Genetic diversity and population structure analysis of accessions in the US historic sweet sorghum collection

Sweet sorghum has the potential to become a versatile feedstock for large-scale bioenergy production given its sugar from stem juice, cellulose/hemicellulose from stalks, and starch from grain. However, for researchers to maximize its feedstock potential a first step includes additional evaluations of the 2,180 accessions with varied origins in the US historic sweet sorghum collection. To assess genetic diversity of this collection for bioenergy breeding and population structure for association mapping, we selected 96 accessions and genotyped them with 95 simple sequence repeat markers. Subsequent genetic diversity and population structure analysis methods identified four subpopulations in this panel, which correlated well with the geographic locations where these accessions originated or were collected. Model comparisons for three quantitative traits revealed different levels of population structure effects on flowering time, plant height, and brix. Our results suggest that diverse germplasm accessions curated from different geographical regions should be considered for plant breeding programs to develop sweet sorghum cultivars or hybrids, and that this sweet sorghum panel can be further explored for association mapping.     

Properties and potential applications of natural cellulose fibers from the bark of cotton stalks

Natural cellulose fibers have been obtained from the bark of cotton stalks and the fibers have been used to develop composites. Cotton stalks are rich in cellulose and account for up to 3 times the quantity of cotton fiber produced per acre. Currently, cotton stalks have limited use and are mostly burned on the ground. Natural cellulose fibers obtained from cotton stalks are composed of approximately 79% cellulose and 13.7% lignin. The fibers have breaking tenacity of 2.9 g per denier and breaking elongation of 3% and modulus of 144 g per denier, between that of cotton and linen. Polypropylene composites reinforced with cotton stalk fibers have flexural, tensile and impact resistance properties similar to jute fiber reinforced polypropylene composites. Utilizing cotton stalks as a source for natural cellulose fibers provides an opportunity to increase the income from cotton crops and make cotton crops more competitive to the biofuel crops.     

新疆甜高粱种质资源遗传多样性的SSR分析

选用50对SSR引物对新疆现有72份甜高粱种质资源进行遗传多样性分析。结果表明:有20对引物在72份甜高粱种质资源中表现为多态性。共检测到91个等位基因,每对引物可检测到的等位基因数目为2～5个,平均为3.45个。多态性信息量(PIC)的变动范围为0.2859～0.6652,平均为0.5057。72份甜高粱种质间的遗传相似系数变化范围为0.2001～1.000,平均值为0.5599。UPGMA聚类分析将72份材料划分为A、B两大类群,A群包括69份材料,而A群又被分成从Ⅰ到Ⅺ共11个亚群,B群包括3份材料,农艺性状近似的大多被聚到同一类群。     

Effect of manganese on preferential degradation of lignin by Pleurotus ostreatus during solid-state fermentation.

Practical utilization of the polysaccharides in the lignocellulosic complex is limited because of the high lignin content of the complex. In this study we focused on the effect of Mn on lignin and cellulose biodegradation during solid-state fermentation by the edible mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus. Preferential degradation of lignin was enhanced by the addition of Mn(II) to cotton stalks at concentrations ranging from 30 to 620 micrograms of Mn per g. This effect was most apparent when we compared mineralization rates of [14C] lignin with mineralization rates of [14C] cellulose. Enhanced selectivity was also observed when we analyzed residual organic matter at the end of the fermentation period by using crude fiber analysis. The cellulose fraction in the original material was 1.8 times larger than the cellulose fraction of lignin. The cellulose/lignin ratio increased during 32 days of solid-state fermentation from 2.5 in the control to 3.3 following the addition of Mn to the medium. The in vitro digestibility value for fermented cotton stalks was 53% of the dry matter. Addition of 600 micrograms of Mn per g to the cotton stalks resulted in a digestibility value of 65.4%. Enhancement of preferential lignin degradation could be result of either increased activity of the ligninolytic enzymes or production of Mn (III), which might preferentially degrade aromatic structures in the lignocellulosic complex.     

