Este estudo visou quantificar os teores de fosfato total, inorgânico e orgânico no caldo proveniente de diferentes alturas (região basal, mediana e apical) do colmo de três variedades de cana-de-açúcar, além de buscar levantar a ocorrência de myo-inositol hexafosfato (ácido fítico) em colmos de cana-de-açúcar. A composição química e tecnológica de colmos de cana-de-açúcar está relacionada com as características genéticas da variedade. Os colmos da cana-de-açúcar são compostos de fibra e caldo absoluto. O caldo contém cerca de 25% de sólidos solúveis, dos quais a sacarose se destaca. Na área agrícola o elemento fósforo é importante principalmente no metabolismo fotossintético da planta. No caldo de cana-de-açúcar se encontra nas formas mineral e orgânica, exercendo uma função chave no processo de clarificação do caldo para produção de açúcar, sendo também importante nos processos de fermentação alcoólica. Em grãos de cereais e leguminosas, estudos com o elemento fósforo, ou mais especificamente o myo-inositol hexafosfato (ácido fítico), têm mostrado algumas características antinutricionais, antioxidantes e anticarcinogênicas, que o ácido fítico possui quando complexado com certos cátions. Foram utilizadas as variedades SP 82-3530, SP 83-5073 e RB 83-5486 de cana-de-açúcar para as análises de fosfatos, sendo os colmos das mesmas divididos em região basal (3/8), mediana (3/8) e apical (2/8). Para as análises de ácido fítico foi utilizada apenas a variedade SP 82-3530, sendo os colmos desta analisados integralmente, com e sem casca, e divididos em nós e internódios com e sem casca. O caldo dos colmos de cana foi extraído em prensa hidráulica. As variedades apresentaram teores que variaram de 370 a 936 mg P2O5 total por litro de caldo. As regiões do colmo apresentaram valores decrescentes para os três tipos de fosfato da base para o ápice do colmo. O fosfato orgânico representou aproximadamente 5% do total. As porcentagens dos teores de fosfato orgânico em relação ao total, apresentaram um gradiente crescente da região basal para a apical. A análise de ácido fítico, por este ter apresentado teores insignificantes no caldo e na cana, ficou prejudicada pela metodologia aplicada, a qual se mostrou inadequada. / The objective of the present study was to estimate total, inorganic and organic phosphate amounts in the juice of stalk segments (basal, middle and top) of three sugarcane varieties, as well as assessing the presence of myo-inositol 6-phosphate (phytic acid) in sugarcane stalks. The chemical and technological compositions of sugarcane stalks are linked to the genetic characteristics of each variety. Sugarcane stalks are composed of fiber and absolute juice. The juice contains about 25% of soluble solids, mainly sucrose. Phosphorus is an important element in agriculture, due to its participation in the photosynthetic metabolism of plants. Phosphorus is found in its mineral and organic forms in the sugarcane juice and plays a key role in the clarification and fermentation processes for the production of sugar and alcohol. Studies on phosphorus, or rather, on myo-inositol 6-phosphate (phytic acid), in cereal and leguminous grains have evidenced some anti-nutritious, antioxidant and anticarcinogenic characteristics of the phytic acid when complexed with certain cations. Basal (3/8), middle (3/8) and top (2/8) stalk segments from SP 82-3530, SP 83-5073 and RB 83-5486 sugarcane varieties were analyzed for their phosphate amounts. Only stalk segments from the variety SP 82-3530, separated in nodes and internodes, peeled or not, were analyzed for phytic acid amounts. The juice of sugarcane stalks was extracted on hydraulic press. Total P2O5 varied from 370 to 936 mg per liter of juice. The three types of phosphate showed decreasing amounts from the bottom to the top of the stalk. Organic phosphate constituted approximately 5% of total phosphate. Percentages of organic phosphate in relation to total phosphate amounts increased gradually from the basal to the top stalk segments. As phytic acid was found in insignificant amounts, the assessment of its presence was limited by the methodology used, which showed to be inappropriate.

