Sugar Content Of Juice Research Articles

Hybrid data‐driven modeling for accurate prediction of quality parameters in sugarcane milling with fine‐tuning

AbstractThe data‐driven model for predicting sugarcane milling quality parameters is crucial for optimization. Current challenges include real‐time data acquisition and limited labeled data, reducing model accuracy and raising data collection costs. There is an urgent need to utilize unlabeled data to establish data‐driven models for sugarcane milling. This study introduces novel hybrid strategies, namely combining Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) with Kernel Extreme Learning Machine (KELM), utilizing pre‐training and fine‐tuning techniques. These strategies include CNN‐KELM and Transfer Learning CNN‐KELM (TL‐CNN‐KELM). Results demonstrate superior accuracy compared to single algorithms. TL‐CNN‐KELM, leveraging unlabeled data through transfer learning, achieves reductions of 0.007 in mean squared error and 0.005 in mean absolute error for extraction rate predictions. For initial juice sugar content predictions, reductions of 0.027 in mean squared error and 0.012 in mean absolute error are attained. This approach demonstrates enhanced accuracy in predicting quality parameters while maintaining robustness to data size.Practical ApplicationsThis work can reduce the data acquisition cost for quality parameter prediction and accelerate the intellectualization of sugarcane milling. In production practice, there are many process industries similar to sugarcane milling, so the novel algorithms also provide an idea for the quality parameter optimization and prediction of other process industries.

Physico-Chemical Properties of Juice in Different Wine Varieties of Grape (Vitis vinifera L.)

Physico-Chemical properties of juice in thirteen wine grape varieties (eight coloured and five white) were evaluated to assess the feasibility of growing wine grape varieties under Southern Telangana conditions. Observations recorded on physico-chemical properties of juice revealed that juice recovery was maximum in Chenin Blanc (78.38%) among the white varieties and in Pusa Navrang (77.75%) from the coloured ones. Total Soluble Solids (TSS) of juice in different varieties ranged from 15.43oB to 21.95oB .Maximum TSS was recorded in Cv. Shiraz followed by Cabernet Sauvignon while minimum content of was observed in Italia. The titrable acidity of juice ranged from minimum of 0.51% in Ruby Red to maximum of 0.92% in Chenin Blanc and all the varieties were found to be within the standard range as reported by Karibasappa and Adsule, 2008 i.e. (dry table wines require high acidity of 0.6 to 0.9%, while sweet dessert wines require 0.5 to 0.6% acidity). pH of the juice ranged from 2.96 (Italia) to 3.53 (Athens) which indicated that as per the pH norms, all the varieties screened are suitable for making wines except Italia. Highest total and reducing sugar content of juice was observed in Shiraz (19.28% and 15.38%) followed by Chenin Blanc (19.07% and 15.21%) and on the other hand, minimum total sugar content (13.14%) was recorded by Cv. Italia and reducing sugar content in Pusa Navrang (7.84%). The results signifies the potential `for cultivation of wine grape varieties under Southern Zone of Telangana.

Non-destructive fluorescence sensing for assessing microclimate, site and defoliation effects on flavonol dynamics and sugar prediction in Pinot blanc grapes.

In an era of growing international competition in modern viticulture, the study and implementation of innovative technologies to increase the production of high-quality grapes and wines are of critical importance. In this study, the non-destructive portable sensor Multiplex, based on fluorescence sensing technique, was applied to evaluate grape maturity parameters and flavonol content of the understudied Pinot blanc variety. The effects of environmental and agronomical factors on flavonol content of Pinot blanc grapes were investigated in eight vineyards characterised by different microclimatic and agronomic conditions. Furthermore, the direct impact of canopy management treatment on the flavonol dynamics of the grapes oriented in the four cardinal directions was assessed. Results highlight the positive role of moderate temperatures and direct sunlight exposure on Pinot blanc flavonol content; however, no direct vineyard-elevation effect was observed. The ability to modulate and evaluate the flavonol content in field represent crucial factors because of their potential effect on flavonoids-dependent wine characteristics, such as stability and ageing. In the present study, for the first time, two calibration curves were reported for pre- and post-veraison periods between flavonol indices and the berry skin flavonol content and a good correlation was observed between Multiplex measurement and the total polyphenolic content of grape juice. Moreover, the strong correlation between the chlorophyll index with grape juice sugar content and titratable acidity revealed the practical application of non-destructive sensors to predict the optimal harvest time for Pinot blanc grapes. In conclusion, the non-destructive fluorescence sensor Multiplex is a high-potential tool for innovative viticulture, for evaluating grape skin composition variables in white grape varieties.

