简介

Sugarcane cultivar development. I am responsible for Stage III of the “CP” breeding program that produces the Canal Point sugarcane clones. The CP program is a tripartite agreement between USDA-ARS, the Florida Sugar Cane League and the University of Florida. CP clones are grown on > 90% of the Florida sugarcane acreage and are also economically important in many countries including Argentina (25% of total sugarcane acreage), Belize (16%), El Salvador (50%), Guatemala (65%), Honduras (47%), Mexico (15%), Morocco (54%), Nicaragua (75%), Senegal (9%) and Venezuela (9%). Energy cane cultivar development. A new project in conjunction with USDA-ARS involves selecting and evaluating energy canes germplasm for cellulosic ethanol production or direct combustion. Energy canes differ from sugarcane in that they have a high percentage of Saccharum spontaneum genes, fiber content and high plant population. We are evaluating these clones for biomass production, fiber characteristics and disease resistance at sites in South and Central Florida as well as in Costa Rica (in a collaboration with EARTH University). Our research program also includes agronomic comparisons of energy cane feedstocks to other grass species such as elephantgrass, Miscanthus and Arundo donax. Green cane harvesting. I am evaluating different harvest methods for sugarcane. Traditionally sugarcane has been burnt prior to harvest to remove the adhering dead leaves (termed cane trash) and increase efficiency of harvest. However there is increasing pressure worldwide to harvest sugarcane without burning (termed green cane harvest). This research project is examining burnt vs. green sugarcane harvest effects on sugarcane growth, yield and microclimate in Florida and Costa Rica. Transgenic sugarcane. I am evaluating agronomic performance for sugarcane genotypes transformed for resistance to sugarcane mosaic virus and yellow leaf syndrome in collaboration with USDA-ARS. Agronomic evaluation is necessary due to somaclonal variation in the transformed clones.