ARS | Publication request: Registration of Cp 94-1340 Sugarcane

Submitted to: Crop Science
Publication Acceptance Date: March 31, 2004
Publication Date: August 23, 2004
Citation: Miller, J.D., Glaz, B.S., Tai, P.Y., Gilbert, R.A., Davidson, J., Dunckelman, J., Comstock, J.C. 2004. Registration Of Cp 94-1340 Sugarcane. Crop Science 44:1869 (2004).

Interpretive Summary: Sugarcane is grown on about 450,000 acres in south Florida (mostly in the Everglades). There is a need to develop cultivars with improved disease resistance, sucrose content and cane yield to maintain the stability of the Florida sugarcane industry. Genetic resistance is the primary way to control diseases in sugarcane therefore, it is desirable to have a large number of cultivars being grown at any one time to reduce the genetic vulnerability to the introduction of new insects or diseases. CP 94-1340 is being released not because of improved yields but because of improved disease resistance. CP 94-1340 is resistant to all the major sugarcane diseases in Florida except ratoon stunting disease (which can be controlled by clean seed treatments). All of the principle cultivars grown in Florida are susceptible to one or more of these diseases.

Technical Abstract: 'CP 94-1340' sugarcane (a complex hybrid of Saccharum officinarum L., S. barberi Jeswiet, S. spontaneum L., and S. sinense Roxb. amend. Jeswiet) (Reg. no. , PI ) was selected from progeny of the cross, CP 87-1733 x CP 86-1665. CP 94-1340 was developed through cooperative research conducted by the USDA-ARS, the University of Florida, and the Florida Sugar Cane League, Inc. and was released in the fall of 2001. Stalk weight of CP 94-1340 averaged over three crops (plant cane, first- and second-ratoon) on organic soils was only 80% of that of the commercial check, CP 70-1133. Stalks of CP 94-1340 are green and the leaves have long ligules. CP 94-1340 was evaluated in eight yield trials over three crops (8 plant cane, 8 first-and 8 second-ratoon crops) on organic soils where its cane yield was 91% of that of CP 70-1133. The sucrose content of CP 94-1340 was 4.0% higher than that of CP 70-1133. Its sucrose yield was 95% of that of CP 70-1133. The theoretical economic index on organic soils for CP 94-1340 was predicted to be 98.5% of that of CP 70-1133. CP 94-1340 was evaluated in two yield trials over three crops (2 plant-cane, 1 first-and 2 second-ratoon crops) on sand soils. The cane yield of CP 94-1340 in these tests was 82.8% of that of CP 70-1133. The sucrose content for CP 94-1340 was 4.7% higher, but its sucrose yield was only 86.6% of that of CP 70-1133. The theoretical economic index on sand soils for CP 94-1340 was predicted to be only 92.4% of that of CP 70-1133. CP 94-1340 has shown field resistance in Florida to eye spot [caused by Bipolaris sacchari (E.J. Butler) Shoemaker]; rust (caused by Puccinia melanocephala Syd. & P. Syd.); smut (caused by Ustilago scitaminea Syd. & P. Syd.); leaf scald [caused by Xanthomonas albilineans (Ashby) Dowson] and sugarcane mosaic virus strain E. Inoculated test results indicated that CP 94-1340 is moderately susceptible to ratoon stunting disease [caused by Leifsonia (Clavibacter) xyli subsp. xyli Davis et al.]. CP 94-1340 was released because of its resistance to the major and minor sugarcane diseases in Florida except ratoon stunting disease which can be controlled by phytosanitary techniques. Every sugarcane cultivar currently being grown is susceptible to at least one of the major diseases endemic in the Florida industry. CP 94-1340 has a fiber content of 9.8% compared to 10.4% for CP 70-1133. Seedcane will be maintained by USDA-ARS at the Sugarcane Field Station, Canal Point, FL for 5 years and is available through the National Plant Germplasm System.