Effects of Water Stress, Defoliation and Crop Thinning on Vitis vinifera L. cv. Solaris: Part I: Plant Responses, Fruit Development and Fruit Quality.

Viticultural practices and irrigation have a major impact on fruit development and yield, and ultimately on must quality. The effects of water deficit (WD), defoliation (Def), and crop-thinning (CT) on Solaris plants and fruit development, as well as on the chemical composition of grape juice were investigated. WD was induced at three periods during fruit development (pre-veraison, veraison, and ripening) in pot-grown plants, while Def and CT were carried out on field-grown plants. Environmental and vegetative parameters were monitored during the experiments. The bulk chemical composition of the fruits was determined in juice by Fourier Transform-Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy throughout fruit ripening and at final harvest. The results showed that WD reduced soil water content and leaf water status. CT significantly reduced yield per vine, but increased cluster size. Mid to late WD reduced soluble solids by 1%. CT increased sugar content in juice, while Def decreased sugar accumulation. Total acids were higher in the juice from the field vines. Yet, CT lowered malic and tartaric acids. Def increased tartaric acid. Ammonia and alpha amino nitrogen were higher in the juice from pot-grown vines, while pH was lowered by Def and raised by CT. It is concluded that Solaris has a remarkable ability to tolerate and recover from WD. CT and Def significantly affected the bulk chemical composition of grapes in terms of total acidity and sugar accumulation, with CT grapes having the highest sugar content and the lowest total acidity and Def the opposite.

Assessment of a New Copper-Based Formulation to Control Esca Disease in Field and Study of Its Impact on the Vine Microbiome, Vine Physiology and Enological Parameters of the Juice.

Copper-based preparations have been used for more than 100 years in viticulture to control downy mildew caused by Plasmopara viticola. LC2017, and a new low-copper-based formulation, has been developed to control grapevine trunk diseases (GTDs). Previous greenhouse studies showed the potential of LC2017 to control GTDs by both fungistatic and plant defense elicitor effects. Here, we further characterize the effects of LC2017 in the field determining its impact on: (i) incidence of Esca, (ii) the vine microbiome, (iii) the vine physiology and (iv) enological parameters of juices. We observed a progressive decrease of cumulate Esca incidence in treated vines over the years with annual fluctuation related to the known erratic emergence of GTD symptoms. Neither harmful effects of LC2017 on the vine microbiota, nor on vine physiology were observed (at both transcriptomic and metabolomic levels). Similarly, no impact of LC2017 was observed on the enological properties of berries except for sugar content in juice from esca-diseased vines. The most important result concerns the transcriptomic profiles: that of diseased and LC2017 treated vines differs from that of disease untreated ones, showing a treatment effect. Moreover, the transcriptomic profile of diseased and LC2017-treated vines is similar to that of untreated asymptomatic vines, suggesting control of the disease.

