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Published in JOURNAL OF PLANT REGISTRATIONS 2:211-217 (2008)
DOI: 10.3198/jpr2007.12.0673crc
© 2008 Crop Science Society of America
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CULTIVARS

Registration of ‘L 79-1002’ Sugarcane

K. P. Bischoffa, K. A. Gravoisa,*, T. E. Reaganb, J. W. Hoyc, C. A. Kimbengd, C. M. LaBordea and G. L. Hawkinsa

a Louisiana State Univ. Agricultural Center, Sugar Res. Stn., 5755 LSU Ag Road, St. Gabriel, LA 70776
b Dep. of Entomology, Louisiana State Univ. Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70803
c Dep. of Plant Physiology and Crop Physiology, Louisiana State Univ. Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70803
d School of Plant, Environmental and Soil Sciences, Louisiana State Univ. Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803

* Corresponding author (kgravois{at}agcenter.lsu.edu).

ABSTRACT

‘L 79-1002’ (Reg. No. CV-132, PI 651501) sugarcane (a complex hybrid of Saccharum officinarum L., S. spontaneum L., S. barberi Jeswiet, and S. sinense Roxb. amend. Jeswiet) was released on 26 Apr. 2007 by the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center in cooperation with the USDA-ARS and the American Sugarcane League, Inc. The cross for L 79-1002, a F1 hybrid, was made in 1974 using ‘CP 52-68’ as the female parent and Tainan, a S. spontaneum clone, as the male parent. Initial clonal selection was done in single stools. Testing was done from 1976 through 1983 in yield trials conducted in the traditional sugarcane growing area in south Louisiana and in the colder, non-sugarcane growing regions of north Louisiana. Yield testing was resumed in 2002 through 2005 as interest in biofuels research renewed. L 79-1002 was released for an emerging biofuels industry because of its high fiber content and biomass (cane yield) potential. Average fiber content for L 79-1002 is approximately 257 g kg–1. The new cultivar also has excellent vigor and ratooning ability. Experiments conducted at Bossier City, Louisiana (32.1° N lat) indicated a broader range of adaptability than sugarcane cultivars grown for the production of sucrose.

Modern sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) is believed to have originated from hybridization among Saccharum officinarum, S. sinense, S. barberi, and S. spontaneum. Cultivated sugarcane is predominately outcrossing, highly heterozygous, and maintained by vegetative propagation. In Louisiana, sugarcane was first cultivated in 1751 by Jesuit priests in New Orleans. Raw sugar production began when Etienne de Bore first granulated sugar from juice in 1795. The production of sucrose from sugarcane has been ongoing since that time. Other opportunities may be on the horizon.

Breeders have frequently used clones of S. spontaneum as a source of genes for disease resistance, ratooning ability, and general hardiness in commercial breeding efforts. One of the first uses was for disease resistance when breeders in Java looked to S. spontaneum clones for resistance genes to sereh disease. These POJ (Proefstation Oost Java) clones revitalized not only the Java sugar industry but other sugar industries around the world. The introgression of genes from S. spontaneum has had some negative effects, such as high fiber content, which in commercial sugarcane breeding programs is strictly selected against because it adversely affects factory throughput and sucrose extraction. However, the introgression of genes from S. spontaneum clones has sustained most commercial sugarcane breeding programs around the world.

Some have recommended other uses of clones derived from S. spontaneum. Alexander (1985) postulated that for Saccharum, sugar may not be its strongest suit and that biomass production might be its strongest facet. Ming et al. (2006) reported that genetic gain may be more favorable for total biomass yield than for sugar yield. Energy crises since the 1970s have spurred research for the use of sugarcane as an energy crop. As interest has increased in biofuel applications, sugarcane breeders have made use of its high biomass potential. See Ming et al. (2006) and Tew and Cobill (2008) for useful summaries of breeding strategies for high biomass and the potential to use sugarcane as an energy crop through biomass production.

