Building strategic research capacity for the sugar industry aimed at overcoming physiological, biochemical and environmental constraints to cane growth, breeding and sucrose yield

Abstract

Using the CSIRO Controlled Environment Facility, the discrete effects on the rate and extent of sucrose accumulation in sugarcane of four significant environmental parameters (daily light integral, radiation levels, temperature and humidity) have been investigated. These experiments have attempted to address some existing industry problems and have provided some basic understanding of sugarcane physiology, a platform from which to launch a more detailed investigation of the metabolic processes that control the rate and final level of sucrose accumUlation.