Genetic diversity in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) accessions of Zambia as revealed by simple sequence repeats (SSR)

Twenty seven accessions of sorghum conserved in the national gene bank of Zambia, representing two of the three agroecological regions of the country, were investigated using simple sequence repeats (SSR) markers in order to determine the extent and distribution of its genetic diversity. We used 10 microsatellite primer-pairs, which generated 2-9 alleles per locus and a total of 44 alleles across the 27 accessions. The observed heterozygosity (Ho(P) ) among the accessions ranged from 0 to 0.19 with an average of 0.04 whereas the average expected heterozygosity (He(P) ) among accessions was 0.07 in line with the fact that sorghum is predominately inbreeder. The analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed that 82% of the total genetic variation was attributable to the genetic variation among accessions (F(ST) = 0.824; p < 0.001) whereas the genetic variation within accessions accounted for 18% of the total genetic variation. AMOVA on sorghum accessions grouped based on four ethnic groups (Soli, Chikunda, Lozi and Tonga) associated with collection sites revealed a highly significant variation among groups (23%; p < 0.001). Although cluster analysis grouped most accessions according to their sites of collection, some accessions that originated from the same site were placed under different clusters. In addition to the extent and pattern of genetic diversity, consideration should also be given to other factors such as ecogeographic and ethnic differences when sampling sorghum genetic resources for rational and efficient conservation and utilization in the breeding program.     

Identification of genomic regions affecting plant height in sorghum and maize

The objective of this study was to use restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) to determine the genetic location and effects of genomic regions controlling plant height in sorghum. F₂ plants (152) from the cross CK60 x PI229828 were used. Genomic and cDNA clones (106) identified 111 loci distributed among ten linkage groups covering 1299 cM. Interval mapping identified four regions, each in a separate linkage group. These regions may correspond to loci (dw) previously identified by alleles with qualitative effects. Also, these regions identified in sorghum may be orthologous to those previously reported for plant height in maize. Gene effects and gene action varied among genomic regions. In each region, PI229828 alleles resulted in increased plant height. Each region accounted for 9.2–28.7% of the phenotypic variation. Positive, additive effects ranged from 15 to 32cm. Tallness was dominant or overdominant and conferred by alleles from PI229828 for three quantitative trait loci (QTL). At the fourth QTL, PI229828 contributed to increased plant height, but short stature was partially dominant. One digenic interaction was significant. The presence of a PI229828 allele at one region diminished the effects of the other region. A multiple model indicated that these four regions collectively accounted for 63.4% of the total phenotypic variation. The utility of this information for germplasm conversion through backcross breeding is discussed.Journal Paper No. J. 15649 of the Iowa Agriculture and Home Economic Experiment Station, Ames, Iowa. Project No. 3134     

Natural cellulose fibers from soybean straw

This paper reports the development of natural cellulose technical fibers from soybean straw with properties similar to the natural cellulose fibers in current use. About 220 million tons of soybean straw available in the world every year could complement the byproducts of other major food crops as inexpensive, abundant and annually renewable sources for natural cellulose fibers. Using the agricultural byproducts as sources for fibers could help to address the concerns on the future price and availability of both the natural and synthetic fibers in current use and also help to add value to the food crops. A simple alkaline extraction was used to obtain technical fibers from soybean straw and the composition, structure and properties of the fibers was studied. Technical fibers obtained from soybean straw have high cellulose content (85%) but low% crystallinity (47%). The technical fibers have breaking tenacity (2.7 g/den) and breaking elongation (3.9%) higher than those of fibers obtained from wheat straw and sorghum stalk and leaves but lower than that of cotton. Overall, the structure and properties of the technical fibers obtained from soybean straw indicates that the fibers could be suitable for use in textile, composite and other industrial applications.     

Convergence of Goals: Phylogenetical,Morphological, and Physiological Characterization of Tolerance to Drought Stress in Tall Fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.)

The aim of this study is to find Iranian tall fescue accessions that tolerate drought stress and investigation on phylogenetical, morphological, and physiological characterization of them. For this propose, inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSR) markers were used to examine the genetic variability of accessions from different provinces of Iran. Of 21 primers, 20 primers generated highly reproducible fragments. Using these primers, 390 discernible DNA fragments were produced with 367 (93.95 %) being polymorphic. The polymorphic information content (PIC) values ranged from 0.948 to 0.976, with a mean PIC value of 0.969. Probability identity (PI) and discriminating power (D = 1 ? PI) among the primers ranged from 0.001 to 0.004 and 0.998 to 0.995, respectively. A binary qualitative data matrix was constructed. Data analyses were performed using the NTSYS software and the similarity values were used to generate a dendrogram via UPGMA. To study the drought stress, plants were irrigated at 25 % FC condition for three times. Fresh leaves were collected to measure physiological characters including: superoxide dismutase, catalase, and peroxidase activities and proline and total chlorophyll content at two times, before and after stress application. Relative water content, fresh and dry weight ratio, survival percentage, and visual quality were evaluated after stress. Morphological and physiological characters were assessed in order to classify accessions as either tolerant or sensitive using Ward’s method of Hierarchical cluster analysis in SPSS software. The results of present study demonstrated that the ISSR markers are useful for studying tall fescue genetic diversity. Convergence of morphological and physiological characterizations during drought stress and phylogenetic relationship results showed that accessions can be grouped into four clusters; drought-tolerant accessions that collected from west of Iran, drought-tolerant accessions collected from northwest of Iran, drought semi-tolerant accessions collected from center of Iran, and drought-sensitive accessions collected from north of Iran. Data presented could be used to classify the tall fescue accessions based on suitability of cultivation in the regions studied or the regions with the similar environmental condition.     