With these goals in mind, cultivar L 79-1002 (Reg. No. CV-132, PI 651501) was released on 26 Apr. 2007. L 79-1002 is a progeny of the cross between the female parent and cultivar CP 52-68, and Tainan, a clone of S. spontaneum. L 79-1002 was released by the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center in cooperation with the USDA-ARS and the American Sugarcane League, Inc. The new cultivar was released because of it high fiber content and biomass yield, excellent ratooning ability, and vigorous growth habit.

Methods

Crossing and Early Stage Selection
Sugarcane rarely flowers in Louisiana's temperate climate because of cool fall temperatures, unlike many S. spontaneum clones, which flower readily in Louisiana before cool temperatures set in. To induce sugarcane to flower in Louisiana, breeding clones are subjected to artificial photoperiod treatments (Bischoff and Gravois, 2003). Photoperiod treatments in the LSU AgCenter sugarcane breeding program begin in early June by subjecting plants to a constant photoperiod of 12.5 hours for 35 d. Afterward, daylengths are decreased by 1 min per day until 10 September. To accomplish this, breeding clones are propagated in 38-L buckets and placed on railcarts that can be pushed in and out of light-tight chambers. Railcarts are pushed into the photoperiod house after sunset and rolled out after sunrise based on a predetermined photoperiod schedule.

The cross for L 79-1002 was made in 1974. The female parent was CP 52-68 and the male parent was Tainan. CP 52-68 was a cultivar released in 1958 to the Louisiana sugar industry. This cultivar has an erect growth habit, making it well suited to new mechanized whole stalk harvesters of the era. CP 52-68 has excellent cane yield and sucrose content and was the most widely grown cultivar in Louisiana from 1963 through 1969. The cultivar reached its peak in 1968 when it was grown on 49% of the acreage planted to sugarcane in Louisiana. Tainan is a clone of S. spontaneum that was collected in Asia, possibly from Taiwan, given its name and chromosome number (USDA-ARS, 2008). Clones of S. spontaneum are typically used as a gene source of disease resistance, cold tolerance, and vigor in germplasm enhancement breeding programs. The development of L 79-1002 was part of a USDA agreement 59-2221-1-2-110-0. The objective of the project was to develop sugarcane clones with high biomass potential for a biofuels application and to investigate processing characteristics and conversion into ethanol.

The seedling of L 79-1002 was germinated from a true seed in January 1975 and transplanted to the field in April of the same year. Selection occurred in the plant-cane crop from a single stool of sugarcane when it was observed that several clones from this cross produced as many as 114 stalks.

Yield Trials
In 1976 unreplicated plots of L 79-1002 and the commercial standard ‘CP 65-357’ (Breaux et al., 1974) were established at the Sugar Research Station in St. Gabriel, LA. The plot length was 4.9 m long, and the row width was 1.8 m. Data were collected in the plant-cane and first through fifth ratoon crops. Each year, millable stalk counts were made in early August. Stalk population was calculated as the number of millable stalks per hectare. At harvest, a random 15-stalk hand-harvested sample was taken from each plot, stripped of the immature tops and leaves, and weighed for an estimate of stalk weight (kg). Cane yield (Mg ha–1) was estimated as the product of stalk population (stalks ha–1) and stalk weight (kg) and dividing by 1000. Leaves and tops were weighed separately and added to the stalk weight to determine total cane yield (biomass). Afterward, a quality analysis that included Brix (g kg–1 w/w), sucrose (g kg–1), and fiber content (g kg–1) was performed for each sample (Gravois and Milligan, 1992).

