Sugarcane Hybrids Research Articles

Rapid and Non-Destructive Methodology for Measuring Canopy Coverage at an Early Stage and Its Correlation with Physiological and Morphological Traits and Yield in Sugarcane

Screening for elite sugarcane genotypes for canopy cover in a rapid and non-destructive way is important to accelerate varietal/clonal selection, and little information is available regarding canopy cover and leaf production, leaf area, biomass production, and cane yield in sugarcane crop. In the present investigation, the digital images of sugarcane crop by using Canopeo software was assessed for their correlation with the physiological and morphological parameters and cane yield production. The results revealed that among the studied parameters, canopy coverage has shown a significantly better correlation with the plant height (0.581 **), leaf length (0.853 **), leaf width (0.587 **), and leaf area (0.770 **) in commercial sugarcane clones. Two-way cluster analysis has led to the identification of Co 0238, Co 86249, Co 10026, Co 99004, Co 94008, and Co 95020 with better physiological traits for higher sugarcane yield under changing climate. Additionally, in another field experiment with pre-breeding, germplasm, and interspecific hybrid sugarcane clones, the canopy coverage showed a significantly better correlation with germination, shoot count, leaf weight, leaf area index, and plant height, and finally with biomass (r = 0.612 **) and cane yield (r = 0.458 **). It has been found that the plant height, total dry matter (TDM), and leaf area index (LAI) had significant correlation with the cane yield, and the canopy cover data from digital images act as a surrogate for these traits, and further it has been observed that CC had better correlation with cane yield compared to the other physiological traits viz., SPAD, total chlorophyll (TC), and canopy temperature (CT) under ambient conditions. Light interception determined using a line quantum sensor had a significant positive correlation (r = 0.764 **) with canopy coverage, signifying the importance of determining the latter in a non-destructive way in a rapid manner and low cost.

Diurnal metabolism of energy-cane and sugarcane: A metabolomic and non-structural carbohydrate analysis

Energy-cane is a cross breed between commercial sugarcane and S. spontaneum, a hybrid that has higher fiber content, low sucrose and greater productivity compared to commercial sugarcane hybrids. It has been recently shown that diurnal and seasonal changes impact several physiological characteristics of sugarcane. However, little is known about how the diurnal cycle affects the production of carbohydrates and metabolites in energy-cane. In the present study, we investigate the diurnal cycle of adult sugarcane and energy-cane by analyzing the carbohydrates and metabolites profiles of leaves and internodes. Our results show fluctuations in the soluble sugars content (sucrose, glucose and fructose) and the metabolites profile throughout of day, which indicates different growth strategies and carbon use among these cultivars. In addition, a high concentration of starch was observed in the mature internodes of energy-cane. Some biological pathways related to biomass production, such as the phenylpropanoid pathway, were more active in energy-cane compared to sugarcane. Our results reveal that sugarcane and energy-cane metabolism are different throughout the day, a better understanding of the metabolism of these cultivars opens the possibility of creating more efficient plants through breeding.

Modeling and techno-economic analysis of a hybrid sugarcane plant fed by vinasse biogas and bagasse surplus for electricity generation

The growing demand for electricity from renewable energy sources has motivated sugarcane producers to improve the power generation capacity of their plants. In this regard, the present work aims to contribute to the energy recovery process from two sugarcane byproducts: bagasse and vinasse. A novel hybrid combined cycle is devised to use the bagasse surplus generated during the sugarcane season to produce high enthalpy steam for a dedicated condensing turbine. A gas turbine, fed by vinasse biogas vinasse, is used to provide thermal energy to the steam bottoming cycle. Concomitantly, steam for the sugar and ethanol is produced by the existing sugarcane cogeneration system. This approach allows to increase the plant's electricity generation. From a prescribed milling capacity, a conventional sugarcane plant is modeled and validated at steady-state regime. Then, a hybrid plant, designed to consume the bagasse surplus and the vinasse biogas, is presented, and compared to the conventional plant. During the off-season, in the absence of vinasse and biogas, an off-design option is proposed to keep the system running full-time. Results showed that the hybrid plant electricity generation (kWhel) is 7.2–41.5% higher than the conventional plant. The economic feasibility of retrofitting a typical sugarcane plant (live steam parameters at 68 bar/480 °C, for example), by means of a hybrid combined cycle, points to an internal rate of return of around 22.3% and payback period of 5 years. A parametric analysis was carried out showing that, for a process steam consumption below 540kg of steam per tons of sugarcane milled, there will always be leftover bagasse of the season, regardless of the conventional plant steam profile. The production of vinasse required for the hybrid system ranges from 310 to 375 L by tons of sugarcane milled (TC), values within the range of existing sugarcane plants (156–910 L/TC). In addition, the plant operating time can be extended in the off-season, from 200 to 330 days per year, with electrical efficiency achieving around of 27% in this period. In conclusion, the proposed system moves towards the advancement of clean and sustainable electricity generation in the sugarcane industry.