Genetic variability among sorghum accessions from the Sahelian agroecological region of Burkina Faso

The authors collected Sahelian sorghum landraces of Burkina Faso in 1984 and 74 of these accessions were characterized in 1985–1986 at Gampela in Burkina Faso (West Africa). The five races of cultivated sorghum were represented in this zone but 63.5% of the accessions were Guinea type. Great intra-and inter-accession variability was found. Plants were tall and had long panicles and small to intermediate seeds. There was a strong association between days-to-flowering, number of internodes, panicle length and height. The 100-kernel weight showed an antagonism with days to flowering and tillering. Multivariate analyses were made which enabled the accessions to be classified into four groups. The group most adapted to the sahelian zone, sahelian group, was semi-late, developed intermediate size of vegetative organs, had moderate tillering and had the best yield per plant.     

Bioconversion of dilute-acid pretreated sorghum bagasse to ethanol by Neurospora crassa

Bioethanol production from sweet sorghum bagasse (SB), the lignocellulosic solid residue obtained after extraction of sugars from sorghum stalks, can further improve the energy yield of the crop. The aim of the present work was to evaluate a cost-efficient bioconversion of SB to ethanol at high solids loadings (16?% at pretreatment and 8?% at fermentation), low cellulase activities (1-7 FPU/g SB) and co-fermentation of hexoses and pentoses. The fungus Neurospora crassa DSM 1129 was used, which exhibits both depolymerase and co-fermentative ability, as well as mixed cultures with Saccharomyces cerevisiae 2541. A dilute-acid pretreatment (sulfuric acid 2?g/100?g SB; 210?°C; 10?min) was implemented, with high hemicellulose decomposition and low inhibitor formation. The bioconversion efficiency of N. crassa was superior to S. cerevisiae, while their mixed cultures had negative effect on ethanol production. Supplementing the in situ produced N. crassa cellulolytic system (1.0 FPU/g SB) with commercial cellulase and β-glucosidase mixture at low activity (6.0 FPU/g SB) increased ethanol production to 27.6?g/l or 84.7?% of theoretical yield (based on SB cellulose and hemicellulose sugar content). The combined dilute-acid pretreatment and bioconversion led to maximum cellulose and hemicellulose hydrolysis 73.3?% and 89.6?%, respectively.     

Assessment of genetic diversity and relationship among a collection of US sweet sorghum germplasm by SSR markers

Sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) is a type of cultivated sorghums and has been recognized widely as potential alternative source of bio-fuel because of its high fermentable sugar content in the stalk. A substantial variation of sugar content and related traits is known to exist in US sweet sorghum. The objectives of the study were to assess the genetic diversity and relationship among the US sweet sorghum cultivars and lines using SSR markers and to examine the genetic variability within sweet sorghum accessions for sugar content. Sixty-eight sweet sorghum and four grain sorghum cultivars and lines were genotyped with 41 SSR markers that generated 132 alleles with an average of 3.22 alleles per locus. Polymorphism information content (PIC) value, a measure of gene diversity, was 0.40 with a range of 0.03–0.87. The genetic similarity co-efficient was estimated based on the segregation of the 132 SSR alleles. Clustering analysis based on the genetic similarity (GS) grouped the 72 sorghum accessions into 10 distinct clusters. Grouping based on clustering analysis was in good agreement with available pedigree and genetic background information. The study has revealed the genetic relationship of cultivars with unknown parentage to those with known parentage. A number of diverse pairs of sweet sorghum accessions were identified which were polymorphic at many SSR loci and significantly different for sugar content as well. Information generated from this study can be used to select parents for hybrid development to maximize the sugar content and total biomass, and development of segregating populations to map genes controlling sugar content in sweet sorghum.     