A demanda comercial de produtos derivados da cana-de-açúcar é a grande motivadora do aprimoramento genético com a finalidade de proporcionar a planta aumento no acúmulo de sucrose e/ou de resistência a ataques de herbívoros. Assim sendo, este trabalho abrange o estudo metabolomico de duas variedades transgênicas da cana-de-açúcar (Bowman-Birk-SBBI e Kunitz- SKTI) e seus respectivos controles através de duas metodologias distintas: a análise quimiométrica do perfil cromatográfico dos polifenóis existentes nas variedades transgênicas e o estudo metabolomico por ressonância magnética nuclear a fim de identificar possíveis diferenças entre as plantas transgênicas em relação aos seus respectivos controles. Nas amostras de folhas foram encontradas nove regiões cromatográficas representativas para a discriminação das variedades SBBI e SKTI. Análises de HPLC-MS/MS foram empregadas para a identificação parcial dos biomarcadores selecionados pelo método OPS, dentre eles: ácido cafeoílaquínico, ácido feruloílaquínico, shaftosídeo ou isoshafitosídeo, além de quatro substâncias parcialmente identificadas: um derivado de apigenina, um glicosídeo da tricina--O-(metoxicinamato), um derivado de flavonóide metoxilado e um derivado de catequina. Através do estudo metabolomico obteve-se uma visão geral sobre os metabólitos produzidos pelas variedades transgênicas e controles e através das análises dos espectros de RMN 1H, J-resolved, COSY 1H-1H, HMBC 13C-1H foi possível identificar a presença de ácidos orgânicos, amino-ácidos, açúcares, flavonóides e fenilpropanóides. Adicionalmente, a análise quimiométrica dos espectros de RMN 1H mostrou não haver diferença significativa entre folhas SBBI e controles e SKTI e controles. Como conclusão pôde-se sugerir que a inserção dos genes inibidores de protease na cana-de-açúcar não afeta as rotas biosintéticas da planta, mas apenas confere maior resistência contra a broca da cana-de-açúcar (Diatrea saccharilis). Entretanto diferenças significativas entre as variedades transgênicas foram encontradas: a variedade SBBI apresenta teor de açucares e fenilpropanóides mais elevados que a variedade SKTI. Conclui-se também que as alterações metabólicas encontradas neste trabalho não são provenientes dos genes inseridos na planta, mas por outro tipo de efeito sofrido nos controles das duas variedades, como por exemplo, variação somaclonal que antecedem a modificação genética. / Comercial demanding of industrial products from sugarcane plants are reponsable for researchs on genetic improvements with the aim to increase sucrose plant acumulation and/or provide resistence against herbivors. Thus, the present work covers metabolomic study of two transgenics varieties of sugarcane (Bowman-Birk-SBBI e Kunitz- SKTI) and their respectives wild (control) plants through two distinct methodologies: chemometrics analysis of polyphenols chromatography profile found into the transgenics varieties and the metabolomic study by nuclear magnetic resonance for identification of possible metabolic alterations comparing transgenics plants and their respective controls. Nine discriminants chromatography regions were detected on SBBI and SKTI leaves samples. HPLC-MS/MS analyses were performed for biomarkers identification selected by OPS method, among then: caffeoylquinic acid, feruloyl quinic acid, shaftoside or isoshaftoside, apigenin derivatives, tricin-O-(methoxycinamate)-glicosilated, methoxylated flavone and catechine derivative. A general vision about metabolites produced for transgenics and control plants could be achived through metabolomic study. Identification of organic acids, amino acids, sugars, phenylpropanoids and flavonoids were possible through 1H NMR, J-resolved, COSY 1H-1H, HMBC 13C-1H. Moreover, chemometrics analysis of the 1H NMR spectra had shown no significant differences between SBBI with wild plant and SKTI with control plants. These results suggest that the biosyntheses pathways are not affected by protease inhibitors genes introduced on sugarcane, but these genes just provides resistence against Diatrea saccharilis. However, metabolic alterations were found between the transgenic plants (SBBI and SKTI). Specially, the variety SBBI presents high levels of sugars and phenylpropanoids compared with SKTI variety. In conclusion, the metabolic variation found in the present are not due to genes introduction, but are originated by other type of effect on wild plants, such as, somaclonal variation before genetical modification.

No description available.

