Project Number: 6625-13210-004-02
Project Type: Trust

Start Date: Apr 01, 2006
End Date: Mar 31, 2010

Objective:
Produce sugarcane seed of recommended crosses of clones from Louisiana, Texas and Florida for the ARS Louisiana sugarcane Breeding Program.

Approach:
Sugarcane clones will be imported from Louisiana, quarantined and tested for pathogens of leaf scald, ratoon stunt, yellow leaf and mosaic. Subsequently, the disease-free clones will be released and incorporated into the breeding population for crossing. The plants will be grown under conditions to maximize flowering by manipulating light treatments using photoperiod and light delay treatments. Recommended crosses will be made using female tassels pollinated with male tassels by maintaining plants on either photoperiod carts or on rail carts that are moved into heated structures at night to prevent emasculation by cold temperatures. After crosses are made the pollinated tassels will be held for seed set and the mature seed will be harvested and sent to the ARS program in Louisiana.