A Novel Wild-Type Saccharomyces cerevisiae Strain TSH1 in Scaling-Up of Solid-State Fermentation of Ethanol from Sweet Sorghum Stalks

The rising demand for bioethanol, the most common alternative to petroleum-derived fuel used worldwide, has encouraged a feedstock shift to non-food crops to reduce the competition for resources between food and energy production. Sweet sorghum has become one of the most promising non-food energy crops because of its high output and strong adaptive ability. However, the means by which sweet sorghum stalks can be cost-effectively utilized for ethanol fermentation in large-scale industrial production and commercialization remains unclear. In this study, we identified a novel Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain, TSH1, from the soil in which sweet sorghum stalks were stored. This strain exhibited excellent ethanol fermentative capacity and ability to withstand stressful solid-state fermentation conditions. Furthermore, we gradually scaled up from a 500-mL flask to a 127-m³ rotary-drum fermenter and eventually constructed a 550-m³ rotary-drum fermentation system to establish an efficient industrial fermentation platform based on TSH1. The batch fermentations were completed in less than 20 hours, with up to 96 tons of crushed sweet sorghum stalks in the 550-m³ fermenter reaching 88% of relative theoretical ethanol yield (RTEY). These results collectively demonstrate that ethanol solid-state fermentation technology can be a highly efficient and low-cost solution for utilizing sweet sorghum, providing a feasible and economical means of developing non-food bioethanol.     

Assessment of the damage caused to potatoes by potato cyst eelworm, Heterodera rostochiensis Woll

Thirty field trials were carried out from 1960 to 1967, mainly on peat and silt soils in the eastern counties of England, to study the relationship between potato yield and numbers of H. rostochiensis. The population range of most interest to advisers (0–60 full cysts/100 g (0–150 eggs/g)) was encountered by chance fairly frequently. The relationship between yield and initial eelworm densities over this range could be expressed equally well untransformed or transformed (using square root transformation for cyst counts and log. transformation for egg counts). Sigmoid curves could not often be fitted to the graphs of yield against log. egg count because densities large or small enough were not often encountered and small numbers cannot be estimated with sufficient accuracy. Assuming straight-line regressions of yield on untransformed eelworm densities certain generalizations can be made. The slopes vary somewhat, but on average losses are 1·2 tons/acre per ten full cysts/100 g and 0·85 tons/acre per twenty eggs/g. Linear regressions tend to be parallel over a large range of potential yields which means that yield loss is independent of potential yield. In five trials there was some evidence that the yield had reached a minimum varying between 5 and 10 tons/acre when eelworm populations were very dense. In two trials, estimates of maximum and minimum yield were obtained. Both gave the difference (maximum loss) as 7 tons/acre and the ratio of minimum to maximum as 0·50 and 0·44 respectively. Yield losses were often great without obvious symptoms appearing in the haulm.     

Nutrient content of the moist tropical forest of Ghana

Summary The total weight of vegetation on an area of just over 1 acre of old secondary forest in the moist forest zone of Ghana has been determined, and found to be equivalent to roughly 150 tons per acre dry weight. The nutrient content of each component of the vegetation was also determined and showed that the amounts of the major nutrients immobilised in the vegetation were: N, 1,800 lb./acre; P, 120 lb./acre; K, 800 1b./acre; Ca, 2,400 lb./acre; Mg, 350 lb./acre. The corresponding amounts of nutrients in the top foot of soil supporting the vegetation were: total N, 4,100 lb./acre; available P, 11 lb./acre; exchangeable K, 580 lb./acre; exchangeable Ca, 2,300 lb./acre; exchangeable Mg, 330 lb./acre. About half the nutrients stored in the vegetation were contained in readily combustible material, and except for N would be released to the soil if the forest were cleared and burnt for cultivation. The quantity of roots and the amounts of nutrients contained in them were not sufficiently great to make an important addítion to the nutrient supply in the soil during subsequent cultivation. Of the total quantity of roots supporting the vegetation 85.5 per cent by weight were within 1 foot of the soil surface.     

