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Sugarcane Varieties Keep Louisiana in the Sugar Business [Image: Sugarcane Variety LCP 82-89]Sugarcane Varieties Keep Louisiana in the Sugar Business Situation: The development of improved sugarcane varieties has been a major factor in sustaining a competitive sugarcane industry in Louisiana. With stagnant and decreasing sugar prices, new sugarcane varieties have offered higher yields, reduced production costs through insect and disease resistance and improved stubble longevity. Concentration on economically important traits in the Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station (LAES) sugarcane breeding program has been a major factor enabling a vibrant sugar economy for South Louisiana. New sugarcane varieties have been developed by both the LAES and the USDA-ARS sugarcane breeding programs since the late 1920s. Recently released varieties that were developed by the LAES were LCP 82-89, LHo 83-153, LCP 85-384 and LCP 86-454. LAES sugarcane varieties are released in cooperation with the USDA-ARS and the American Sugar Cane League. At no time in the history of the Louisiana sugar industry have LAES sugarcane varieties dominated the state's sugarcane acreage. Action: Beginning in 1981, steps were taken to reorganize the LAES sugarcane breeding program. New photoperiod, crossing and greenhouse facilities were built at the St. Gabriel Research Station with the assistance of the Louisiana sugarcane industry. Successful variety development programs also require the cooperation of other disciplines, such as plant pathology, entomology, genetics and experimental statistics. With the proper team in place, sugarcane breeding efforts were undertaken with the goal of having LAES sugarcane varieties significantly impact the Louisiana sugarcane industry. Impact: LCP 85-384, released in 1993, has significantly impacted the Louisiana sugar industry. The sugar yields of LCP 85-384 are about 20 percent higher than sugar yields of other previously grown sugarcane varieties. Along with excellent sugar yields, LCP 85-384 also has good disease resistance, excellent stubbling ability and good cold tolerance. The stubbling ability of LCP 85-384 allows farmers to grow more crops from a single planting, which reduces production costs. The good cold tolerance of LCP 85-384 gives farmers additional insurance against the harmful effects of early winter freezes during harvest. Sugarcane growers are quickly expanding their acreage of LCP 85-384. LCP 85-384 was grown on 71 percent of the state's 2000 acreage. Acreage in LCP 85-384 is expected to continue to increase. In fact, 82 percent of the state's plant cane crop harvested in 2000 will be LCP 85-384. Further expansion is expected to continue. It is estimated that the economic impact of LCP 85-384 in 2000 will be about $250 million. The LAES sugarcane breeding program has had[Image: Sugarcane Variety LCP 85-384], and will continue to have, a positive impact on keeping Louisiana in the sugar business. Contact: Kenneth Gravois Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station LSU Agricultural Center 225-642-0224 Fax 255-642-5339 kgravois@agcenter.lsu.edu

Posted on: 2/10/2005 9:51:19 AM