Energy productivity of sugar sorghum in the central part of the Forest-steppe of Ukraine depending on the harvesting time

Due to global climate change, sugar sorghum (Sorghum saccharatum), due to its fast growth rate, early maturation, efcient use of water and limited need for fertilizers, is the most promising plant for biofuel production in the world. The article presents the results of the study on establishing the dependence of sugar sorghum energy performance indicators on varietal characteristics (varieties 'Silosne 42' and 'Favorit' and hybrids 'Dovista' and 'Medoviy F1') and the green biomass harvesting time. The purpose of the research was to establish the influence of varietal characteristics and harvesting time on sugar sorghum energy productivity in the zone of unstable moisture in the Central part of the Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. The research subject is sugar sorghum energy productivity indicators (yield of green biomass; sugar content of juice; yield of biogas, bioethanol, solid biofuel; total energy yield). The studies were carried out during 2016–2020 in the zone of unstable moisture in the central part of the Forest-Steppe of Ukraine in the conditions of the Bila Tserkva Experimental Breeding Station of the Institute of Bioenergy Crops and Sugar Beet of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. It has been established that the highest yield of biofuel and energy (up to 791.8 GJ/ha) is achieved under growing sugar sorghum of the 'Dovista' hybrid, provided that its biomass is collected in the phase of full seed ripeness (early October). It is advisable to start collecting sugar sorghum biomass for biogas after the panicle throwing phase. To ensure the maximum yield of bioethanol, the optimal time for harvesting green biomass of sugar sorghum is the second decade of September – the frst decade of October. The maximum yield of solid biofuel is achieved under harvesting biomass after the phase of waxy ripeness of grain. The formation of the yield of green biomass of sugar sorghum was more influenced by weather conditions (47.4 %), the influence of varietal characteristics (17.8 %) and the timing of harvesting (12.8 %) was less. But the energy yield was most influenced by the timing of harvesting biomass (37.4 %). A close linear correlation between the energy output and the yield of green (R2=0.81) and dry biomass (R2=0.99) was established. The most ecological plasticity in terms of the total energy yield per unit area turned out to be the 'Medoviy F1' hybrid (b=1.62), which indicates the prospects of growing this hybrid under favorable weather conditions and high level of agricultural technology. Key words: sugar sorghum, varietal characteristics, harvesting time, energy yield, biofuel yield, productivity.

Biomass and sugar production dynamics in sweet sorghum variety Roger

Sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor [L.] Moench) is a crop that is well known for its high production of biomass and sugars in the stem juice. The objective of this work was to evaluate the productivity of sweet sorghum ‘Roger’ based on the dynamics of sugar production and dry biomass by considering different production methods and plant phenological stages. The experimental design consisted of different tillage and fertilization methods established in a randomized complete block design with a split plot arrangement. Tillage treatments were assigned to the plot using the three levels of minimum tillage, traditional tillage, and traditional tillage that included a subsoil operation. Fertilization treatments were assigned to the subplot using the three levels of organic fertilizer, inorganic fertilizer, and without fertilizer. Data collection was performed at different plant phenological stages from anthesis to physiological maturity. Results showed that evaluated agronomic parameters depended on the phenological stage (P < 0.05) rather than the production methods (P > 0.05). Thus, the distribution and accumulation of sugar by stem internodes was associated with plant phenological components. The highest values of the concentration of total soluble solids (14.89%), juice sugar content (22.91 g), juice sugar concentration (527.46 mg g-1 DW), dry biomass (60.04%), and dry biomass yield (19.01 t ha-1) were observed at the physiological maturity stage of the plant.

Response of Clementine Mandarin to Water-Saving Strategies under Water Scarcity Conditions