Spatial and Temporal Variation of Roots, Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi, and Plant and Soil Nutrients in a Mature Pinot Noir (Vitis vinifera L.) Vineyard in Oregon, USA

Soil and crop management practices may influence biomass growth and yields of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolorL.) and sequester significant amount of atmospheric CO₂in plant biomass and underlying soil, thereby helping to mitigate the undesirable effects of global warming. This study examined the effects of three tillage practices [no-till (NT), strip till (ST), and chisel till (CT)], four cover crops [legume (hairy vetch) (Vicia villosa roth), nonlegume (rye) (Secale cerealeL), hairy vetch/rye mixture, and winter weeds orno covercrop], and three N fertilization rates (0, 60–65, and 120–130 kg N ha ^–1) on the amount of C sequestered in cotton lint (lint + seed), sorghum grain, their stalks (stems + leaves) and roots, and underlying soil from 2000 to 2002 in central Georgia, USA. A field experiment was conducted on a Dothan sandy loam (fine-loamy, kaolinitic, thermic, Plinthic Kandiudults). In 2000, C accumulation in cotton lint was greater in NT with rye or vetch/rye mixture but in stalks, it was greater in ST with vetch or vetch/rye mixture than in CT with or without cover crops. Similarly, C accumulation in lint was greater in NT with 60 kg N ha ^–1 but in stalks, it was greater in ST with 60 and 120 kg N ha ^–1 than in CT with 0 kg N ha ^–1. In 2001, C accumulation in sorghum grains and stalks was greater in vetch and vetch/rye mixture with or without N rate than in rye without N rate. In 2002, C accumulation in cotton lint was greater in CT with or without N rate but in stalks, it was greater in ST with 60 and 120 kg N ha ^–1 than in NT with or without N rate. Total C accumulation in the above- and belowground biomass in cotton ranged from 1.7 to 5.6 Mg ha ^–1 and in sorghum ranged from 3.4 to 7.2 Mg ha ^–1. Carbon accumulation in cotton and sorghum roots ranged from 1 to 14% of the total C accumulation in above- and belowground biomass. In NT, soil organic C at 0–10 cm depth was greater in vetch with 0 kg N ha ^–1 or in vetch/rye with 120–130 kg N ha ^–1 than in weeds with 0 and 60 kg N ha ^–1 but at 10–30 cm, it was greater in rye with 120–130 kg N ha ^–1 than in weeds with or without rate. In ST, soil organic C at 0–10 cm was greater in rye with 120–130 kg N ha ^–1 than in rye, vetch, vetch/rye and weeds with 0 and 60 kg N ha ^–1. Soil organic C at 0–10 and 10–30 cm was also greater in NT and ST than in CT. Since 5 to 24% of C accumulation in lint and grain were harvested, C sequestered in cotton and sorghum stalks and roots can be significant in the terrestrial ecosystem and can significantly increase C storage in the soil if these residues are left after lint or grain harvest, thereby helping to mitigate the effects of global warming. Conservation tillage, such as ST, with hairy vetch/rye mixture cover crops and 60–65 kg N ha ^–1 can sustain C accumulation in cotton lint and sorghum grain and increase C storage in the surface soil due to increased C input from crop residues and their reduced incorporation into the soil compared with conventional tillage, such as CT, with no cover crop and N fertilization, thereby maintaining crop yields, improving soil quality, and reducing erosion.     

Protein solubility, digestibility and fractionation after germination of sorghum varieties

The changes in crude protein, free amino acids, amino acid composition, protein solubility, protein fractionation and protein digestibility after germination of sorghum were investigated. Sorghum varieties (Dorado, Shandaweel-6, Giza-15) were soaked for 20 h followed by germination for 72 h; the results revealed that crude protein and free amino acids in raw sorghum varieties ranged from 10.62 to 12.46% and 0.66 to 1.03 mg/g, respectively. Shandaweel-6 was the highest variety in crude protein and free amino acids content. After germination, crude protein was decreased and free amino acids were increased. There was an increase in content of valine and phenylalanine amino acids after germination. On the other hand, there was a decrease in most of amino acids after germination. After germination protein solubility was significantly increased. Regarding protein fractions, there was an increase in albumin, globulin and kafirin proteins and a decrease in cross linked kafirin and cross linked glutelin after germination.     