[Abstract]: Sugarcane farmers in Bundaberg have had limited access to irrigation water over the last ten years. The district has the potential of growing 3.8 million tonnes of sugarcane. However, a series of dry seasons saw this reduce to 2.1 million tonnes in 2002. Compounding the effects of both dry seasons and limited water supplies has been a 30% reduction in the sugar price over this period. The irrigation requirement of sugarcane in the Bundaberg area is 8 ML/ha. The original allocated volume for sugarcane production in this area was 4.5 ML/ha (based on 1970 production areas). However, as the area under production has increased and announced allocations in each year has reduced, this allocation is now equivalent to an application volume of about 2 ML/ha A change from the traditional practice of full irrigation is required as water supplies become depleted. As there were no clear guidelines on how growers could respond to diminishing water supplies, this research investigated opportunities to fine tune irrigation practices and the performance of irrigation systems (ie. low cost solutions) that would assist growers to maximise sugarcane yield. A grower survey was initially conducted to identify current practice and opportunities for change. Field investigations focused on the performance of water winch and furrow irrigation systems, which make up 91% of the irrigated area in the district. As most of these application systems have insufficient capacity to meet crop demands opportunities to schedule irrigations were limited to start up after rain. Improvements in irrigation system performance were found to provide the greatest potential to increase sugarcane yield under conditions of limited water. Investigations identified that irrigation performance could be significantly improved through relatively minor adjustment. Field trials found that wind speed and direction significantly influenced the performance of travelling gun irrigators. Although growers were generally aware of the effects of wind, meteorological data suggested that the opportunity to operate water winches in low wind conditions is limited. Changing to a taper nozzle under moderate to high wind conditions will reduce the effect of wind on performance. This practice was found to improve the uniformity (measured by Christiansen’s Uniformity Coefficient, CU) by 16%. The grower survey indicated that there was no preference towards the use of taper nozzles in windy conditions. Additional trial work developed a relationship between the variation in water applied to the field through non uniformity and sugarcane yield. An 8% reduction in yield was determined for a 10% reduction in CU. This indicated that changing to a taper nozzle could potentially increase sugarcane yield by 15% in high wind conditions. Other settings, which also influenced uniformity, included lane spacing and gun arc angle Simple changes to the operation of furrow irrigation systems were also found to dramatically improve irrigation performance. Field measurements in combination with simulation modelling of irrigation events using SIRMOD II identified that current irrigation performance ranged in application efficiency from 45 to 99% (mean of 79%) and a distribution uniformity from 71 to 93% (mean of 82%). Both application efficiency and distribution uniformity were increased to greater than 90% and 84% respectively, except on a cracking clay soil. Improvements in application efficiency and distribution uniformity were achieved by adjusting furrow flow rate (cup size), turning the irrigation off at the right time (ie. just as it reached the end of the field) and banking the end of the field. Growers had a good understanding of the correct cut off time and were attentive to reducing run off through either banking ends or tail water return. However, growers had a poor understanding of the significance of furrow flow rate. Other opportunities to improve irrigation performance on high infiltration soils included alternate furrow irrigation and shallow cultivation practices which maintained compaction in the interspace and reduced infiltration. Soil moisture and crop growth measurements indicated that sugarcane yield could be maximised by starting the irrigation rotation earlier after rainfall (ie. at a deficit equal to the irrigation amount). These observations were modelled using the crop simulation model APSIM sugar to assess the strategy over a longer time interval and the influence of seasonal variation. Simulation modelling showed that final sugarcane yields were not sensitive to irrigation start-up strategies. Yields for the start-up strategies modelled varied by less than 5 tc/ha. This minor difference occurred as the crop yield was driven by the total amount of water available to the plant. The limited amount of irrigation water available to the plant (2 to 3 ML/ha) had only a minor effect on the water balance and no significant change to effective rainfall between strategies. The greatest difference in yield occurred between irrigation treatments when water was left over at the end of the season (9.2 tc/ha). Starting irrigation earlier after rainfall events (on a 14 day rotation) provided the greatest opportunity to use all of the available irrigation supply. By comparison, delaying the application of the first irrigation after rainfall resulted in some of the irrigation water not being applied in 30% of years.

Thesis (MSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / Bibliography. Also available via the Internet.