Water scarcity is the most constraining factor for crop production, especially in arid and semi-arid areas of Mediterranean countries such as Morocco. Within these conditions, different water-saving strategies using deficit irrigation (DI) were tested on two six-years old clementine varieties (‘Sidi Aissa’ and ‘Orogrande’). These DI strategies were applied during the second part of fruit growth and during fruit maturation and included: the control treatment (Cntl), in which the trees received 100% of crop evapotranspiration (ETc) for the entire irrigation season; regulated deficit irrigation (RDI), with an application of 75% of ETc (RDI-1); partial rootzone drying (PRD), with an alternating irrigation between the two root system halves for 3–4 (PRD-3/4) and 7 (PRD-7) days, with an application of 50% crop water requirements; and RDI-2, with an application of 50% of crop water needs during fruit maturation. The results indicate that the trees preferably absorb the water from the upper 0–30 cm-depth soil profile and that fruit drop was increased by PRD for ‘Sidi Aissa’, whereas RDI-1 had no effect on this parameter. The DI strategies had no effect on fruit drop for ‘Orogrande’. The PRD reduced fruit size, yield and fruit juice content, with the effect being more pronounced on ‘Sidi Aissa’. The RDI-1 had no effect on fruit yield for ‘Orogrande’ but reduced it for ‘Sidi Aissa’. RDI-2 had no effect on yield, fruit size or fruit juice content. The DIs tested increased water use efficiency and enhanced fruit maturation as a result of increased juice sugar content and reduced acidity. The PRD tends to increase salt accumulation in the rootzone. Overall, ‘Orogrande’ was less sensitive to water stress and was more water-use efficient, and, under the semi-arid conditions of the experimental zone, PRD should not be used on clementine.

Association between Fruit Development and Mature Fruit Drop in Huanglongbing-affected Sweet Orange

In the past decade, FL citrus industry has been struck by Huanglongbing (HLB), a disease caused by the phloem-limited bacterium Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas). Besides tree decline, HLB causes a sharp increase in mature fruit drop before harvest, leading to a substantial reduction in citrus production. The aim of the study was to provide insights in HLB-associated mature fruit drop. For HLB-affected ‘Valencia’ and ‘Hamlin’ sweet orange (Citrus sinensis), trees exhibiting severe symptoms (“severe trees”) had a significantly higher rate of mature fruit drop compared with mildly symptomatic ones (“mild trees”). Interestingly, dropped fruit were smaller than those still attached to tree branches regardless of the symptom levels of trees; overall, fruit of severe trees were smaller than mild trees. The result suggests a negative effect of HLB on fruit growth that may lead to a high incidence to drop subsequently at maturity. This possibility is further supported by the difference in immature fruit size as early as 2 months after bloom between severe and mild trees. Although HLB-triggered phloem plugging due to callose deposition in citrus leaves, which results in disrupted carbohydrate transport, has been documented in literature, the results of the histological analysis demonstrated no consistent pattern of callose deposition in the mature fruit pedicel in relation to the drop incidence. Additionally, sugar concentration in juice was not significantly different between dropped and attached fruit, providing evidence that carbohydrate shortage is not the case for dropped fruit and thus not the predominant cause of HLB-associated mature fruit drop. Notably, the midday water potential was significantly lower for severe than mild trees during the preharvest period (2 weeks before harvest of the current crop) in late March, which was also the second week after full bloom of return flowering. This suggests that altered tree water status due to HLB might limit fruit growth during the initial stage of fruit development (immediately after flowering) and/or increase the incidence of mature fruit abscission, leading to elevated preharvest fruit drop. Together, the results suggest that in the presence of HLB, strategies to increase fruit size and minimize additional stresses (especially drought) for the trees may improve mature fruit retention.

Productivity of sugar sorghum as affected by the elements of the technology of cultivation in the zone of insufficient moisture in the Eastern Forest-Steppe of Ukraine

