Completed projects and reports

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Sugar Research Australia, Sugar Research Development Corporation and BSES reports from completed research projects and papers.

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An analysis of sugar production issues in the Ord River Irrigation Area : SRDC technical report 01/2000
(Sugar Research and Development Corporation, 2000) Leslie, JK; Byth, DE
The analysis considered both cane yield and sugar content. A Preliminary Report in October 1998 utilised 1996 and 1997 production data, and concentrated on whether that data evidenced any changes from the pilot phase of 1977-1983. It concluded that there has been no apparent change in yield or quality of millable stalk. The pilot projections of commercial expectations did not discount sufficiently for the effects of mechanical harvesting. Cane losses, extraneous matter and soil contamination have reduced pol in commercial deliveries on average 2.33% pol below the level in millable stalk. This report updates those conclusions and extends to several other issues.
Opportunities for the Australian sugar industry in greenhouse gas abatement and carbon trading : final report QUT027
(Sugar Research Australia Limited, 2009) Hobson, P
New policies and market drivers are currently being implemented to stimulate additional investment in technologies and energy sources which result in reduced greenhouse gas emissions. In addition there is a rising demand from stakeholders and customers for information about the life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of products (carbon footprint).
Improving extension capacity : final report BSS279
(BSES, 2006) Matthews, RW; Chapple, D
The extension staff in the Burdekin district are both fresh-faced and full of new ideas. One of their largest hurdles to jump is the implementation of science into the real world. Growers are some of the hardest nuts to crack, and the attendance at this conference provided some usual insight on how to make inroads with the local industry. the staff members that attended the conference gained form the experiences that other extension officers (change practice agents) have utilised in their everyday lives.The key learnings from the conference have been discussed with local industry staff to encourage a more positive outlook towards change management. Discussions revolved around how can we do things better locally, and how can we improve the use of the Burdekin Cane Productivity Initiative and BSES' PROSPER project to maximise the impact of research and development. The rapid adoption of the use of double-disc-opener cane planters is one of the big positives to have been driven successfully by CPI and local RD&E.
The transfer of high CCS traits from wild relatives to sugarcane using biochemical markers
(2003) Grof, C; Manners, J
Over the last 40 years of sugarcane breeding in Australia there have been significant improvements in cane yield but little to no improvement in commercial cane sugar (CCS). It has been hypothesised that this lack of gain is due to the narrow genetic base of current breeding programs and has provided the impetus to examine new sources of germplasm that may provide desirable traits. Broadening the genetic base through the introgression of new Saccharum germplasm could allow the incorporation of 'new' genes for CCS into commercial sugarcane and result in increased CCS. However carefully targeted approaches are required to identify favourable genetic components of value from available new germplasm for introgression.
Evaluation and re-structuring of regional selection programs to maximise efficiency and speed of cultivar release
(2002) Chapman, SC; Rattey, A; Jackson, PA
Continual delivery of new cultivars is required to maintain resistance to existing and new pests and diseases, and to provide constant improvement in crop productivity, quality and profitability for an internationally competitive sugar industry. Sugarcane breeding comprises two major activities: genetic variation is created by crossing parents (selected on historical performance of their progeny in the case of proven parents, or performance for heritable traits in trials in the case of new parents), and the best clones for release are selected through a multi-stage selection process that involves progressively more intensive testing of fewer clones over several years in multiple sites. In Australia, the geographic variation in climate and other conditions in the different regions, the difficulties of moving sugar cane planting material, and differences between regions for some diseases (e.g. the Fiji disease line between the Central and Burdekin regions) had resulted in six cultivar crossing and selection programs, each targeting different regions: North (inc. Atherton Tableland), Herbert, Burdekin, Central, South and northern NSW. The small Ord irrigation area is serviced via testing and selection of elite clones from all of these regional trials. Currently crosses are made in each of four specific regions based on performance of parents (in trials or via progeny performance) in that region. Clones from crosses are initially chosen from small plots in one site per region. In further selection, breeders conduct multi-row plot trials across sites and seasons, with intensive testing within regions, and later exchange of the most promising clones between regions. At the start of this project, there was no basic information on whether clones generated directly from crosses generally perform consistently relative to each other between regions, or whether many clones exhibit specific adaptation to regional environments. This information, and quantifying the relative sizes of genotype, genotype x region interaction, and genotype x within-region interaction variances, in genetic populations generated in breeding programs, is basic information needed for designing an optimal selection system that collectively targets all regions.
