2008 Sugarcane Variety Recommendations

VARIETY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 2008

There are nine varieties to consider for planting in 2008. They are LCP 85-384, HoCP 91-555, Ho 95-988, HoCP 96-540, L 97-128, L 99-226, L 99-233, HoCP 00-950, and the newest variety, L 01-283, to be released for commercial planting in the late summer 2008. Although not recommended, there are still a few producers who might still plant the older varieties, CP 70-321 and HoCP 85-845. CP 70-321 is the variety with the best cold tolerance of all the varieties listed while HoCP 85-845 is the variety with the best sugarcane borer resistance. For the 2007 crop, LCP 85-384 was still the leading variety with 48% of the acreage; however, it is anticipated that for 2008 the acreage will be approximately 20-25% with HoCP 96-540 occupying approximately 50%. The variety census for 2007 was as follows:

LCP 85-384, in the past, was known for its high population, very good stubbling and adaptability to all soil types. However, its weaknesses include its susceptibility to rust and borers, poor vigor, and tendency to lodging. LCP 85-384 is intermediate when billets are used for seed cane purposes meaning that in some years one can expect lower yields when billets are used while in other years there is no difference between the use of billets and whole stalks.

HoCP 91-555 has high sugar per ton, high population, good harvestibility and can be grown on all soil types. Its weaknesses include its susceptibility to RSD, rust and borers and its field yield tends to drop off in older stubble.

Ho 95-988 has high sugar per acre, medium maturity, very good stubbling ability and can be grown on all soil types. Its weaknesses include its susceptibility to rust and borers and its moderate susceptibility to smut. Following Hurricane Gustav it has been reported that Ho 95-988 had a high percentage of top breakage throughout the state and caution should be observed if considering replanting this variety. Further Dr. Jeff Hoy, LSU AgCenter said to avoid planting billets of this variety as his research has shown lower yields with billets for each of the three years he planted it in his tests.

HoCP 96-540 has high yield of sugar per acre, medium maturity, high tonnage, good stubbling ability and can be grown on all soil types although it does best on lighter textured soils. HoCP 96-540 has good resistance to deterioration following subfreezing conditions. Its weaknesses include its susceptibility to borers, moderate susceptibility to rust and its lower population. HoCP 96-540 is intermediate when billets are used for seed cane purposes meaning that in some years one can expect lower yields when billets are used while in other years there is no difference between the use of billets and whole stalks.

L 97-128 has excellent early vigor, very early sugar, moderate resistance to rust, good stubbling ability and can be grown on all soil types although it does best on heavier textured soils. Its weaknesses include susceptibility to RSD and borers, moderate susceptibility to smut and its propensity to produce a large number of bull shoots at harvest that tend to lower recoverable sugar per ton of cane. L 97-128 is intermediate when billets are used for seed cane purposes meaning that in some years one can expect lower yields of sugar per acre when billets are used while in other years there is no difference between the use of billets and whole stalks.

L 99-226 has very high yield of sugar per acre and medium maturity, good stubbling ability and shading, resistance to borers and rust and can be grown on all soil types. Its weaknesses include its susceptibility to RSD, tendency to lodge, lower population of large stalks and its susceptibility to deterioration following subfreezing conditions. L 99-226 is intermediate when billets are used for seed cane purposes meaning that in some years one can expect lower yields of sugar per acre when billets are used while in other years there is no difference between the use of billets and whole stalks.

L 99-233 has high yield of sugar per acre with a very high population of small stalks, medium maturity, very good stubbling and shading ability, resistance to rust and is recommended for all soil types. Its weaknesses include its susceptibility to RSD and borers, moderate susceptibility to smut, its tendency to lodge and its susceptibility to deterioration following subfreezing conditions. L 99-233 is good when billets are planted meaning that there is little difference in yield of sugar per acre when billets or whole-stalks are used for seed. Following Hurricane Gustav, Windell Jackson, Senior Agronomist, ASCL, reported that there were several locations in the state where this variety broke into pieces (not just top breakage). This variety is very brittle and extreme caution should be followed if planting this variety in the event that similar conditions prevail in subsequent years as the loss of tons cane and sugar per acre could be excessive. It has been suggested that this variety might have a place on heavier soils that could serve to reduce its vigor and, consequently, its brittleness.

HoCP 00-950 has early, high sugar. It is also known for its excellent yield of sugar per acre. One of its weaknesses includes its susceptibility to borers. Also, following Hurricane Gustav, there were several reports of top breakage in this variety and caution is advised with regards to planting large acreages of this variety in the event of similar wind events in subsequent years.

L 01-283, to be released in late summer 2008, has excellent yield of tons cane per acre and sugar per ton of cane. It is resistant to most major disease although it is susceptible to RSD. Furthermore, it is difficult to tissue culture; therefore, it might become necessary to heat treat seed cane to reduce the incidence of RSD bacteria. L 01-283 is good when billets are planted meaning that there is little difference in yield of sugar per acre when billets or whole-stalks are used for seed.