Selection Criteria and Performance of Energycane Clones (Saccharum spp. × S. spontaneum) for Biomass Production Under Tropical and Sub-tropical Conditions

Elephantgrass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) and energycane (Saccharum spp. hybrid) are high-yielding C4 grasses that are attractive biofuel feedstocks in the humid subtropics. Determining appropriate harvest management practices for optimal feedstock chemical composition is an important precursor to their successful use in production systems. In this research, we have investigated the effects of harvest timing and frequency on biomass nutrient, carbohydrate and lignin composition of UF1 and cv. Merkeron elephantgrasses and cv. L 79-1002 energycane. Biomass properties under increased harvest frequency (twice per year) and delayed harvest (once per year after frost) were compared with a control (once per year prior to frost). There were no differences between elephantgrass entries in structural carbohydrates; however, elephantgrasses had greater structural hexose concentration than energycane for single-harvest treatments (avg. 398 vs. 366 mg g À1 ), a trait that is preferred for biofuel production. Delayed harvest of energycane decreased structural hexose compared with the control (374 vs. 357 mg g À1) because nonstructural components accumulated in energycane stem as harvest was delayed. Frequent defoliation (2X) increased N, P, and ash concentrations (75% for N and P and 58% for ash) in harvested biomass compared with single-harvest treatments. We conclude that multiple harvests per year increase the harvest period during which feedstock is available for processing, but they do not result in optimal feedstock composition. In contrast, extending the period of feedstock supply by delaying a single harvest to after first freeze did not negatively affect cell wall constituent properties, while it increased length of the harvest period by~30 days in the southeast USA.

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“…This is why high‐cellulose Saccharums are called ‘energycanes ( Saccharum spp. hybrid)’ (León et al ., ). To better understand Saccharum spp.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Harvest management affects biomass composition responses of C4 perennial bioenergy grasses in the humid subtropical USA

Fedenko

Sollenberger

et al. 2016

GCB Bioenergy

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“…Energycane is a perennial crop derived from interspecific crossing of sugarcane (Saccharum spp. hybrids) with clones from wild sugarcane relatives (Saccharum spontaneum L.), resulting in cultivars that produce narrow stalks with low sucrose, higher fiber, higher stalks per hectare, greater dry biomass yields, increased stand longevity, better disease and pest resistance, and better cold tolerance, compared with conventional sugarcane (Knoll et al 2013;León et al 2010;Wang et al 2008). For example, energycane clones in Florida recorded 37% higher leaf-area index and 65% more stalks per unit area in comparison with commercial sugarcane cultivars (León et al 2010).…”

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confidence: 99%

“…hybrids) with clones from wild sugarcane relatives (Saccharum spontaneum L.), resulting in cultivars that produce narrow stalks with low sucrose, higher fiber, higher stalks per hectare, greater dry biomass yields, increased stand longevity, better disease and pest resistance, and better cold tolerance, compared with conventional sugarcane (Knoll et al 2013;León et al 2010;Wang et al 2008). For example, energycane clones in Florida recorded 37% higher leaf-area index and 65% more stalks per unit area in comparison with commercial sugarcane cultivars (León et al 2010). Energycane has been reported to have high dry matter yields of up to 53 Mg ha À1 yr À1 , depending on location and cultivar, in tropical and subtropical climates (Bischoff et al 2008;Knoll et al 2012Knoll et al , 2013Mislevy et al 1995;.…”