In 1981 CP 65-357 and L 79-1002 were planted at locations farther north than the traditional sugarcane growing area in Louisiana: the Idlewild Experiment Station in Clinton, LA (30.5° N lat); the Calhoun Experiment Station in Calhoun, LA (32.1° N lat); and the Red River Experiment Station in Bossier City, LA (32.1° N lat.) (Giamalva et al., 1984). The plots were single rows 1.8 m wide and 4.9 m long, with a 1.5-m alley between plots. Stalk population, stalk weight, cane yield, Brix, and sucrose were estimated as described earlier. The experimental design for each of these trials was a randomized complete block design with two replications. The experiment was harvested as a plant-cane crop in 1982 and as a first ratoon crop in 1983.

Recent testing of L 79-1002 was done from 2002 to 2005 by USDA-ARS researchers at the USDA-ARS Sugarcane Research Unit Ardoyne Farm (Schriever, LA). Plots were grown on two rows, and each row was 1.8 m wide and 15.2 m long, with a 1.4-m alley separating plots. The experimental design at each location was a randomized complete block with three replications per location. The sugarcane cultivar included for comparison was LCP 85-384 (Milligan et al., 1994). Plots at these locations were harvested with a combine harvester. No burning was done before harvest, and the trash extractor fans were turned off. Harvested sugarcane was weighed in a wagon fitted with three load cells. Sugarcane weight was used to determine cane yield. A 15-stalk sample was collected before harvest for a quality analysis, which included Brix and fiber content (Gravois and Milligan, 1992). Data were analyzed for each crop. The Proc Mixed procedure of SAS was used to analyze the linear model (SAS v9.0; SAS Institute, Cary, NC), which used replication as a random variable and variety as a fixed variable. For the across crop analysis, crop was analyzed as a fixed effect. Least square means were generated for each cultivar and were separated using the PDIFF option (P = 0.05).

Soil Fertility Trials
Fertilizer tests were conducted with L 79-1002 from 1992 through 1998 at the Sugar Research Station, St. Gabriel, LA. The soil type was a Commerce silt loam (fine-silty, mixed, nonacid, thermic aeric Fluvaquents). The N–P2O5–K2O fertilizer rates were 0–0–0, 179–0–0, and 179–67–134 kg ha–1. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with four replications. The plant-cane through sixth ratoon crops were harvested in 1992 through 1998, respectively. Plots were harvested mechanically as whole stalks and weighed to determine cane yield. A 15-stalk sample was hand cut, stripped of all leaves, and the top removed for quality analysis that included sucrose and fiber content. The data were analyzed by Proc GLM (SAS Institute), and LSD (P = 0.05) values were calculated for mean separation.

Pest Resistance
Screening trials were conducted to determine the response of L 79-1002 to smut (caused by Ustilago scitaminea Sydow & P. Sydow) and leaf scald [caused by Xanthomonas albilineans (Ashby) Dowson]. A smut screening trial was conducted at the Sugar Research Station in St. Gabriel, LA. It was planted in August 2006. For planting, stalk tops were cut just below the apical meristem, and the remaining stalks were stripped of all leaves to expose all buds. Stalks were then immersed in a teliospore solution (5 x 106 mL–1) for 20 min (Grisham and Breaux, 1988). Six stalks were used to plant a 3.8-m plot, and the trial was replicated three times. In July 2007, the percentage of stalks with smut symptoms (sori) was estimated and a rating given relative to commercial standards. Afterward, healthy stalks within each plot within the smut screening trial were inoculated (1 x 107 cells mL–1) with leaf scald disease and ratings were taken approximately one month later (Koike, 1965).

Disease ratings for Sorghum mosaic virus and brown rust (caused by Puccinia melanocephala H. and P. Sydow) diseases were visually assessed in yield trials as natural inoculums levels were high.