Purpose. To find out the dependence of sugar sorghum productivity on varietal characteristics, the sowing date and the harvesting date in the zone of insufficient moisture in the Eastern Forest-Steppe of Ukraine.Methods. The biological and statistical methods were used in the research. Biological methods included field experiments and monitoring of productivity indicators. The results were processed using the following statistical methods: descriptive statistics, ANOVA, and correlation analysis.Results. The degree of the effect of varietal characteristics, sowing date, harvesting date and weather conditions on the productivity and quality of sugar sorghum biomass have been established. The yield of green biomass, the sugar content of the juice and the dry matter content of sugar sorghum hybrid ‘Mamont’ exceeded the corresponding indicators of the variety ‘Sylosne 42’. Harvesting sugar sorghum of the ‘Sylosne 42’ variety and the ‘Mamont’ hybrid in the wax ripeness phase increased the yield of green biomass by 10.4 and 9.5 %, respectively, the sugar content of the juice by 1.8 times, and the dry matter content by 32.6 and 18.3 %, the crude ash content in this case decreased by 4.6 and 3.0 % compared with the phase of booting.Conclusions. The yield of green biomass depends on the varietal characteristics of sugar sorghum (36.5 %), the sowing date (12.1 %) and the harvesting date (12.2 %). A close relationship (R2=0.76) between the yield of green biomass and the length of the vegetation period of sugar sorghum had been established. To obtain a high yield of green biomass of sugar sorghum, its seeds should be sown in late April – early May, and the biomass should be collected no earlier than September in the phase of full ripeness of seeds. The dominant effect on the variation in the sugar content of the juice made the harvesting date (68.1 %). The effect of sowing dates, weather conditions and varietal characteristics on the sugar content in the juice was significantly less and amounted to 2.7, respectively; 2.3 and 1.0 %. Harvesting sugar sorghum in the wax ripeness phase provided a 1.8 times higher sugar content of the juice compared to the phase of booting, and further transfer of harvesting time to the full ripeness phase insignificantly increased the sugar content of the juice. The accumulation of dry matter in sugar sorghum plants was influenced by the harvesting date (54.5 %), the sowing date (5.2 %), weather conditions (3.3 %) and varietal characteristics (0.3 %). Delay in sowing date for every 10 days since the end of April leads to a decrease in the dry matter content in the biomass of sugar sorghum by an average of 1%. Extension of the vegetation by 1 day due to the later harvesting of biomass increases the dry matter content by 0,25 %. The influence of varietal characteristics (12.4 %), sowing date (1.9 %) and harvesting date (23.6 %) on the content of crude ash in the sugar sorghum was established. With an increase in the growing season, the content of ash elements in the biomass of sugar sorghum, both varieties and hybrids, decreased significantly. In terms of yield of green biomass (91.5 t/ha), sugar content of juice (12.7 %) and dry matter content (24.6 %), Sorghum sugar hybrid 'Mamont' exceeded the 'Sylosne 42' variety, the corresponding indices of which were 70,8 t/ha, 12 % and 24.0 %, while the content of ash elements in the biomass of the hybrid was lower than that of the variety.

Effect of the elements of cultivation technology on the productivity and ethanol yield from sugar sorghum in the Central Forest-Steppe of Ukraine

