Effects of Soil Properties and Environmental Factors on Biomass Yield and Disease Incidence in Energy Cane.

Energy cane hybrids are wide crosses of commercial sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) with S. spontaneum clones which produce high-biomass and high fiber plants ideal for lignocellulosic ethanol production. A good combination of genotype and environment is important to target the maximum potential of any crop. Several energy cane genotypes were evaluated at four different locations in Florida for multiple years to detemnine the effects of soil properties and environmental factors on biomass yield and disease incidence. Although all sugarcane diseases can effect energy cane, smut (caused by Sporisorium scitamineum) was the most commonly observed disease in our field trials. Results indicated significant effects of soil properties and environment on energy cane biomass yield and disease. Smut infection in southern Florida was higher than northern Florida, which may be due to abundance of sugarcane in southern Florida. The results can help growers in decision making for energy cane cultivation in different parts of Florida.