Source: LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY submitted to
THE LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY AGRICULTURAL CENTER SUGARCANE VARIETY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
Sponsoring Institution
State Agricultural Experiment Station
Project Status
NEW
Funding Source
STATE
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0227329
Grant No.
(N/A)
Project No.
LAB04117
Proposal No.
(N/A)
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Program Code
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Oct 1, 2011
Project End Date
Sep 30, 2016
Grant Year
(N/A)
Project Director
Kimbeng, C. A.
Recipient Organization
LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY
202 HIMES HALL
BATON ROUGE,LA 70803-0100
Performing Department
Sugar Station
Non Technical Summary
New, genetically improved sugarcane varieties have long been relied upon to increase yield and prevent losses from both biotic (such as pests and diseases) and abiotic (such as cold and draught conditions, poor stand longevity) stresses and to ultimately keep the Louisiana sugar industry competitive in the global market. The LSU AgCenter sugarcane variety development program participates in a tripartite cooperative arrangement with the USDA sugarcane research unit in Houma, LA, and the American Sugar Cane League to develop sugarcane varieties. This is the only unfettered source of sugarcane varieties available to the Louisiana sugar industry as there are no private sugarcane variety development programs in Louisiana. The ultimate goal of this project is the development and commercial release to Louisiana growers and processors of new and improved sugarcane varieties.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
10%
Applied
40%
Developmental
50%
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
2012020108010%
2022020104010%
2022020108010%
2032020104010%
2032020108010%
2042020108010%
2112020113010%
2122020116010%
2132020108010%
2132020114010%
Knowledge Area
202 - Plant Genetic Resources; 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; 213 - Weeds Affecting Plants;

Subject Of Investigation
2020 - Sugar cane;

Field Of Science
1080 - Genetics; 1130 - Entomology and acarology; 1160 - Pathology; 1040 - Molecular biology; 1140 - Weed science;
Goals / Objectives
1. To develop sugarcane varieties with improved sugar yields, cold tolerance, ratooning ability and, pest and disease resistance for the Louisiana sugar industry. 2) To improve the efficiency of crossing, selecting and testing of sugarcane varieties in the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center sugarcane variety development program. 3. To incorporate and utilize molecular breeding approaches to improve crossing, selection and variety testing strategies in the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center (LSU AgCenter) sugarcane variety development program.
Project Methods
1. Conduct breeding and variety development research activities through a series of stages that will occur every year of the project including crossing, seedling selection, early and advanced clonal stages of propagation, evaluation and selection and, culminating with variety testing and the commercial release of improved sugarcane varieties. 2. In collaboration with the plant pathologists and entomologists, evaluate and select clones from the advanced clonal stages of the program for resistance to common pests and diseases. 3. Evaluate program efficiency and alternative breeding and selection approaches using data from standard breeding and selection activities, as well as from specially planned studies, and alter necessary stages in the program to accommodate improvements. 4 Develop working relationships with industry partners as well as personnel from other LSU AgCenter units and public institutions to take advantage of expertise and technologies not available within the LSU AgCenter sugarcane variety development program.