Characteristics

Field Performance
In the unreplicated early stages of selection, both total cane yield and cane yield of L 79-1002 were numerically higher than those of the standard cultivar CP 65-357 (Table 1 ). Total cane yield included the immature sugarcane tops and dead side leaves along the stalk. For cellulosic applications, this extraneous material may have additional benefit. The stalk population of L 79-1002 was notably higher and the stalk weights notably lower than that of sugarcane cultivars grown for the production of sucrose. Quality analyses indicated that L 79-1002 had lower Brix and sucrose values but higher fiber content and dry weight than CP 65-357 (Table 2 ). These are typical relationships encountered in F1 hybrids when clones from S. spontaneum are used to introgress new traits into a traditional sugarcane genetic background (Burner and Legendre, 2000).


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  		Table 1. Sugarcane estimated biomass yield of sugarcane cultivars CP 65-357 and L 79-1002 during early stage selection in unreplicated trials conducted from 1976 through 1980 at the Sugar Research Station in St. Gabriel, LA.

 

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  		Table 2. Average quality analyses across crops of sugarcane cultivars CP 65-357 and L 79-1002 from 1976 to 1980 in the early selection stages grown at the Sugar Research Station in St. Gabriel, LA.

 
It is important to know how far north sugarcane can be grown. The expectation is that cold tolerance will markedly increase in clones of S. spontaneum and its derived progeny (Irvine, 1983). Field trials in northern Louisiana provide some insight (Giamalva et al., 1984). In January 1982 a minimum temperature of –16°C at Shreveport was recorded. Before the freeze, the trial at the Red River Station was covered with 7 to 10 cm of soil, which was removed the following spring. Adding the soil and removing it the following spring allowed for better survival of sugarcane buds necessary for the development of a ratoon crop at the Red River Station compared to the Calhoun Station. The trial at the Calhoun Research Station was not harvested because of the severe stand loss resulting from cold temperatures. The trial at the Red River Station was harvested in fall 1982 (plant-cane crop) and fall 1983 (first ratoon crop). The total cane yield and cane yield of L 79-1002 were higher than the total cane yield and cane yield of CP 65-357 (Table 3 ). Brix and sucrose values were lower for the high fiber clone L 79-1002.


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  		Table 3. Average sugarcane estimated biomass yield and quality analyses of cultivars CP 65-357, L 79-1002, and L 79-1003 from the Red River Experiment Station, Bossier City, LA, for a plant-cane crop in 1982 and a first ratoon crop in 1983.

 
Field trials were conducted during 2002 through 2005 by USDA-ARS researchers for comparisons with more recently released sugarcane cultivars (Table 4 ). L 79-1002 was tested with LCP 85-384, the most widely grown cultivar in Louisiana during the time of testing (Legendre and Gravois, 2007). Tew and Cobill (2008) refer to L 79-1002 as a Type II energy cane, which is a clone developed primarily for its fiber content rather than its combination of Brix and fiber. As an average across all crops, L 79-1002 had a lower Brix and higher fiber content than LCP 85-384. The Brix yield was less than that of LCP 85-384, but its fiber yield and Brix plus fiber yield were higher than that of LCP 85-384. Burner and Legendre (1995) reported that S. spontaneum hybrids are an excellent reservoir of high-yielding, low-sucrose, and high-fiber germplasm for biomass production. In particular, F1 hybrids among clones of S. spontaneum and commercial sugarcane clones exhibit considerable heterosis for biomass traits (Ming et al., 2006).


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  		Table 4. Average sugarcane biomass yield of sugarcane cultivars evaluated at the USDA-ARS Sugarcane Research Unit Ardoyne Farm in the plant-cane through third ratoon crops harvested from 2002 to 2005.{dagger}