Chemical and histological characterization of internodes of sugarcane and energy-cane hybrids throughout plant development

Sugarcane and energy-cane are important Saccharum spp. hybrids that encompass desirable features for energy production. Their stem lignocellulose can be used as the raw material for the second-generation ethanol industry, contributing to accelerated fossil-fuel replacement. However, knowledge on the internode composition and saccharification of these hybrids is still needed to optimize their uses, especially in energy-cane. In this work, the agronomical, chemical, and histological internode features and saccharification potential were analyzed in sugarcane and energy-cane hybrids across four critical developmental stages (tillering, grand growth, early ripening and late ripening) and several internode positions along the stem. Except for galactose content that was higher in the sugarcane hybrid compared to the energy-cane, cell-wall composition was fairly similar in both types of cane across the growing cycle. Among main cell-wall components, maximum crystalline cellulose and matrix polysaccharides contents were observed at tillering and late ripening, respectively. Lignin concentrated towards upper internode positions and advanced developmental stages. Saccharification potential augmented towards apical internodes and early developmental stages, and negatively correlated to lignin and xylose contents. The energy-cane hybrid showed lower number of vascular bundles and metaxylem diameter and its lignin deposition was more extended towards the parenchymal tissue, when compared to the commercial sugarcane throughout the growth cycle. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that developmental stage and internode position largely affect cell-wall composition and its recalcitrance to enzymatic degradation. The use of sugarcane/energy-cane lignocellulose from early developmental stages could be beneficial for the second generation ethanol production. Novel management practices for that usage should consider economic, social and environmental sustainability standards under a sugar/ethanol production scheme.

Mechanical evaluation and characterization of hybrid sugarcane bagasse microfibrillated cellulose with added filler materials for use as disposable utensils

Sugarcane bagasse–based raw materials are predominantly used for their low cost and ease of availability of cellulosic materials for biocomposite engineering. Herein, we use cellulose derived from bagasse to form microfibrillated cellulose (MFC). Unmodified MFCs were chemically characterized using FTIR and SEM-EDX analysis and later treated with the addition of filler materials, such as glass powder, air bubbles, and activated carbon, in order to enhance material properties. Sugarcane bagasse microfibrillated cellulose with added filler materials were subsequently evaluated with respect to their mechanical, structural, and chemical properties. The MFC was synthesized via a facile microfibrillation process enabled by a kitchen blender at ambient conditions. The as-formed MFC was thoroughly characterized chemically to identify any chemical compositional variations, especially those observed as a result of filler addition. Changes in mechanical properties of MFCs in the presence of individual filler materials were evaluated using tensile testing and are reported at a nearly comparable strength of ~3.63 MPa. The addition of filler materials resulted in the improvement of MFC such that the MFC was easily drawn into pliable sheets. The increased flexibility of the MFC offers a simple strategy to create bagasse-based disposable utensils that could promote sustainable and eco-friendly commodities.

Evaluation of drought tolerance in sugarcane genotypes using the membership function value of drought tolerance (MFVD)

Drought is a worldwide problem seriously influencing sugarcane (Saccharum L. spp. hybrids) production. The long-term domestication and selective breeding in artificial environments may have reduced the drought resistance of sugarcane. The objective of this study was to determine drought tolerance in a 138-genotype of elite sugarcane hybrids using the membership function value of drought tolerance (MFVD). Based on the drought-tolerant coefficient (DC) of four yield traits (biomass, stalk weight, stalk diameter and stalk height) and bud survival rate (SR) at different growth stage under well-watered (WW) and water-stressed (WS) conditions. As expected, genotype means decreased for all five traits with WS, and the decrease of biomass, stalk weight, stalk diameter, stalk height and bud survival rate (SR) was ≥ 24%. The broad sense heritability of five morphological traits (B, SW, SH, SD and SR) was relatively high. Correlation coefficients analysis revealed that the MFVD was significantly positively correlated with the DCB, DCSW, DCSH and DCSD at the growth stage and SR at the seedling stage. Results indicated that these characters were closely related to the drought resistance of sugarcane. Regression models built based on MFVD indicated that the variation of drought tolerant coefficient of 4 traits at the growth stage and SR at the seeding stage could explain the total variation. Thus, these five traits could be used as drought resistance indicators for screening drought resistance cultivars in sugarcane. The MFVD based on the DC of each yield traits and SR indicated that ten out of the138 sugarcane hybrids had high drought resistance, while 14 genotypes were highly susceptible to the drought, which can be used as ideal experimental materials to study the mechanism of sugarcane genotypes with contrasting drought sensitivities in response to drought stress. Our results help to fill the knowledge gap regarding to the sugarcane production under stress, shed light on sugarcane drought tolerance and provided useful information to the sugarcane breeders and producers which could be used in variety selecting and developing for dry prone regions.

