Project Number: 6435-22000-009-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: Nov 07, 2001
End Date: Aug 01, 2005

Objective:
To develop weed control treatments and alternate cultural practices, which improve efficiency and are environmentally acceptable both in the crop and in fallowed fields; to identify and develop germplasm with resistance to the major insects affecting sugarcane; to identify molecular markers that are linked to genes for insect resistance; to investigate the use of growth regulators that accelerate ripening; and to explore the use of plant pathogens and parasitoids for biological control of weeds and insects pests.

Approach:
Application techniques and weed and insect management systems to improve herbicide and insecticide efficiency, reduce crop phytotoxicity, and minimize the threat of disease transmission will be developed and evaluated in field experiments. Studies will be conducted to characterize cultivar and cultural systems where altered row gometries, reduced cultivation frequencies, post-harvest plant residues, and ripeners are included. To identify and develop germplasm with resistance to the sugarcane borer, highly domesticated and wild clones of sugarcane and near relatives will be evaluated for resistance following either natural infection or artificial inoculation. Conduct a recurrent selection program to concentrate genes for sugarcane borer resistance in elite parental lines for use in the commercial breeding program. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based methods such as RAPD, AFLP, or SSR will be used to identify genetic markers closely linked to the resistance of the sugarcane borer. In fallowed fields, the use of short-session, rotational crops to improve soil fertility, weed control, and profitability will be evaluated. The biological control of weeds such as johnsongrass and morningglories and sugarcane borers will be evaluated using laboratory, greenhouse, and field studies.

Project Team

White, William Richard, Edward

Project Annual Reports

FY 2003   FY 2002