Progress 10/01/13 to 09/30/14

Outputs
Target Audience: Sugarcane growers and processors, sugarcane breeders, plant breeders Changes/Problems: An unexpected outcome in 2014 was the low number of plants that flowered in our crossing program.As a consequence only 292 crosses were made compared to an average of 500 in the last 3 years. This is not likely to affect the number of seedling to be plantedin 2015 because we have an abundance of seed from previousyears of crossingstored away in several freezers. It may, however, limitour choice of crosses to plant asmost of the seed stored in freezersare left over seed only after the most desirable crosses have been selected and planted.We have yet another option which is torequest seed fromthe USDA sugarcane crossing programs at Canal Point, Florida and Houma, Louisiana as we do share germplasm with these programs. A critical analysis of environmental conditions such as temperature andhumidity as well asthe artificial photoperiod regime used in 2014 will be carried out in anattempt to unravel why flowering was low this year. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? One visiting scientist from Egypt, sponsored by the Egyptian Cultural and Educational Bureau in Washington D. C., has just completedsix months undergoing professional development with our sugarcane variety development program. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? The project generated information that was shared with other scientists throughseveral refereed publications and aconference presentation and with growers and processors during field day activities and grower meetings. Several tour groups visited our program in 2014. The following is not an exhaustive list: -Recently hired engineers, agronomist and marketing and sales employees from Dow AgroSciences -Third and Fourth grade minority students from a Summer Internship Programat Southern University in Baton Rouge -Bachelor students from a university in Honduras -Sugarcane professionals from Brazil -Sugarcane professionals fromColombia -Sugarcane farmers from Australia What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Several accomplishments were achieved LSU AgCenter sugarcane variety development program in 2014.In the seedling stage, sugarcane plants from true seed were transplanted to the field in April of 2014 and 76,217 seedlings survived after two weeks. These seedlings will be selected next summer. Family selection followed by individual seedling selection methods were utilized todiscriminate among the 45,543 stubble seedlings (planted last year) that survived the harsh winter of 2013. A total of 1,414 individual seedlings were selected and planted into an unreplicated First Line clonal trial stage. Similarly, 461 clones were selected, from among the First Line clonal trial(2,009 plants) planted in 2013, and planted in an unreplicated Second Line clonal trial stage. A tentative selection of 298 clones from the Second Line trial stage planted in 2013 were planted into the Increase plot stage to provide enough 'seedcane' for multiple location trials in the On Station Nursery stage in 2015, whereas 40 clones were selected fromthe Increase Plot stage established in 2013 and planted into replicated On-Station Nursery trials inthree locations. Experimental varieties that continued to outperform commercial checks were selected and replanted into more advanced variety testing stages of the program which included several On-Farm locations scattered across the south Louisiana sugarcane growing region:17 advancedfrom the On-Station Nursery stage to theInfield and Off-Station Nursery trial stages, andthree into the Outfield testing stage. Plant pathologists and entomologists evaluated advanced experimental varieties for resistance to common sugarcane diseases and insect pests, respectively.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Zhou, M. M., Kimbeng, C. A., Tew, T. L., Gravois, K. A., Pontif, M., and K. P. Bischoff. 2014. Logistic Regression Models to Aid Selection in Early Stages of Sugarcane Breeding. Sugar Tech. 16:150-156.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Parco, A. S., Avellanda, M. C., Hale, A. H., Hoy, J. W., Kimbeng, C. A., Pontif, M., J., Gravois, K. A., and N. Baisakh. 2014. Frequency and distribution of the brown rust resistance gene Bru1 and implications for the Louisiana sugarcane breeding program.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Mendes de Paula1, T. O., Marinho, C.D., Souza, V., Barbosa, M. H. P., Peternelli, L. A., Kimbeng, C. A., and M.M. Zhou. 2014. Relationships between methods of variety adaptability and stability in sugarcane. Genetics and Molecular Research. 13:4216-4225.
  • Type: Book Chapters Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Edme, S. J., Suman A., and C. A. Kimbeng. 2014. Sugarcane. In Smith et al., (Eds.). Yield gains in major U.S. field crops. p. 397-432. American Society of Agronomy, Inc.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Khan N. A., Bedre R., Parco, A., Bernaola, L., Hale. A., Kimbeng, C., Pontif, M., and N. Baisakh. 2013. Identification of cold-responsive genes in energycane for their use in genetic diversity analysis and future functional marker development. Plant Science. 211: 122-131.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Zhou, M. M., Kimbeng, C. A., Suman, A., Tew, T. L., Pontif, M. J., and K. A. Gravois. 2013. Evaluating sugarcane families for yield potential and repeatability using random coefficient models. Crop Science. 53: 2352-2362
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: LaBorde, C., Kimbeng, C., Gravois, K. and K. Bischoff. 2014. Temperature effects on sugarcane tassel production under artificial photoperiod regimes. Journal of American Society of Sugarcane Technologists. 34:33-43.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2014 Citation: Kimbeng, C. A., Zhou, M., Edme, S., Hale, A., and M. Pontif. 2014. Progress from half-decade of breeding for low starch content in sugarcane. Abstract and Paper Presented at the American Society of Sugarcane Technologists 44th Annual Joint Meeting held June 18-20, 2014 in Bonita Springs, Fl.