The subgenome Saccharum spontaneum contributes to sugar accumulation in sugarcane as revealed by full-length transcriptomic analysis

IntroductionModern sugarcane cultivars (Saccharum spp. hybrids) derived from crosses between S. officinarum and S. spontaneum, with high-sugar traits and excellent stress tolerance inherited respectively. However, the contribution of the S. spontaneum subgenome to sucrose accumulation is still unclear. ObjectiveTo compensate for the absence of a high-quality reference genome, a transcriptome analysis method is needed to analyze the molecular basis of differential sucrose accumulation in sugarcane hybrids and to find clues to the contribution of the S. spontaneum subgenome to sucrose accumulation. MethodsPacBio full-length sequencing was used to complement genome annotation, followed by the identification of differential genes between the high and low sugar groups using differential alternative splicing analysis and differential expression analysis. At the subgenomic level, the factors responsible for differential sucrose accumulation were investigated from the perspective of transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation. ResultsA full-length transcriptome annotated at the subgenomic level was provided, complemented by 263,378 allele-defined transcript isoforms and 139,405 alternative splicing (AS) events. Differential alternative splicing (DA) analysis and differential expression (DE) analysis identified differential genes between high and low sugar groups and explained differential sucrose accumulation factors by the KEGG pathways. In some gene models, different or even opposite expression patterns of alleles from the same gene were observed, reflecting the potential evolution of these alleles toward novel functions in polyploid sugarcane. Among DA and DE genes in the sucrose source-sink complex pathway, we found some alleles encoding sucrose accumulation-related enzymes derived from the S. spontaneum subgenome were differentially expressed or had DA events between the two contrasting sugarcane hybrids. ConclusionFull-length transcriptomes annotated at the subgenomic level could better characterize sugarcane hybrids, and the S. spontaneum subgenome was found to contribute to sucrose accumulation.

Evaluation of a Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) Hybrid F1 Population Phenotypic Diversity and Construction of a Rapid Sucrose Yield Estimation Model for Breeding.

Sugarcane is the major sugar-producing crop worldwide, and hybrid F1 populations are the primary populations used in breeding. Challenged by the sugarcane genome's complexity and the sucrose yield's quantitative nature, phenotypic selection is still the most commonly used approach for high-sucrose yield sugarcane breeding. In this study, a hybrid F1 population containing 135 hybrids was constructed and evaluated for 11 traits (sucrose yield (SY) and its related traits) in a randomized complete-block design during two consecutive growing seasons. The results revealed that all the traits exhibited distinct variation, with the coefficient of variation (CV) ranging from 0.09 to 0.35, the Shannon-Wiener diversity index (H') ranging between 2.64 and 2.98, and the broad-sense heritability ranging from 0.75 to 0.84. Correlation analysis revealed complex correlations between the traits, with 30 trait pairs being significantly correlated. Eight traits, including stalk number (SN), stalk diameter (SD), internode length (IL), stalk height (SH), stalk weight (SW), Brix (B), sucrose content (SC), and yield (Y), were significantly positively correlated with sucrose yield (SY). Cluster analysis based on the 11 traits divided the 135 F1 hybrids into three groups, with 55 hybrids in Group I, 69 hybrids in Group II, and 11 hybrids in Group III. The principal component analysis indicated that the values of the first four major components' vectors were greater than 1 and the cumulative contribution rate reached 80.93%. Based on the main component values of all samples, 24 F1 genotypes had greater values than the high-yielding parent 'ROC22' and were selected for the next breeding stage. A rapid sucrose yield estimation equation was established using four easily measured sucrose yield-related traits through multivariable linear stepwise regression. The model was subsequently confirmed using 26 sugarcane cultivars and 24 F1 hybrids. This study concludes that the sugarcane F1 population holds great genetic diversity in sucrose yield-related traits. The sucrose yield estimation model, ySY=2.01xSN+8.32xSD+0.79xB+3.44xSH-47.64, can aid to breed sugarcane varieties with high sucrose yield.