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confidence: 99%

Response of Energycane to Preemergence and Postemergence Herbicides

et al. 2015

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Energycane has been proposed as a potential, perennial bioenergy crop for lignocellulosic-derived fuel production in the United States. Herbicides currently used in sugarcane and other crops can potentially be used in energycane if there is acceptable tolerance. Also, to limit future invasion of energycane escapes, herbicides used for perennial grass control could potentially be used for management of escapes. In container studies conducted outside, aboveground and belowground biomass of energycane was measured to evaluate energycane tolerance to 9 PRE and 19 POST herbicides used in sugarcane and other crops. PRE application of atrazine, diuron, mesotrione, metribuzin, pendimethalin, andS-metolachlor at rates labeled for sugarcane did not significantly injure (< 3%) or reduce energycane biomass compared with the nontreated plants 28 and 56 d after treatment (DAT). Injury from clomazone (54%), flumioxazin (7%), and hexazinone (29%) was observed 28 DAT. Injury from flumioxazin was transient and was not observed at 56 DAT. At 56 DAT, energycane injury increased to 71 and 98%, respectively, for clomazone and hexazinone. Hexazinone and clomazone applied PRE significantly reduced biomass compared with the nontreated plants. At 28 DAT, POST application of 2,4-D amine, ametryn, asulam, atrazine, carfentrazone, dicamba, halosulfuron, mesotrione, metribuzin, and trifloxysulfuron at labeled rates for sugarcane did not injure or significantly reduce energycane biomass compared with the nontreated plants. Injury was observed when clethodim (99%), clomazone (51%), diuron (51%), flumioxazin (21%), glufosinate (84%), glyphosate (100%), hexazinone (100%), paraquat (66%), and sethoxydim (100%) were applied POST, and each of these treatments reduced energycane biomass compared with the nontreated plants. These results show that several PRE and POST herbicides used for weed management in sugarcane may potentially be used in energycane for weed control. Also, based on our results, clethodim, glyphosate, and sethoxydim would be effective for management of energycane escapes.

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“…Due to high biomass and noninvasiveness in Florida's subtropical climate (León et al, 2010), energy cane (a complex hybrid of Saccharum sp.) has high potential as a feedstock for cellulosic ethanol production.…”

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confidence: 99%

Registration of ‘UFCP 78-1013’ Sugarcane Cultivar

Sandhu

Comstock²,

Gilbert

et al. 2015

Journal of Plant Registrations

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Sugarcane (a complex hybrid of Saccharum sp.) cultivar UFCP 78‐1013 (Reg. No. CV‐162; PI 673049) was developed through the collaborative efforts of the University of Florida (UF) and the USDA‐ARS, Canal Point (CP), and released for its potential use in cellulosic ethanol production in Florida. Biomass is the most favorable characteristic of a potential feedstock for cellulosic ethanol production and must be improved in cultivars adapted to Florida conditions should cellulosic ethanol prove feasible for energy production. Averaged across eight location‐years of field trials, mean dry biomass yield of UFCP 78‐1013 was numerically greater than the reference check, ‘L 79‐1002’. Plant composition of UFCP 78‐1013 is similar to L 79‐1002. The parents for UFCP 78‐1013 are the sugarcane cultivar CP 68‐1067 (female parent) and S. spontaneum line SES 602 (male parent). UFCP 78‐1013 has moderate to high resistance against smut (caused by Sporisorium scitamineum) with significantly lower infestation than L 79‐1002, under both natural environmental conditions and artificial inoculation. UFCP 78‐1013 did not have symptoms of brown rust (caused by Puccinia melanocephala H. & P. Sydow), orange rust (caused by P. kuehnii), mosaic (caused by Sugarcane mosaic virus) or leaf scald [caused by Xanthomonas albilineans (Ashby) Dowson] during field evaluations. UFCP 78‐1013 is adapted to marginal or sandy soils of Florida.

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Selection Criteria and Performance of Energycane Clones (Saccharum spp. × S. spontaneum) for Biomass Production Under Tropical and Sub-tropical Conditions

Cited by 9 publications

References 10 publications

Harvest management affects biomass composition responses of C4 perennial bioenergy grasses in the humid subtropical USA

Harvest management affects biomass composition responses of C4 perennial bioenergy grasses in the humid subtropical USA

Response of Energycane to Preemergence and Postemergence Herbicides

Registration of ‘UFCP 78-1013’ Sugarcane Cultivar

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