Culm strength of barley : correlation among maximum bending stress, cell wall dimensions, and cellulose content

Grass culms are known to differ in breaking strength, but there is little physicochemical data to explain the response. The fourth internode of four brittle and two nonbrittle barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) strains were used for physical and chemical studies of culm strength. Inner and outer culm diameters of brittle strains (3.6 ± 0.2 and 5.0 ± 0.1 millimeters) were not significantly different from those of nonbrittle strains (3.9 ± 0.2 and 5.2 ± 0.2 millimeters). Maximum bending stress, at which the culm was broken, was 192 ± 34 g/mm² for brittle and 490 ± 38 g/mm² for nonbrittle strains. Wall thickness and cell dimensions of epidermal, sclerenchyma, and parenchyma cells were measured in culm cross sections. The area of cell wall per unit cell area for each tissue was significantly correlated with the maximum bending stress (r = 0.93 for epidermis, 0.90 for sclerenchyma, and 0.84 for parenchyma). Cell walls of brittle culms had 6 to 64% as much cellulose content as those of nonbrittle culms. Maximum bending stress correlated significantly with cellulose content of the cell walls (r = 0.93), but not with the contents of noncellulosic compounds. The lower cellulose content of the brittle culm was significantly correlated with brittleness.     

Evaluation of Nutritional and Antioxidant Status of Lepidium latifolium Linn.: A Novel Phytofood from Ladakh

Lepidium latifolium Linn. (perennial pepperweed) is one of the preferred phytofoods among cold arid region of Ladakh, India and its leaves contribute significantly to people''s diet. This study was conducted to determine its nutritive value and antioxidant activity. Plant samples from three different locations were selected in the present study. Results showed that this plant is an excellent source of glucosinolates, notably sinigrin that is present in very high amount (∼70–90%). Its value ranged from 149 to 199 µg per g fresh weight. Fatty acid composition analysis showed that its leaves were abundant in unsaturated fatty acids, specifically linolenic acid (18∶3) whose percentage is about 50%. Higher glucose and crude protein along with higher nitrogen to sulfur ratio, supplements the nutritive value of this plant. Based on total phenol, flavanoids, free radical scavenging activity and DNA protective activity showed that this ecotype of perennial pepperweed contains high antioxidant properties. The percentage inhibition for O₂ ⁻ scavenging activity ranged from 41.3% to 83.9%. Higher content of phenols (26.89 to 50.51 mg gallic acid equivalents per g dry weight) and flavanoids (38.66 to 76.00 mg quercetin equivalents per g dry weight) in leaves could be responsible for the free radical scavenging activity of this plant. Depending upon the location of the plants, variations were observed in different activities. Based on the systematic evaluation in this study, preparations of Lepidium latifolium from Ladakh can be promoted as substitute to dietary requirements.     

Phytotoxicity of tracer 120SC on greenhouse-grown rose (Rosa sp.) flowers

Tracer 120SC is effective against several insect pests of different crops, but it may be phytotoxic. The objective of this study was to quantify the phytotoxic effect of Tracer 120SC on rose. Phtotoxicity of Tracer 120SC was tested at three rates. A single application of Tracer 120SC caused acute phytotoxic damage to leaves, shoots and flower stalks at all tested rates. Two to three days after spraying symptoms were observed on 32.2 to 52.0% of sprayed shoots, with severity of 26 to 38%. Damage on individual shoots without flower buds varied between 21.1 and 37.6%. Similarly, the proportion of damaged leaves per flower stalk ranged from 57.8 to 62.3%. Flower damage was highest of any tissue, with 79.5 to 90% of tissue exhibiting phytotoxic symptoms. Taken together all flower stalks exhibited damage and were not marketable.     

Composition of sugar cane,energy cane,and sweet sorghum suitable for ethanol production at Louisiana sugar mills

A challenge facing the biofuel industry is to develop an economically viable and sustainable biorefinery. The existing potential biorefineries in Louisiana, raw sugar mills, operate only 3 months of the year. For year-round operation, they must adopt other feedstocks, besides sugar cane, as supplemental feedstocks. Energy cane and sweet sorghum have different harvest times, but can be processed for bio-ethanol using the same equipment. Juice of energy cane contains 9.8% fermentable sugars and that of sweet sorghum, 11.8%. Chemical composition of sugar cane bagasse was determined to be 42% cellulose, 25% hemicellulose, and 20% lignin, and that of energy cane was 43% cellulose, 24% hemicellulose, and 22% lignin. Sweet sorghum was 45% cellulose, 27% hemicellulose, and 21% lignin. Theoretical ethanol yields would be 3,609 kg per ha from sugar cane, 12,938 kg per ha from energy cane, and 5,804 kg per ha from sweet sorghum.