The selection of sugarcane genotypes with high sucrose content and good ratooning ability (RA) is an important objective of the Canal Point breeding program to improve the current profitability levels of the Florida sugarcane industry. In this study, thirteen test sugarcane genotypes and three checks were evaluated in three sand locations, Pahokee Produce Inc. (PP), Townsite farm (TS), and Lykes Brothers Inc. (PF), during three crop cycles (plant cane, first ratoon, and second ratoon). Multi-environment best linear unbiased predictors (BLUPs) were highly significant for commercially recoverable sucrose (CRS) and not significant for cane yield (CY) among genotypes. The ANOVA based on the RA values produced significant genotypic effects but a reduced RA diversity among the genotypes. The simultaneous selection for BLUP_CRS, BLUP_CY yield, and RA identified CP 14-4165 and CP 13-2340 as the most outstanding genotypes. The BLUP_GGE biplots method showed that the PP location was the most discriminative for BLUP_CY, whereas the TS was the ideal location. For BLUP_CRS, the three locations had similar abilities to discriminate genotypes and were positively and strongly correlated. The which-won-where graph indicated that CP 13-2340 showed the highest BLUP_CRS levels in TS and PP locations, while CP 14-4165 and CP 14-4588 were the top genotypes in the PF location. The results suggest that selecting genotypes with high CRS values is possible without compromising the genotype discrimination for CY. CP 14-4165 and CP 13-2340 are resistant to most diseases and genetically diverse.

Fifty-five sugarcane genotypes from around the world were collected and evaluated for potential use as parental material in the USDA ARS Canal Point (CP) sugarcane breeding program in Florida, USA. The genotypes were planted in a trial with four check cultivars on organic soils with four replications, and data were collected for two years [i.e., plant cane (PC) and first ratoon (FR) crops] to assess sucrose-yield-related traits and the cane-yield-related traits in PC. Using a multivariate analysis, variation was observed in all cane—[i.e., stalk weight, stalk population and cane yield] and sugar-yield-related traits [i.e., Brix, Pol, sucrose content and commercial recoverable sucrose (CRS)]. The mean CRS content was greater in the FR crop than the PC crop. Significant variations were attributed to genotype (G), crop cycles (C) and G × C effects. Variations between crop cycles were highly significant for all sucrose yield components, which could complicate the downstream selection of genotypes for sucrose yield. Based on CRS content, genotypes could be grouped into six distinct clusters. Based on plant cane data, cane yield traits (stalk weight, stalk population and cane yield) were used to estimate the breeding values of parents. Of the 55 genotypes, 8 had significantly greater t-BLUP values for cane yield, along with CP 00-1101. Combined sucrose yield traits, (Brix, Pol and sucrose content) from the two crops were used to estimate the breeding values of parents. Of the 55 genotypes, 10 genotypes had significantly greater t-BLUP values for CRS, along with CP 00-1101, CP 96-1252 and CP 01-2390, and can be considered as elite parents in future breeding efforts. These results provide a foundation for the efficient integration of genetic diversity in developing commercial cultivars, with improved sucrose yields, into the CP sugarcane breeding program.