The rising price of oil is hurting consumers all over the world. There is growing interest in producing biofuels from non-food crops, such as sugarcane trash. Lignocellulosic biomass (e.g., sugarcane trash) is an abundant, inexpensive, and renewable resource. The patented MixAlco process is a cost-effective solution, which does not require sterility or the addition of expensive enzymes to convert lignocellulosic biomass to transportation fuels and valuable chemicals. In this study, the MixAlco process was used to convert sugarcane trash to carboxylic acids under thermophilic conditions. Lime-treated sugarcane trash (80%) and chicken manure (20%) was used as the feedstock in rotary 1-L fermentors. Ammonium bicarbonate buffer was used to mitigate the effects of product (carboxylic acid) inhibition. Marine inoculum was used because of the high adaptability of the mixed culture of microorganisms present. Iodoform solution was added to inhibit methanogenesis. Preliminary batch studies over a 20-day period produced 19.7 g/L of carboxylic acids. Sugarcane trash had the highest average yield (0.31 g total acid/g VS fed) and highest average conversion (0.70 g VS digested/g VS fed) among the three substrates compared. Countercurrent fermentations were performed at various volatile solid loading rates (VSLR) and liquid residence times (LRT). The highest acid productivity of 1.40 g/(L�d) was at a total acid concentration of 29.9 g/L. The highest conversion and yield were 0.64 g VS digested/g VS fed and 0.36 g total acid/g VS fed, respectively. The continuum particle distribution model (CPDM) was used to predict acid concentration at various VSLR and LRT. The average error in between the predicted and experimental acid concentration and conversion were 4.62% and 1.42%, respectively. The effectiveness of several pretreatment methods was evaluated using the CPDM method. The best-performing method was short-term, no-wash, oxidative lime pretreatment with ball milling. At an industrial-scale solids loading of 300 g VS/L liquid, the CPDM ?map? predicts a total acid concentration of 64.0 g/L at LRT of 30 days, VSLR of 7 g/(L�d), and conversion of 57%. Also high conversion of 76% and high acid concentration of 52 g/L are achieved at a VSLR of 4 g/(L�d) and LRT of 30 days.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Sverges lantbruksuniversitet, 2001. / Thesis statement in Swedish and English abstract inserted. Based on 4 previously prepared or published papers reprinted here. Includes bibliographical references.

Commercial sugarcane in South Africa is a monoculture, and therefore lacks vegetation diversity, which is instrumental in increasing associated faunal diversity. Diverse habitats tend to support more stable populations of herbivorous and predacious animals. It is hypothesised that lack of this diversity in sugarcane was partially responsible for the existence of Eldana saccharina infestation levels that are higher than is commercially acceptable. Amongst the available E. saccharina control strategies, is habitat management. This has been developed with the view of increasing and enhancing predator foraging activity. Through increasing arthropod predator abundance and activity, it is believed that E. saccharina control may be enhanced. In this study, habitat diversity was increased through intercropping beans within sugarcane. Arthropod populations were monitored throughout the sugarcane-growing period, to determine what effect this intercropping had on known potential arthropod predator populations of E. saccharina. The study site was divided into two plots: the intercrop (beans planted within sugarcane rows: sugarcane-bean intercrop) and sole sugarcane: control plot. At monthly intervals, epigeal arthropods were sampled with pitfall traps, while foliage associated arthropods were sampled with a suction trap. Predator activity at the base of the sugarcane stalk, where E. saccharina lays its eggs was monitored with sticky traps. Sampling took place in the sugarcane-bean intercrop and control plots as well as in the roadway bordering the study site. Epigeal predator habitat preference was assessed by randomly placing pitfall traps in the sugarcane rows, bean rows, interrows between sugarcane rows, interrows between sugarcane and bean rows and the roadway. Corresponding with monthly trapping, an E. saccharina infestation and damage survey was conducted. Environmental factors such as weather, light intensity, plant (beans and sugarcane) phenology and weed density were measured, and their effect on E. saccharina potential arthropod predators examined. At harvest, sugarcane stalks were sampled for sucrose yield analysis. Potential E. saccharina predators that were captured included species of the orders and/or families Acarina, Blattidae, Formicidae (Pheidole megacephala and Dorylus helvolus) and Araneida (Lycosidae, Oxyopidae, Thomisidae and Salticidae). P. megacephala and species of Acarina were the only predators caught with all three trapping techniques, thus indicating that they occurred both on the ground and foliage. D. helvolus and Acarina were the only predators caught in significantly higher numbers in the intercrop, suggesting that increased habitat management had positively affected their population sizes. D. helvolus were captured both on the ground and length of sugarcane stalk, while species of Acarina were captured on the ground, foliage and at the base of sugarcane stalk, indicating that they forage at the base of the stalk, where E. saccharina activity is concentrated. Specific ground habitats preferred by D. helvolus included the sugarcane rows and bean rows, while Acarina preferred the interrows between sugarcane and bean rows. Despite the generally low E. saccharina infestation levels during this study, significantly higher levels of infestation occurred in the intercrop when compared to sole sugarcane. As expected with high infestation, higher (although not statistically significant) damage occurred in the intercrop. Surprisingly, sucrose yield and sugarcane stalk mass were slightly higher in the intercrop. The implications of the observations made during this study are discussed in the context E. saccharina management. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Durban-Westville, 1998.

