Registration of ‘L 15‐306’ sugarcane

Abstract

The Louisiana Sugarcane Cultivar Development Program is charged with developing sugarcane ( Saccharum spp. hybrids) cultivars adapted for production in South Louisiana. The program is conducted through a collaborative effort involving the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center Sugar Research Station, the USDA‐ARS Sugarcane Research Unit, and the American Sugar Cane League. The selection and release of ‘L 15‐306’ (Reg. no. CV‐225, PI 709602) to commercial sugarcane growers in Louisiana align with the program's objectives by providing another option for a well‐adapted, disease‐resistant, high sugar‐yielding cultivar. In selection trials, L 15‐306 consistently maintained its performance across five important agronomic traits (stalk weight, population, cane yield, sucrose content, and sugar yield), performing comparably or statistically better than L 01‐299, the leading cultivar in terms of hectares planted in the Louisiana sugar industry. Ratoonability is a characteristic highly prioritized for increased profitability, and an evaluation of the ratoonability of L 15‐306 showed performance similar to that of L 01‐299 in terms of yield consistency over a three‐crop cycle. Early physiological maturity, coupled with a favorable response to ripener applications, will allow the cultivar to fit nicely with the short growing season of Louisiana sugar production. In response to stress assessments, L 15‐306 is rated as moderately freeze‐tolerant and resistant or highly resistant to five common diseases (leaf scald, smut, mosaic, rust, and brown stripe), and susceptible to damage from infestation by the sugarcane borer. L 15‐306 has a medium‐sized stalk with good canopy coverage. It shares common ancestry with many commercial cultivars, with L 01‐283 as its female parent and LCP 85‐384 as its male grandparent.