Purpose. To establish the effect of elements of cultivation technology on the productivity and ethanol yield from sugar sorghum. Methods. The biological, calculation and statistical methods were used in the research. Biological methods included conducting field experiment. The bioethanol yield was determined by the calculation method. The obtained results were processed by statistical methods: descriptive statistics and analysis of variance ANOVA. Results. The degree of effect of varietal characteristics, fertilizers, sowing date and weather conditions on the productivity and bioethanol yield from sugar sorghum was established. Fertilizer dose increase by 1 kg a.i. (NPK) in the range from 0 to 80 kg/ha allowed to increase the bioethanol yield by an average of 14.1 kg/ha, but the fertilizer efficiency in the NPK fertilizer dosage range from 80 to 160 kg/ha was only 2,2 kg/ha of bioethanol per 1 kg a.d. (NPK) fertilizer. The bioethanol yield from the ‘Medovyi’ hybrid averaged 2.82 t/ha, which is 17.7 % more than from the ‘Sylosne 42’ variety (2.32 t/ha). The highest bioethanol yield (2.66–2.74 t/ha) was achieved by sowing seeds in the early and middle of May. Conclusions. The bioethanol yield from sugar sorghum was the most affected by weather conditions (39.0 %) and fertilizers (28.5 %), the degree of influence of varietal characteristics and sowing date were 5.2 and 2.7 %, respectively. Under the conditions of severe drought (hydrothermal index (by Selianinov) 0.45), the yield of green biomass of sugar sorghum decreases by 30–32 %, the sugar content of juice by 32–33 %, and the bioethanol yield 2 times in comparison with sufficiently humid weather conditions. (hydrothermal index of 1.45). Fertilizer application N80P80K80 allowed to increase the yield of green biomass of sugar sorghum by 24.9 t/ha, the sugar content of juice by 1.5 % and the bioethanol yield by 1.13 t/ha. Increasing the fertilizer dose by half from N80P80K80 to N160P160K160 contributed to a slight increase in the productivity and bioethanol yield. In 'Medovyi', the yield of green biomass increased by 6.6 t/ha, the sugar content of the juice by 1.3%, the bioethanol yield by 0.5 t/ha compared with ‘Sylosne 42’. Early sowing of sugar sorghum (late April) reduces the yield of green biomass by 6.6 t/ha, juice sugars by 0.5 %, bioethanol yield by 0.34 t/ha compared to optimal terms (early and middle May).

Process Energy Evaluation of Fuel Butanol Production from Sugar Cane–Sweet Sorghum Juices by Acetone–Butanol–Ethanol Fermentation Associated with a Gas Stripping System

Butanol production from sugar cane and sweet sorghum juice was studied using batch and fed batch acetone–butanol–ethanol (ABE) fermentation coupled to a gas stripping process. The variations of the juice sugar content, butanol yield, and sugar conversion on the energy consumption of the industrial process were studied using experimental data with the Aspen Plus software. Butanol yield was the most significant factor. Clarification and butanol recovery stages showed the major energy consumption (12.0% and 72.3% of total energy consumption, respectively). For a fed batch strategy where a concentration step is required, renewable energy sources are needed to have a favorable overall energy balance. The butanol production process by ABE fermentation showed higher energy consumption per kilogram of product than an ethanol plant for a similar raw material which suggests that a substantial improvement in the upstream and downstream of the ABE process is needed.

Changes in the levels of selected organic acids and sugars in apple juice after cold storage

Apples are a source of sugars, acids, and various biologically active compounds, such as phenolic compounds, which are responsible for most of the antioxidant activities of the fruit. The aim of this study was to evaluate how the cold storage of apple fruits affects the nutritional composition of selected organic acid and sugar content in juice in comparison to juice from fresh fruits. Statistical differences were confirmed between the content of citric acid, malic acid, total acid, pH, sucrose, fructose and glucose in juice from fresh fruits and from juice stored for 140 days. No statistical differences were observed between juice from fresh fruit and juice from fruits stored for 140 days in the content of acetic acid, tartaric acid, total sugar and sweetness index.

Effects of Berry Maturity and Wine Alcohol on Phenolic Content during Winemaking and Aging

In this study, grape cultivar, fruit maturity, and alcohol were varied to determine their impacts on polymeric pigment formation in artificially aged wines. Polymeric pigments are formed primarily, but not exclusively, through the reaction of anthocyanins and tannins during wine aging. Two cultivars (Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon) that differ in their native anthocyanin and tannin content were harvested at three maturities (20, 24, and 28 Brix) in order to vary the initial anthocyanin and tannin content and their ratio (A:T). At each harvest, juice sugar content was manipulated in the winery to simulate the two other respective maturities. The range of initial wine A:T varied by cultivar (Cabernet Sauvignon, 0.36 to 0.93; and Syrah, 1.3 to 2.1). Results of two-way ANOVAs indicated that fruit maturity and wine age significantly affect anthocyanin content and decline, as well as small polymeric pigment formation. The anthocyanin decline could be modeled by an exponential decay regression, with R2 values ranging from 0.996 to 0.999, depending on maturity and cultivar. Winery alcohol treatment and time significantly impacted the formation of large polymeric pigments. The initial wine anthocyanin content had the strongest correlation to total polymeric pigment content in wines (R2 of 0.735 and 0.670 for Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon, respectively), while the relationship between A:T and total polymeric pigments was relatively poor (R2 of 0.042 and 0.405 for Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon, respectively). Measuring wine phenolic hydrophobicity is also proposed to evaluate overall phenolic characteristics, and it was significantly impacted by cultivar, fruit maturity, and aging time.