 
As an average across all crops, L 79-1002 produced an average fiber content of 257 g kg–1, which was higher than the 147 g kg–1 average fiber content produced by LCP 85-384. In sugarcane variety development for the production of sucrose, the range of fiber content is important. Experimental clones with fiber content higher than 135 g kg–1 are discarded from the commercial breeding program because of the adverse affect on factory throughput and sucrose losses to the fiber during extraction and processing. However, fiber contents below 100 g kg–1 are less common because fiber is important for structural support and resistance to the sugarcane borer (Diatraea saccharalis F.) (White et al., 2006). A complete analysis of the components of fiber was not done for L 79-1002. Irvine and Benda (1979) conducted an analysis that indicated that sugar bagasse typically consisted of 36% cellulose, 28% hemicellulose, 20% lignin, 13% other organics, and 2% ash on a dry weight basis. Woodard and Prine (1993) conducted experiments in Gainesville, FL, with L 79-1002, elephantgrass (Pennisetum purpureum Schumach.), and elephantmillet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br. x P. purpureum Schumach.] to assess growth, development, and energy production potential. They assigned energy equivalent yields for L 79-1002 and elephant grasses ranging from 124 to 156 barrels of oil ha–1 yr–1.

Soil fertilizer trials indicated an increase in cane yield due to N fertilizer, with a more limited response to the addition of potassium and phosphorus (Table 5 ). Common of sugarcane grown for sucrose production, the response to fertilizers in the plant-cane crop was negligible. The low response due to fertilizer in a plant-cane crop in Louisiana is usually the result of nutrient mineralization after a 1-yr fallow period. A Commerce silt loam soil is an inherently fertile soil. Production on more marginal soils would certainly require fertilizer inputs to sustain and maximize production.


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  		Table 5. Effect of fertilizers on the biomass components of sugarcane cultivar L 79-1002 for a plant-cane through sixth ratoon crop for an experiment conducted in 1992 through 1998, respectively, at the Sugar Research Station, St. Gabriel, LA.

 
Agronomic and Botanical Description
Plants described here were characterized on 23–24 Aug. 2007 at approximately 150 to 165 d from spring emergence (Table 6 ). Fifteen randomly selected stalks described were from inner rows that were not exposed to direct sunlight.


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  		Table 6. Botanical description of sugarcane cultivar L 79-1002 as determined at the Sugar Research Station in St. Gabriel, LA, in 2007.

 
Stalks of L 79-1002 have only a slight waxy layer. Under the wax layer, L 79-1002 exhibits a greenish-yellow (green predominates) stalk. The hues become darker on exposure to direct sunlight. The mean stalk diameter (and standard deviation) of L 79-1002 is 14 (± 1.3) mm, which is less than typical commercial sugarcane cultivars grown for the production of sucrose. L 79-1002 exhibits a cylindrically shaped internode (fourth internode from ground level) and a glabrous growth ring having a width of 2.0 (± 0.3) mm. The root band of L 79-1002 is 6.7 (± 0.5) mm wide, glabrous with straight sides, and it exhibits unequally distributed rows of irregularly shaped root primordia. The root band of L 79-1002 has no wax layer. The internodes of L 79-1002 are smooth and glabrous with no corky patches or cracks. The average internode length at the midculm is 21.7(± 1.4) cm, with all internodes aligned evenly. There is no bud furrow for L 79-1002. The buds are located just above the leaf scar and are raised above the surface of the root band. L 79-1002 exhibits an ovate shape with wing bud shape (at the fourth node) and an emarginated basal wing region. The buds of L 79-1002 are similar in color to the root band and have no waxy surfaces and no setaceous or pilose hairs.

The leaf canopy of L 79-1002 is drooping. The average leaf blade length and width of L 79-1002, at the third leaf below the top most visible dewlap, was 162 (± 1.4) cm and 19 (± 1.3) mm, respectively, which is a narrower leaf than typical commercial sugarcane cultivars. L 79-1002 exhibits green leaf blades, at the second visible dewlap, that are acuminate. It has a mid-rib distinctly raised on its abaxial side and the same color as the leaf blade on the abaxial side. On the adaxial side, the mid-rib of L 79-1002 has a smooth to concave surface and a whitish color that is distinctly different than its leaf blade. Both the leaf blade and mid-rib are linear, glabrous with a smooth surface, and relatively thin. The dewlaps are greenish, nonwaxy, and squarish deltoid in shape. L 79-1002 exhibits a distinct, necrotic leaf sheath margin. Auricles are predominately absent. There is no pubescence on the leaves or leaf sheaths. Leaf sheaths adhere tightly to the stalk. L 79-1002 exhibits a broad crescent-shaped ligule with no pubescence in this region.

