated to produce 15,065 seedlings, bringing the total number of seedlings produced on 2007 to 24,740. Seedlings produced on 2005 were selected resulting in 1,185 individual clones advanced to the first line trial. The Second Line trial consisted of 435 clones selected from the previous year's First Line trial. One hundred and ninety clones were selected from the Second Line trial to the Infield test (Stage 3), while 43 were selected from the Infield test to the Seed Increase (Stage 4). Thirteen candidate varieties entered the Stage 5 in 2007 which was planted, as in previous years, having CP72-1210, TCP87-3388 and TCP89-3505 as commercial checks. A research agreement between United States Sugar Corporation and Texas AgriLife Research has been initiated. This agreement will allow the utilization of U.S. Sugar proprietary germplasm in the Texas variety improvement program. Results from the pre-harvest juice analysis of varieties on the plant cane stage, showed that none of the new TCP candidate varieties produced the same sugar content as the check variety TCP87-3388. Surprisingly CP72-1210 presented the second highest sugar content, together with TCP89-3505 and two other candidate varieties, TCP04-4712 and TCP04-4720. Results from the plant cane stage combined analysis across 5 trials showed the elite clones TCP04-4730, TCP04-4727 and TCP04-4714 yielding statistically more sugar/acre than all the checks. Based on Individual analysis for the plant cane stage, in terms of cane/acre, the candidate varieties TCP04-4714, TCP04-4730 and TCP04-4727 were the top 3, and together with five other candidate varieties yielded more than all commercial checks (as above). In terms of sugar content, all candidate varieties yielded less than the three commercial checks. At harvest, the candidate varieties TCP03-4651 and TCP03-4636 yielded statistically the same amount of sugar/acre as compared with the checks CP72-1210, TCP87-3388 and TCP89-3505. First ratoon leader in the 2007 report for sugar/acre, TCP02-4622, when it yielded the same amount as the commercial check CP72-1210, was also the top candidate variety in the second ratoon. Another candidate variety worth mentioning for sugar/acre is TCP02-4601, which yielded the same as the other checks, TCP87-3388 and TCP89-3505, and took the top position in terms of cane/acre. In terms of sugar content, the candidate varieties TCP02-4606 and TCP02-4581 were the top two, yielding the same as the other two checks, TCP87-3388 and TCP89-3505. Based on the combined analysis for sugar/acre of Stage 5 test trials, the candidate variety TCP01-4555 yielded the same as the commercial check CP72-1210. PARTICIPANTS: Rio Grande Valley Sugar Growers, Inc. TARGET AUDIENCES: The Texas sugar industry, scientists and companies interested in sugar or energy production from sucrose or lignocellulose. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

    Impacts
    The methodology developed in this project will improve the efficiency of the genetic breeding for biomass for energy and sugar production in less than optimum conditions for sugarcane in subtropical regions of the mainland U.S. Cultivar released and the elite genotypes obtained represent a valuable source of germplasm for the sustainability of the Texas sugar industry. Identification of S. spontaneum alleles with positive or negative effects for sugar and fiber content will aid in the development of parental lines for improved sugar and biomass composition through the introgression of genes from this exotic source.

    Publications

    • Brumbley, S.M., Snyman, S.J., Gnanasambandam, A., Joyce, P., Hermann, S.R., da Silva, J.A.G., McQualter, R.B., Wang, M.-L., Egan, B., Patterson, A.H., Albert, H.H. and Moore, P. H., Sugarcane, in C Kole and T C Hall (Eds.). 2008."A Compendium of Transgenic Crop Plants: Sugar, Tuber and Fiber Crops", Volume VIII: Sugar, Tuber & fiber Crops. Blackwell Publishing, Oxford, UK.
    • Da Silva J.A., Solis-Gracia N., Silva P.R. and Mehkri F.M. 2008. Sugarcane Variety Identification through DNA Fingerprinting with Microsatellites Markers. Subtropical Plant Science 60: 1-7.