Recently designated as a bioenergy crop, Sorghum is rather unique as it can produce large quantities of cellulose or sugar which can be used to produce advanced biofuels or compounds. Sweet sorghum contains high levels of sugars and biomass sorghums consist primarily of ligno-cellulosic biomass. Improvement of both sorghum types is essential for maximizing production and conversion efficiency. Photoperiod sensitive sorghum is thought to maximize biomass production yet maturity influence on biomass production and composition is not fully understood. Utilizing sorghum for sugar production has increased efforts to develop sweet sorghums with sugar yields similar to sugarcane. Hybridization of these species has been investigated with, until recently, little success. Testing newly developed intergeneric hybrids and improvement of parents used in their creation will determine their feasibility and improve hybrid performance. Objectives of this research are multifaceted. First, analyze photoperiod sensitive sorghum in varying day length environments to determine maturity effects on plant phenotype, composition, and QTL detection. Second, analyze intergeneric sorghum × sugarcane hybrids to determine agronomic performance in relation to sugarcane. Lastly, introgress the iap allele into sweet sorghum females for use in intergeneric hybrid creation. Photoperiod sensitive sorghum RILs were evaluated in College Station and Weslaco, Texas and Puerto Rico which caused differential expression of plant maturity. Genetic control of trait expression was high for each location. Results indicate gradual induction of plant maturity increases detection of phenotypic QTL and detection of compositional QTL increases when maturity effects on plant phenotype are reduced. Intergeneric sorghum × sugarcane F_1 hybrids were compared to sugarcane in Weslaco, Texas in 2011. Each hybrid expressed agronomic traits similar or better than that of the sugarcane variety. High levels of repeatability and genetic influence on trait expression were observed. Overall performance of the sugarcane variety was better than any individual hybrid tested. Introgression of iap into sweet sorghum was successful and generated seventeen new sweet sorghum female genotypes possessing the allele. Only two genotypes exhibited higher brix readings and both were later maturing than Tx3361. Height and maturity of all developed genotypes varied and desirability of developed lines was similar to Tx3361.

The South African Sugarcane production is one of the world’s leading sugarcane (Saccharum spp. Hybrid) producers. However, in recent years Eldana saccharina Walker has been the most destructive pest in South African sugarcane production, causing great crop loses per annum and is the most important factor limiting sugarcane productivity. The pest has been monitored using a traditional visual approach whereby a representative sample of stalks is taken from a field and split longitudinally to assess damage and count the number of E. saccharina larvae and pupae. However, this approach is time-consuming, labour intensive and sometimes biased as only easily accessible areas are often surveyed. In order to investigate a more economical but equally effective survey methodology, this study aimed to determine the potential of using hyperspectral remote sensing (spectroradiometry) for identifying sugarcane attacked by E. saccharina. A hand-held spectroradiometer ASD Field Spec® 3 was used to collect leaf spectral measurements of sugarcane plants from a potted-plant trial taking place under shade house conditions at the South African Sugarcane Research Institute (SASRI). In this trial, nitrogen (N) and silicon (Si) fertilizers were applied at known levels to sugarcane varieties. Varieties were either resistant or intermediate resistant or susceptible to E. saccharina attack. In addition, watering regimes and artificial infestation of E. saccharina were carefully controlled. Results illustrated that severe E. saccharina infestation increased spectral reflectance throughout the whole spectrum range (400 – 2500 nm) and caused a red-edge shift to the shorter wavelength. Eldana saccharina stalk damage was also linearly related to modified normalized difference vegetation index (mNDVI) using R2025 and R2200 (R2 = 0.69). It was concluded that hyperspectral data has a potential for use in monitoring E. saccharina in sugarcane rapidly and non-destructively under controlled conditions. A followup study is recommended in field conditions and using airborne and/or spaceborne hyperspectral sensors. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2009.