Scoping study - remote sensing of sugarcane leaf diseases : FSRDC final report BSS295
(BSES, 2006) Magarey, RC
Estimation of the incidence of sugarcane leaf diseases in the Australian sugar industry is largely confined to subjective estimates by Cane Productivity Services personnel. Resistance ratings for leaf diseases are applied to clones in the plantimprovement program through intense infield disease assessments of onfarm trials. Both methods have problems – either the inability to objectively measure diseases over large areas, or the very high time input required to capture the data. Remote sensing of leaf diseases offers the possibility of obtaining objective diseaseincidence data, both on a regional basis, but also for individual crops. Small plots in field trials also could be assessed for disease resistance through remote sensing techniques. Consultation with researchers in ENSIS and Mackay Sugar centred on the remotesensing technologies available in Australia. The one considered most suitable for initial studies is the Hyperion hyperspectral technology. This has been used previously to detect orange rust in sugarcane crops in the Mackay area. The involvement of Hyperion in initial studies would also allow the simulation of other types of remotesensing technology, such as SPOT IV, Landsat, and other multispectral detection capabilities. A threeyear research program was devised that would initially test the technology for remote sensing of leaf diseases. The adaptation of these techniques to a whole district would follow in the two subsequent years. The Herbert River district was selected as a model district, since all three major leaf diseases occur in this area (yellow spot, orange rust and brown rust) and there is a greater likelihood of obtaining satellite images in this area compared to the wet tropics (Tully). Following the successful development of the remotesensing technology, project work would involve milling and grower sectors of the industry. There would be a concentration on the uses and delivery of the crop and industry disease information, as presented in a GIS format. At the same time, research on highresolution imagery of small plots in field trials would lead to methods for assigning disease resistance ratings for clones in plantimprovement trials. This work will follow naturally on from the technology development associated with wholecrop disease detection. Researchers from both Mackay Sugar and ENSIS agree that sugarcane is a very suitable crop for remote sensing technology, with a high chance of successful disease detection.
The economic advantage of reduced tillage planting of sugarcane in Australia
(2003) Braunack, MV; McGarry, D; Halpin, NV
Land preparation for planting sugarcane is a major cost to growers. Currently growers may undertake up to eight tillage passes to prepare a seedbed for planting. However, this number of passes is considerably less than that practised thirty years ago. Good crop establishment is necessary to ensure yield and ratoon longevity for the next crop cycle. However, it was hypothesised that the number of tillage passes could be reduced without compromising crop performance and would offer considerable savings in crop establishment costs.
Assessing clonal and nitrogen interaction on ccs in sugarcane in the wet tropis ; SRDC project BSS180 final report
(2003) Hurney, AP; Berding, N; Grace, D
There has been a negative trend in CCS in the Tully-Mossman region since the mid-1960s that has been linked to increased extraneous matter and suckers in the cane supply. The situation had become particularly bad during 1990-1996, with most mill districts within the region experiencing problems with low CCS. An increase in the frequency of lodging and incidence of suckers was possibly contributing to this problem and there was a perception that this was related to inappropriate use of nitrogen fertiliser for the locally grown cultivars. There were also concerns that current cultivars were not suited to the local environmental conditions. Growers choosing to grow inappropriate cultivars for particular locations were thought to be exacerbating the problem.Decisions on what cultivar to grow and how much fertiliser to apply are management options that could be modified if they were contributing to the low CCS problem. These issues were addressed in this project by studying the effects of four rates of nitrogen (0, 70, 140, 210 kg N/ha) on lodging, suckering, CCS and cane yield of the three cultivars Q117, Q120 and Q138. These experiments were conducted on three different soil types at three locations within the Tully mill district. The objectives of this project were to provide a better understanding of the role of nitrogen and cultivars in the low CCS issue to facilitate the development of improved management options.In the plant crops, which were planted after a fallow, nitrogen had no influence on cane yield, CCS, lodging or suckering under the environmental conditions in which these crops were grown. However, it did increase both cane yield and lodging in first- and second-ratoon crops. Responses were limited by adverse interactions with the wet conditions and nitrogen losses due to leaching and/or volatilisation. Nitrogen had no direct influence on CCS in the ratoon crops, but it did have an indirect negative effect, because it increased the incidence of lodging. Rates of N application could be reduced in both plant and ratoon crops, which would reduce production costs. It would also be beneficial environmentally.There was no evidence of nitrogen accumulation in the soil from high nitrogen fertiliser application even following a low-yielding crop. This is of concern from an environmental viewpoint if inappropriate nitrogen rates are applied, as any excess nitrogen will be lost from the soil due to leaching or denitrification. The data suggested that the critical leaf nitrogen concentration might vary between