The history of food reformulation

The history of food reformulation

Processing Attributes and Performance of Sweet Sorghum Biomass for Large-Scale Biorefineries: A 1-Year Comparison of Commercial Hybrids and a Cultivar

Processing attributes of sweet sorghum biomass are critical for the manufacture of biofuels and bioproducts. Two commercial sweet sorghum hybrids 105 and 106, late and early maturing, respectively, were compared to inbred, later-maturing Top 76-6 cultivar, for processing attributes at the soft dough (SD) and hard dough (HD) maturity stages. Crops were grown in South Louisiana, and juice extracted from topped whole-stalks was pilot plant clarified and vacuum evaporated to syrups. Hybrid 106 contained a marked amount of auxiliary seed-head/stalk (side-branch tillers), which reduced growth of the main stalk and detrimentally affected juice sugar content and turbidity, as well as clarification and evaporation performance. Except for 105 at the HD stage, turbidity removal across clarification was very acceptable (>92%) and directly related to the median size of the starch granules in the initial raw juice. Clarification was generally better at SD than HD stage. Considerable variation (P >> Top 76-6 > 105; insoluble and soluble starch were both removed in the clarification mud. Overall, the hybrids processed similarly to cultivar Top 76-6, and 105 had the additional advantages of having low starch and no auxiliary seed-head/stalk. Further studies are now warranted to ascertain environmental effects on processing.

Responses of Vitis vinifera L. cv. Sultanina to Water Deficits During Various Pre- and Post-Harvest Phases Under Semi-Arid Conditions

Performance of Sultanina grapevines irrigated at 60% plant-available water depletion (Tl) were compared to situations where water deficits were induced at budbreak (T2), before flowering (T3), after flowering (T4), at pea size (TS) and during ripening (T6). The field trial was performed on a fine sandy soil at Upington in the Lower Orange River region in South Africa. Treatments Tl to T6 were irrigated at 60% plant-available water (PAW) depletion during the post-harvest period and winter. A further four treatments were irrigated at 60% PAW depletion from budbreak until irrigation was terminated three weeks (T7), seven weeks (TS), eleven weeks (T9) and fifteen weeks (TlO) after harvest, respectively. The periods of water stress induced during the various pre-harvest phenological phases were too short to have a significant effect on vegetative growth. Water deficits during the early season (T2, T3 and T4) tended to affect yield more negatively than deficits applied between pea size and harvest (TS and T6). Yield reduction was associated with tendencies toward reduced bunch differentiation, berry shed and smaller berries. Berry size was significantly reduced by water deficits induced after flowering (T4). Water deficits had no significant effect on juice sugar content or on total titratable acids. No choice-grade sun-dried raisins could be produced when grapevines were subjected to water deficits during ripening (T6). In comparison to continued irrigation at 60% PAW depletion and water deficits induced up to pea size, significant browning of dipped raisins produced from TS and T6 grapevines occurred during some seasons. In combination with low relative humidity, water deficits between pruning and budbreak (T7 to TlO) reduced yields significantly compared to continued irrigation at 60% PAW depletion throughout the post-harvest period. Low relative humidity and dry soil also induced delayed budbreak and stimulated excessive shoot growth after harvest to such an extent that cane mass was significantly higher compared to irrigation at 60% PAW depletion. Neither water deficits nor significant shoot regrowth during the post-harvest period had any effect on cane starch content at pruning.

