‘CP 16–2283’: A new sugarcane cultivar for organic soils in Florida

Abstract ‘CP 16—2283’ (Reg. no. CV‐222, PI 706648) sugarcane cultivar (a complex hybrid of Saccharum spp.) was released to growers for commercial cultivation on organic (muck) soils. It was developed through cooperative research conducted by the USDA‐ARS, the University of Florida, and the Florida Sugar Cane League, Inc. It originated from a biparental cross made at Canal Point (CP), Florida, on December 30, 2013 where CP 06‐2897 was the female parent, and the male parent was ‘CP 06‐2400’ (PI 670018). CP 16‐2283 has higher commercial recoverable sucrose, sucrose content, and ratooning ability than ‘CP 96‐1252’ (PI 634935) and has similar sugar and cane yield to CP 96‐1252. CP 16‐2283 is resistant to brown rust (caused by Puccinia melanocephala H. & P. Sydow) , orange rust (caused by Puccinia kuehnii E. J. Butler) , Sugarcane mosaic virus (strain E), and smut caused by Sporisorium scitamineum (Syd.) M. Piepenbring et al. , with moderate resistance to leaf scald (caused by Xanthomonas albilineans Ashby, Dowson) and ratoon stunt disease (caused by Leifsonia xyli subsp. xyli Evtushenko et al.). CP 16‐2283 possesses the positive allele for the Bru1 marker, which is linked to brown rust resistance. Yield data of CP 16‐2283 and commercial reference cultivars (‘CP 00‐1101’ PI 651881 and CP 96‐1252) were collected from 15 harvests (i.e., three crop cycles plant cane, first and second ratoon) at five organic‐soil locations in final‐stage replicated yield trials. When compared to CP 96‐1252, CP 16‐2283 had significantly (P < 0.05) higher commercial recoverable sucrose (6.3%) at all crop cycles. The sucrose content of CP 16‐2283 was statistically equivalent to that of CP 00‐1101, a high‐sugar check cultivar with relatively low yield. CP 16‐2283 was released for commercial production for its equivalent cane yield and improved CRS, sucrose content, disease resistance, and ratooning ability compared to the commonly cultivated check CP 96‐1252. CP 16‐2283 was susceptible to freeze among 23 tested genotypes. With its demonstrated resistance to disease and higher sucrose content, CP 16‐2283 is expected to increase the profitability of sugarcane production in Florida's organic soils.