Molecular Genetic Mechanisms of Heterosis in Sugarcane Cultivars Using a Comparative Transcriptome Analysis of Hybrids and Ancestral Parents

Modern sugarcane cultivars (Saccharum spp. hybrids) are the major contributors to sucrose and bioenergy in the world. The global changes in gene expression and the molecular mechanism of heterosis between modern sugarcane hybrids and their parents remain to be elucidated. In this study, we performed a comparative transcriptome analysis between hybrids and their parents using the Illumina RNA-Seq method to understand the differences in transcript expression after hybridization. The results show that (1) introduction of the S. spontaneum lineage resulted in significant upregulation of biotic and abiotic stress resistance genes in S. hybrids, including hexokinase (HXK) genes, pathogenesis-related protein (PR1) genes, coronatine-insensitive protein (COI-1), jasmonate ZIM domain-containing protein (JAZ) genes, and serine/threonine protein kinase 2 (SnRK2) genes. (2) Transgressive genes in hybrids were mainly concentrated in the synthesis pathways of biotin and vitamin B6, helping establish advantages in terms of stress resistance, antioxidant activity, and growth. (3) Glutathione-S-transferase (GST) was likely to enhance stress resistance in hybrids, and corresponding genes were key positive selection genes in processes, including round-robin selection and other adaptations. In this study, we propose explanations for heterosis in sugarcane hybrids from a transcriptomic perspective, in addition to identifying candidate genes to aid in the improvement of sugarcane cultivars.

Effect of explanting season on morphogenesis of leaf sheath explants of sugarcane (Saccharum sp.) hybrid var. CoS 99259

Effect of explanting season on morphogenesis of leaf sheath explants of sugarcane (Saccharum sp.) hybrid var. CoS 99259

DdRADseq-mediated detection of genetic variants in sugarcane.

The article presents an optimization of the key parameters for the identification of SNPs in sugarcane using a GBS protocol based on two Illumina NextSeq and NovaSeq platforms. Sugarcane (Saccharum sp.), a world-wide known feedstock for sugar production, bioethanol, and energy, has an extremely complex genome, being highly polyploid and aneuploid. A double-digestion restriction site-associated DNA sequencing protocol (ddRADseq) was tested in four commercial sugarcane hybrids and one high-fibre biotype for the detection of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). In this work we tested two Illumina sequencing platforms, read size (70 vs. 150bp), different sequencing coverage per individual (medium and high coverage), and single-reads versus paired-end reads. We also explored different variant calling strategies (with and without reference genome) and filtering schemes [combining two minor allele frequencies (MAFs) with three depth of coverage thresholds]. For the discovery of a large number of novel SNPs in sugarcane, we recommend longer size and paired-end reads, medium sequencing coverage per individual and Illumina platform NovaSeq6000 for a cost-effective approach, and filter parameters of lower MAF and higher depth coverages thresholds. Although the de novo analysis retrieved more SNPs, the reference-based method allows downstream characterization of variants. For the two best performing matrices, the number of SNPs per chromosome correlated positively with chromosome length, demonstrating the presence of variants throughout the genome. Multivariate comparisons, with both matrices, showed closer relationships among commercial hybrids than with the high-fibre biotype. Functional analysis of the SNPs demonstrated that more than half of them landed within regulatory regions, whereas the other half affected coding, intergenic and intronic regions. Allelic distances values were lower than 0.07 when analysing two replicated genotypes, confirming the protocol robustness.

