4d.Progress report.
This report serves to document research conducted under a Non-Funded Cooperative Agreement between the Agricultural Research Service's (ARS) Sugarcane Research Unit (SRU), the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center’s Sugarcane Experiment Station (LSUAC), and the American Sugar Cane League of the U.S.A. Additional details of research can be found in the report for the inhouse research project 6435-21000-012-00D, Genetic Improvement of Sugarcane by Conventional and Molecular Approaches. The objective of this cooperative research effort is to develop improved sugarcane varieties adapted to Louisiana’s unique temperature climate. The objective will be approached having SRU and LSUAC scientists design and make crosses using conventional techniques and the experimental and commercial varieties on hand, collecting seed from these crosses, planting the seed in greenhouses and ultimately planting the resulting seedlings at their respective experimental farms. Experimental varieties deemed to have commercial potential will be evaluated jointly by the three parties and ultimately jointly released for commercial planting. In 2006 nearly 200,000 seedlings were transplanted to the field to begin year one of a thirteen-year selection program. Two varieties, L 99-226 and L 99-233, were released for commercial planting in FY 2006. This research supports Component IIb (Genetic Improvement) of National Program 301 (Plant Microbial and Insect Genetic Resources, Genomics and Genetic Improvement).