Varieties of sweet sorghum Super-1 and Super-2 and its equipment for bioethanol in Indonesia

The demands for alternative sources of energy are currently growing because people now are more aware of the many negative impacts fossil fuel gives to the environment. Plant based renewable energy provides potential sources of energy with advantages of cleaner fuel effect and capability of integration with food crop production. Sorghum have been considered to be a highly potential source of food, feed and fuel, especially sweet stalk sorghum that posses both functions as source of food from its grain and fuel made from its stalk juice. Sorghum varieties are well known to have excellent adaptability in marginal areas, especially drought prone areas where other food crops are unable to thrive. The current paper aimed to share ongoing research on many functional uses of sweet stalk sorghum varieties released at Indonesian Cereals Research Institute (ICERI). Among many varieties that had been released were two sweet stalk sorghum varieties SUPER-1 and SUPER-2 released in 2013 that stands out in biomass yield and bioethanol production. Based on various researches conducted at different location and planting season, yield potential of biomass ranged at 30 - 40 t/ha with higher yield occurred during dry season. Stalk juice sugar content in brix were found to be higher in dry season ranged at 13.6 % to 18.4 %, and the amount of juice stalk was obtained at about 30–50 % from total biomass yield. Furthermore, bioethanol production from stalk juice after fermentation was at the range of 8 to 10 % from total stalk juice volume. Modification of processing equipment of bioethanol have also been carried out and was able to increased the concentration of ethanol being distilled from 85% -92% to 90% -95%. Another result obtained was able to decreased fermentation time from 14–21 days to 6–10 days. Furthermore, the yield of ethanol from juice was also from an average of 4.95% to 6.75%.

High-Throughput Profiling of the Fiber and Sugar Composition of Sugarcane Biomass

Lignocellulosic biomass from sugarcane (Saccharum spp. hybrids) could potentially be a major feedstock for second-generation biofuel production. Consequently, selecting sugarcane varieties with favorable biomass characteristics, typically less enzymatic recalcitrance and better saccharification yield without sugar-yield penalty, will be important in sugarcane breeding. Economical and high-throughput techniques for profiling the major biomass components of this complex system will facilitate selection of clones with ideal lignocellulosic composition from large numbers of genotypes in breeding programs. We used a combined high-throughput profiling approach to evaluate the biomass composition of samples from a sugarcane germplasm collection. This employed near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy for fiber characterization and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for determining the sugar content in juice. The results for 331 samples, from a diverse sugarcane population of 186 genotypes, derived from 143 parents of different genetic backgrounds, showed that high-quality NIR spectroscopic predictions were feasible for cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, and extractives values in fiber, and sugars in juice were suitably analyzed by HPLC. The analysis of total biomass indicated that this NIR- and HPLC-based high-throughput method allowed a robust phenotypic assessment of a large number of samples for the key biomass traits in the sugarcane system, including total dry biomass, fiber, sugar content, and theoretical ethanol yields, and could potentially become the method of choice for sugarcane germplasm screening in breeding programs targeting the support of biofuel production.

Energy evaluation of fuel bioethanol production from sweet sorghum using very high gravity (VHG) conditions

The bioethanol production from concentrated sweet sorghum juice (142–318 g/L sugar) was studied experimentally. The effects of the juice sugar content, juice concentration prior to fermentation (VHG conditions), fermentation efficiency, and fermentation time on the energy consumption of the industrial process were evaluated using Aspen Plus® software and experimental data. The use of sorghum varieties with high sugar content and of high performance industrial yeasts reduced significantly the energy consumption. However, the decrease in energy consumption in the product recovery by using VHG conditions was less than the increase in energy consumption necessary to get these conditions (juice concentration). The VHG technology can be justified if the concentration of the juice is needed for its storage to avoid spoilage. It can also be used when the sugar content in the raw juice is high and there is no need of juice concentration to work under VHG conditions.