Genetic Improvement of Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) Contributed to High Sucrose Content in China Based on an Analysis of Newly Developed Varieties

In China, sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) hybrid cross-breeding began in 1953; approximately 70 years since then, >100 commercial sugarcane varieties have been created. In this study, 88 commercial varieties bred in China between 1953 and 2010 and 12 original foundational varieties were planted to investigate the effect of improving sugarcane varieties in China. Considering 20 years as a time node, the commercial varieties were classified into four improved generations. Retrospective analysis showed significant improvements in sucrose and other technological characteristics of commercial sugarcane varieties. The adoption of improved varieties over generations has continuously increased sugarcane’s sucrose, juice sugar, and gravity purity, and the difference was significant between Gen1 and Gen3, and between Gen2 and Gen4. Gen4 showed 2.06%, 2.35%, and 3.69% higher sugarcane sucrose (p < 0.01), juice sugar (p < 0.01), and purity (p < 0.05), respectively, and 1.13% lower sugarcane fiber (p < 0.01) than Gen1, the original foundational hybrid varieties. The development of new varieties has improved the technological characteristics of Chinese sugarcane. Sugarcane sucrose, juice sugar, and purity showed an increasing trend. Sugarcane fiber content did not significantly change with the development of new varieties but declined in comparison with the original foundational hybrid varieties.

Accuracy of Genomic Prediction of Yield and Sugar Traits in Saccharum spp. Hybrids

Genomic selection (GS) has been demonstrated to enhance the selection process in breeding programs. The objectives of this study were to experimentally evaluate different GS methods in sugarcane hybrids and to determine the prospect of GS in future breeding approaches. Using sugar and yield-related trait data from 432 sugarcane clones and 10,435 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), a study was conducted using seven different GS models. While fivefold cross-validated prediction accuracy differed by trait and by crop cycle, there were only small differences in prediction accuracy among the different models. Prediction accuracy was on average 0.20 across all traits and crop cycles for all tested models. Utilizing a trait-assisted GS model, we could effectively predict the fivefold cross-validated genomic estimated breeding value of ratoon crops using both SNPs and trait values from the plant cane crop. We found that the plateau of prediction accuracy could be achieved with 4000 to 5000 SNPs. Prediction accuracy did not decline with decreasing size of the training population until it was reduced below 60% (259) to 80% (346) of the original number of clones. Our findings suggest that GS is possibly a new direction for improving sugar and yield-related traits in sugarcane.

Floral characteristics, pollen morphology, and viability of sugarcane hybrids (Saccharum × officinarum) and the neotropical wild relative, S. villosum

Interspecific hybridization occurs naturally only under restricted conditions and is a phenomenon with evolutionary and agricultural implications. Production of viable pollen grains is required in at least one of the species involved, provided the other parental species is female-fertile. In this study, we assessed pollen viability in the South American native Saccharum villosum and in S. x officinarum (sugarcane), which are partly sympatric. Sex distribution in sugarcane hybrids and reproductive morphology of S. villosum were analyzed to verify potential conditions for interspecific hybridization. Five of the sugarcane hybrids were shown to be exclusive hermaphrodites, two of them protogynous and one protandrous, and three hybrids were shown to be gynomonoecious, all potentially able to receive and donate pollen. All hybrids have viable pollen grains, but at different degrees (ca. 4% to 62%). S. villosum produces more viable pollen than sugarcane in southeastern Brazil. Pollen grains in S. villosum are middle-sized (32-39 μm in diameter), monoporate, monadic, prolato-spheroidal, isopolar, with exine ornamentation consisting of ungrouped granules, being distinguishable from sugarcane pollen. Pollen grains in S. villosum are highly variable for the five internal traits measured, especially for nexine and tectum thicknesses. Seed development of S. villosum occurs before panicle emergence. A morpho-anatomical analysis of the germinated seed revealed that S. villosum has traits considered as derived within Poaceae, such as the lack of epiblast. However, this species is an early-divergent Saccharum member, based on a small relative embryo size. In conclusion, the absence of natural hybrids between sugarcane and S. villosum is more probably associated with either autogamy or agamospermy in the wild species rather than with pollen inviability or absence of pollen production in sugarcane.

Photoperiodic Induction and Synchronization of Flowering in Sugarcane Hybrids for Breeding Programs

Photoperiodic Induction and Synchronization of Flowering in Sugarcane Hybrids for Breeding Programs

Experimental Investigation of Concrete Characteristics Strength with Partial Replacement of Cement by Hybrid Coffee Husk and Sugarcane Bagasse Ash

