Registration of 'UFCP 87-0053' Sugarcane for Use as a Biofuel Feedstock

'UFCP 87-0053' (Reg. No. CV-166; PI 674425) sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) cultivar was released by the USDA-ARS, Canal Point (CP), FL, and the University of Florida (UF) for its potential use in cellulosic ethanol production. UFCP 87-0053 is a high-fiber sugarcane clone, which was developed to produce genetic diversity in a feedstock for cellulosic ethanol production in Florida. The UFCP 87-0053 clone results from a CP cross of unknown parents, yet it can be distinguished molecularly, and is genotypically distinct, from other energy cane cultivars released concurrently. UFCP 87-0053 is highly resistant to smut (caused by Sporisorium scitamineum). in field conditions, with significantly lower infestation than the reference cultivar L 79-1002. Following both naturally occurring environmental and artificial inoculations. UFCP 870053 was also resistant, or moderately resistant, to several other sugarcane diseases, including brown rust (caused by Puccinia melanocephala Syd. and P. Syd.), orange rust [P. kuehnii (Kruger) E. Butler], leaf scald [caused by Xanthomonas albilineans (Ashby) Dawson], and Sugarcane mosaic virus. Mean dry biomass yield of UFCP 87-0053 was approximately 5% greater than L 79-1002. Plant composition of UFCP 87-0053 was similar to L 79-1002. UFCP 87-0053 was released to be cultivated on marginal or sandy soils of Florida for cellulosic ethanol production.