Screening Saccharum Barberi and Sinense Accessions for Flood Tolerance and Biomass Production

Abstract

AbstractThis study evaluated the biomass production potential of Saccharum barberi (Jeswiet) and Saccharum sinense (Roxb. Amend. Jeswiet) accessions under short‐term flooded conditions. Plots were arranged in a completely randomized design with 20 S. sinense and 29 S. barberi accessions, two flood durations with non‐flooded controls and three replications of each treatment. There were no significant flood effects. However, in two individual accessions, ‘China’ and ‘Lu Cane’, sucrose production increased with additional flooding. The plant cane produced larger plants with a greater percentage of fibre and sucrose. Higher Brix values were obtained with the ratoon crop. Brix and fibre were negatively correlated with stem diameter. Stem length in S. barberi was the only physical characteristic that was correlated with sugar factors Brix and optical rotation. S. barberi accessions had high loadings for variables associated with sugar production and stem length, and fibre had moderate loadings for factor 1. Factor 1 explained 35 % of variance in the data. The second principal factor revealed high loadings for variables associated with plant size. Factor 2 explained 30 % of the proportional and together with Factor 1 explained 65 % of the cumulative variance in the data. Several accessions with low sucrose, high plot weight and low fibre were identified. These accessions make attractive selections in breeding for biomass production.