Progress 01/01/13 to 09/30/13

Outputs
Target Audience: Sugarcane growers and processors, sugarcane breeders, plant breeders. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Results from this project were presented at four conferences/ workshops. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? The project generated information that was shared with other scientists throughtwo refereed publications and threeconference presentationsand with growers and processorsduring field day activities and grower meetings. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Five hundred and twenty-six crosses were made during 2013 compared with 531 in 2012.Forthe new selection cycle, 90,000 seedlings were transplanted to the field in April, 2013, with about 78,747 surviving the transplantation process after two weeks. A total of 61,740 stubble seedlings were available for individual seedling selection in 2013. Of these, 2,009 clones were selected and planted into a First Line trial. Similarly, 484 clones were selected from 2,714 First Line clones established in 2012 and planted into a Second Line trial while 190 clones from the Second Line trial established in 2012 were selected for line increases. A total of 30 clones from the 2007 crossing series that continued to outperform commercial varieties afterfive years of continuous testing were assigned permanent variety identification status and subsequently planted into nursery trialsatthree locations. Experimental varieties that continued to outperform commercial varieties were replanted into more advanced variety tests which included several On-Farm locations across the Louisiana sugarcane belt (11 into Infield and Offstation nursery trials, and 5 into Outfield trials). One variety, L09-112, was retained for continuous testing in Outfield trialsas well as introduced to Primary stations where ‘seed cane’ is being increased for possible introduction into Secondary station trials. Plant pathologists and entomologists evaluated experimental varieties for resistance to common sugarcane diseases and insect pests. Parental clones were screened for the presence or absence of a brown rust resistance gene named ‘Bru 1’ using molecular markers.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Zhou, M. M., Suman, A. and C. A. Kimbeng. 2012. Molecular markers associated with starch content and implications for sugarcane introgression breeding using Saccharum spontaneum. Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology 2:1127-1137.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Zhou, M. M., Suman, A. and C. A. Kimbeng. 2012. Molecular markers associated with starch content and implications for sugarcane introgression breeding using Saccharum spontaneum. 9th Southern African Plant Breeding Symposium, Protea Hotel, Kruger Gate, Skukuza, 12  14 March 2012.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Gravois, K. A., K. P. Bischoffa, J. W. Hoy, T. E. Reagan, M. J. Pontif, C. A. Kimbeng, G. L. Hawkins, D. P. Fontenot, D. R. Sexton and A. O. Orgeron. 2012. Registration of L 03-371 Sugarcane. Journal of Plant Registrations 6: 31-36.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Gravois, Kenneth, Kimbeng, Collins A., Pontif, Michael J., Fontenot, Dexter. "Sugarcane Variety Identification Guide ". 2012. Publication # 3056. Online Only (http://text.lsuagcenter.com/NR/rdonlyres/8BBCF22F-9509-47B3-BE0B-BB2EDB53DED9/91183/pub3056SugarcaneIDGuide.pdf; Verified November 21, 2013).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Kimbeng, C., M. Pontif, D. Fontenot, G. Hawkins, D. Sexton, and K.Gravois. 2012. Post-hoc Analyses of the Sugarcane Variety Improvement Program at the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center. Journal American Society of Sugar Cane Technologists Vol. 32, 2012.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Gravois, K., N. Baisakh, H. Waguespack, J. Hoy, and C. Kimbeng. 2012. L 01-283  Effects of Off-Types on Cane Yield, Sucrose Content and Fiber Content. Journal American Society of Sugar Cane Technologists Vol. 32, 2012.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Bernaola L, Parco A, Hale A, Bedre R, Gravois K, Kimbeng C, Baisakh N (2012) Mining genes for cold tolerance in sugarcane toward development of functional markers. Invited oral presentation at the Sugarcane (ICSB) workshop of the Plant and Animal Genome XX Annual Conference. January 13-17, 2012, San Diego, CA.


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

Outputs
OUTPUTS: The project generated information that was shared with other scientists through one refereed publication and one presentation at an annual meeting; and with growers and other stakeholders during field day activities and grower meetings. PARTICIPANTS: Collins Kimbeng (PI), Michael Pontif, Gertrude Hawkins, Dexter Fontenot, and David Sexton, LSU AgCenter. TARGET AUDIENCES: Louisiana Sugarcane Growers and Millers PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
Several goals were accomplished in all phases (crossing, early stage selection and variety testing) of the LSU AgCenter Sugarcane Variety Development program. Five hundred thirty-one crosses were made in the 2012 crossing campaign. Over 100,000 seedlings from 166 crosses were transplanted to the field in April. Survivorship was high with about 75,703 seedlings surviving two weeks after transplanting. Individual seedling selection was carried out on 61,704 stubble seedlings in the fall, whereupon, 2,714 clones were selected and planted into a First Line trial. A total of 393 clones were selected from the First Line trial and planted into a Second Line trial while 150 clones from the Second Line trial were planted into increase plots. The best 40 experimental clones from the 2006 crossing series were assigned permanent variety identification status and subsequently planted into replicated nursery trials at the Sugar Research Station in St. Gabriel, the Iberia Research Station in New Iberia and the USDA-ARS farm at Houma. Experimental varieties that performed well were selected, propagated and replanted into more advanced variety testing stages of the program: 14 into In-field and Off-station nursery trials, and two into Outfield trials. Plant pathologists and entomologists evaluated experimental varieties for resistance to common sugarcane diseases and insect pests, respectively. The Louisiana sugar industry will be severely disadvantaged without a successful crossing, early stage selection and variety testing program. The outcome of this research contributes to maintain a viable Louisiana sugar industry. The dominant variety LCP 85-384 was rapidly replaced by HoCP 96-540 after it (LCP 85-384) succumbed to rust infection. The acreage of HoCP 96-540 continued to decline in 2012 and was being complimented by newer varieties released by the LSU AgCenter including L 99-226 and L 99-233. Two newer varieties L 01-283, L 01-299 continue to expand in acreage while another variety, L 03-371, released in 2010 continues to be increased on growers farms for commercial plantings.

Publications

  • Gravois, K. A., Bischoff, K. P., Pontif, M. J., LaBorde, C. M., Hoy, J. W., Reagan, T. E., Kimbeng, C. A., Legendre, B. L., Hawkins, G. L., Sexton, D. R., and Fontenot, D. P. 2011. Registration of L01-299 Sugarcane. Journal of Plant Registrations. 5:191-195.
  • Zhou, M., Kimbeng, C., Andru, S., Tet, T., and Gravois, K. 2011. Random Coefficient Model: A Statistical Tool for Family Selection in Sugarcane. (Abstract), American Society of Sugarcane Technologists, New Orleans, LA June 2011.