cultivars. This provides an opportunity to reduce nitrogen rates for cultivars with lower nitrogen requirements.Current cultivars do have high potential CCS, but this cannot be realised, partially because of their susceptibility to lodging and suckering. All three cultivars tested, Q117, Q120 and Q138, are susceptible to lodging in well-grown crops. It appears that the susceptibility of Q120 and Q138 is high in crops yielding more than 70-80 t/ha under the wet conditions of the wet tropics.The potential reduction in CCS from total lodging was estimated at about 10% across all cultivars in these trials. The actual loss in CCS is governed by the actual proportion of lodging in the crop and was estimated at 0.4 units in crops that had 25% lodging. This is a hidden cost of which growers are generally not aware. There are no management options that can be implemented to minimise this loss. Severe and multiple lodging events had a negative impact on CCS and cane yield in Q120 and Q138, reducing profitability. In these circumstances, the negative effects of lodging can be reduced if the time between harvesting and occurrence of lodging is reduced. Increased returns to the grower of $200 $300/ha are possible using this strategy.Lodging was less extensive in Q117 and lower-vigour cultivars, such as Q117, may offer a more appropriate ideotype for the wet tropics, because of their lower susceptibility to lodging. Economic impact was estimated at a loss of $7.5 million to growers within the region from a moderate lodging event affecting 25% of the crop. Adoption of agronomic practices to improve physical support of the crop is only partially successful in reducing the intensity of lodging. This can only be achieved by the implementation of a research program to select cultivars with a low incidence of lodging, while maintaining or improving productivity.The cultivars Q117, Q120 and Q138 are representative of those being grown in the wet tropics and demonstrated a high propensity to sucker. Lodging is not a pre-requisite for sucker initiation, as the emergence of suckers was generally first noted under a closed canopy. Suckers have a negative effect on CCS, because they dilute the cane juice through their high moisture and low sucrose composition. In these experiments, 10% by weight of suckers in the cane supply reduced CCS by a little over 1 unit. The increased cane yield from suckers is inflating productivity estimates but not improving profitability; the level of suckering experienced in these experiments would reduce regional grower-income by approximately $6 million. It is possible to select against suckering propensity and this has already been introduced into the crop improvement program. However, research into the relationship between suckers and longevity of ratoons is required because of the potential impact on productivity.An appropriate extension program needs to be developed to disseminate the findings of this research to growers. The results from this project have been extended to the industry. There have also been extension programs for BMP of cultivars. However, there is still a large gap between extension and adoption, which is why additional extension programs are recommended. Adoption of findings on nitrogen will reduce production costs, as well as have a positive environmental impact. Management strategies are available to partially alleviate the negative impacts of lodging and suckering. However, further research is required to fully overcome the effects of these phenomena.
Functional genomics for enhanced sugar accumulation in sugarcane : final report CPI002
(2003) Manners, J; Casu, R
Improvement in CCS of sugarcane would provide considerable benefits to the whole sugar industry by improving profitability via enhanced efficiencies in both sugarcane and raw sugar production. Improvements in CCS bring benefits by increasing sugar input to mills with no new costs in cane growing, harvesting and transport and enhanced sugar output with only moderate changes in the sugar milling process. Despite the economic attractions of the CCS plant trait for plant improvement there has been little progress made in improving CCS in released varieties in the past forty years and new approaches are needed. One new approach to breeding high CCS sugarcane varieties is to use DNA markers to select for diverse attributes that contribute to CCS and combine these attributes to produce improved varieties. The CCS trait is complex and involves many genes and a range of plant functions. A key contributor to high CCS is sucrose accumulation and the aim of this project was to identify sugarcane genes that are associated with high levels of sucrose accumulation. These genes provide an input to further research where the CCS trait is being mapped on the sugarcane genome and genes identified in CPI002 are tested as markers. Ultimately, benefits to growers will accrue through the use of these markers in the breeding program to select improved varieties.
Measurement and feedback systems for improving market signals for harvesting : SRDC Final report BSS261
(BSES, 2005) Willcox, T; Juffs, R; Crane, J; Downs, P
One of the market impediments hindering the adoption of best practice for harvesting is the one-price, dollar-per-tonne payment method for harvesting. It provides no incentive for growers to improve farm layout or presentation for harvest, because the same price is paid for harvesting under all conditions. Harvester operators do have an incentive to reduce cane loss. However, they have no incentive to reduce extraneous matter and soil in the cane supply. This project worked with harvesting groups, millers and cane growers at Maryborough, Mackay and Burdekin to determine and pilot pricing structures to reflect quality and quantity of work and to improve efficiency through better feedback systems for improving market signals at harvest.

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