Today and Tomorrow 


sugarcane

The primary focus of the current UF/IFAS sugarcane-breeding program is to improve biomass and sucrose content in new cultivars with greater resistance against major diseases, such as brown rust and orange rust, with strategies focused on developing molecular techniques to improve screening of clones against these diseases. The UF/IFAS energy cane-breeding program is focused on developing high-biomass and disease-resistant cultivars for lignocellulosic ethanol production on marginal or sandy soils. Some top priorities of the program include improving genetic diversity and resistance against biotic and abiotic stresses.

The UF/IFAS sorghum-breeding program is focused on developing cultivars adapted to low-input agriculture in the southeastern U.S., including sweet sorghums with enhanced bioprocessing characteristics. Genetic marker-assisted selection is helping breed for disease resistance.

The UF/IFAS napier grass-breeding program is implementing conventional and marker-assisted breeding strategies for improved biomass production. Genetically distant napier grass genotypes were identified with molecular markers and used as parents for diallel crosses. Progenies with hybrid vigor were selected and field-tested in different locations throughout Florida, showing significant yield increases compared to earlier cultivars.

While Florida currently contributes 50 percent of the nation's cane sugar and 25 percent of all U.S.-produced sugar, bioenergy grasses recently bred by UF/IFAS breeding programs will begin to be commercially grown in Florida when dedicated biofuel conversion facilities for these feedstocks are completed.

Research Contacts


Fredy Altpeter

Fredy Altpeter

Molecular Genetics & Biotechnology 
Bioenergy/Turf
Agronomy | Gainesville

                             
Hardev Sandhu

Hardev Sandhu

Agronomy
Sugarcane
Agronomy | Everglades REC

                               

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