Commercial sugarcane clones rarely flower, whereas clones of S. spontaneum can flower frequently in Louisiana beginning in late November. The following flower description was obtained from a cultivated field of L 79-1002 grown at the Sugar Research Station in St. Gabriel, LA, on 27 Nov. 2007. L 79-1002 exhibited a cylindrical-shaped inflorescence peduncle, degenerating from the base, having a width of approximately 6 mm and length of 40 to 50 mm, and pubescence throughout, with short, appressed, silvery pilose hairs. L 79-1002 has a 650- to 710-mm-long inflorescence main axis with some pilose hairs. Primary branches are 300 to 320 mm long and exhibit appressed racemose branches. Rachis internodes are glabrous from the bottom of the main axis and exhibit a few setaceous hairs toward the apex of the main axis. The apex of L 79-1002 is predominantly grooved. Sessile spikelets have callus hairs with a white color. The sessile spikelets are lanceolate, acuminate, and have membranous glumes, lemma with a hyaline scale, and yellow stamens. Pedicillate spikelets are ovate, acute, and rounded at the base. The glumes of the pedicillate spikelets of L 79-1002 are membranous; the lemma is hyaline; and the stamens are yellow.

Disease and Insect Reactions
Sugarcane disease and sugarcane borer ratings are shown in Table 7 . Diseases and insect ratings were either obtained in controlled tests or observed in yield trials or seed increases. L 79-1002 is resistant to Sugarcane mosaic and Sorghum mosaic viruses. Similar to Ho 95-988 (Tew et al., 2005a) and L 97-128 (Gravois et al., 2008), L 79-1002 exhibited moderate susceptibility to smut, unlike LCP 85-384 and HoCP 96-540 (Tew et al., 2005b), which are resistant to smut. L 79-1002 has resistance to brown rust and leaf scald. The effect of yellow leaf virus and orange rust (caused by Puccinia kuehnii) on the yield of L 79-1002 is unknown. Similar to most commercial sugarcane cultivars grown in Louisiana, L 79-1002 can become infected with ratoon stunting disease (caused by Clavibacter xyli subsp. xyli Davis et al.), although the effect of ratoon stunting disease on yield loss in not known.


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  		Table 7. Disease and insect ratings of sugarcane cultivar L 79-1002 and other commercial sugarcane cultivars.{dagger}

 
The sugarcane borer is the most damaging insect pest of sugarcane in Louisiana. The reaction of L 79-1002 to the sugarcane borer is not known; however, White et al. (2006) showed an increase in resistance to the sugarcane borer with an increase in fiber content. Fields of this cultivar should be scouted to ensure that sugarcane borer populations are controlled until its status for resistance is better understood. The reaction of L 79-1002 to the Mexican rice borer [Eoreuma lofini (Dyar)] is not known.

Field observations indicate that L 79-1002 is no more susceptible to herbicides commonly used for weed control than the commercial cultivars commonly grown for sucrose production.

Availability

The Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station will make available small quantities of seed for research purposes that may be obtained from the corresponding author for at least 5 yr from the date of this publication. Seed of L 79-1002 has been deposited in the USDA-ARS National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation.

Acknowledgments

L 79-1002 was developed as part of a U.S. Department of Agriculture agreement 59-2221-1-2-110-0 and through financial support of the Louisiana State University, Agricultural Center, Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station and the American Sugar Cane League.

Footnotes

All rights reserved. No part of this periodical may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Permission for printing and for reprinting the material contained herein has been obtained by the publisher.

Received for publication December 11, 2007.

References





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