Concrete is the most extensively utilized construction material globally and is increasingly used due to industrialization and urbanization. Currently, most scientists worldwide are concentrating their attention on effective strategies to adopt materials from large amounts of waste resources as a partial substitute for cement in concrete production due to scarcity of resources and continuous environmental pollution. In this study, an experimental investigation was conducted on the properties of concrete made from the partial replacement of cement by hybrid coffee husk ash (CHA) and sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA). The study considered different percentages (0%, 5%, 10%, and 15%) of hybrid ash to assess the engineering properties of fresh and hardened concrete of C-20/25. A slump and compaction factor test was conducted to study the workability of fresh concrete. The study showed that, as the percentage of replacement increased from 0% to 15%, the workability of the concrete decreased up to 15.15%. In addition, compression, split tensile, and flexural tests were done on the 7th, 14th, and 28th days to investigate the properties of hardened concrete. Based on the test result, 10% of hybrid ash was the maximum percentage of replacement that showed a compressive and tensile strength greater than the target strength. Therefore, the study concludes that up to 10% replacement of cement by hybrid ash may be employed in concrete production, which in turn is used to minimize the cost of construction and environmental pollution by recycling waste coffee husk and sugarcane bagasse.

Allele expression biases in mixed-ploid sugarcane accessions

Allele-specific expression (ASE) represents differences in the magnitude of expression between alleles of the same gene. This is not straightforward for polyploids, especially autopolyploids, as knowledge about the dose of each allele is required for accurate estimation of ASE. This is the case for the genomically complex Saccharum species, characterized by high levels of ploidy and aneuploidy. We used a Beta-Binomial model to test for allelic imbalance in Saccharum, with adaptations for mixed-ploid organisms. The hierarchical Beta-Binomial model was used to test if allele expression followed the expectation based on genomic allele dosage. The highest frequencies of ASE occurred in sugarcane hybrids, suggesting a possible influence of interspecific hybridization in these genotypes. For all accessions, genes showing ASE (ASEGs) were less frequent than those with balanced allelic expression. These genes were related to a broad range of processes, mostly associated with general metabolism, organelles, responses to stress and responses to stimuli. In addition, the frequency of ASEGs in high-level functional terms was similar among the genotypes, with a few genes associated with more specific biological processes. We hypothesize that ASE in Saccharum is largely a genotype-specific phenomenon, as a large number of ASEGs were exclusive to individual accessions.

Improvements in Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) Varieties and Parent Traceability Analysis in Yunnan, China

Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) breeding in China has a history of nearly 70 years. Yunnan province represents the second largest sugarcane planting area in China; therefore, by studying the evolution of sugarcane varieties in this region, it is possible to gain an understanding of the process of improvement since the foundation of sugarcane hybrid breeding. In this study, we compared the main industrial and agronomical characteristics of 107 sugarcane varieties, developed between 1952 and 2020, and discussed the reasons for replacement and exchange. Overall, significant differences were observed (p < 0.01), highlighting notable improvements, especially in terms of yield; however, disease incidence remains a serious issue and the fundamental reason for variety replacement. Meanwhile, analysis of parent traceability revealed that the main varieties cultivated at present have a similar parental relationship based around CP, F, and YC series germplasms. Taken together, these findings suggest that disease-resistant breeding should be strengthened, and susceptible varieties eliminated, while making full use of existing varieties as core parents.

Development and Evaluation of the performance of Some Sugarcane Hybrids to Detect the Elite Ones.

Development and Evaluation of the performance of Some Sugarcane Hybrids to Detect the Elite Ones.

Agro-industrial evaluation of new sugarcane (Saccaharum spp.) hybrids in the dry tropic under no watering conditions

Objective: To select new sugarcane (Saccaharum spp.) hybrids with better adaptability and higher field and industrial performance, within the supply area of the Quesería Sugar Mill of the Beta San Miguel group (BSM). Design/methodology/approach: We set up a group of 11 new hybrids in the agro-industrial phase in order to compare their adaptability and their field and industrial performance, using the Mex 69-290 commercial hybrid as control. Results: The obtained results indicated that during the soca cycle and under local soil conditions, the ColMex 05-484, ColMex 05-38 (C9), and ColMex 05-627 hybrids produced the highest estimated field yields, with values of 154, 149, and 143 t/ha-1, respectively. The highest percentages of sucrose in cane (Pol) in 12-month-old plants were observed in the ColMex 05-147 (16.8%), ColMex 08-38 (C8) (16.5%), and ColMex 05-897 (16.1%) hybrids, according to their intermediate stage maturity curve. Study limitations/implications: The limitations that could affect the results of the research were the abundance of stones on the topsoil and the poor distribution of rainfall during crop development (1,203 mm). Findings/conclusions: After analyzing the agricultural and industrial performance of several hybrids, we can conclude that ColMex 05-484 was the best, surpassing the Mex 69-290 commercial control.