All together there are 324 containers holding 150 different varieties of sugarcane under investigation at the Sugar Research Station. (Photo by Mark Claesgens) New varieties are allowed to flower naturally in the crossing houses to get initial information on their photoperiod response. (Photo by Mark Claesgens) The plants are protected from each other with panes of clear plastic on three sides. (Photo by John Wozniak)

The breeding canes are rolled into the photoperiod houses and induced to flower. (Photo by Mark Claesgens) Inside the crossing house. (Photo by Mark Claesgens) After crossing, the sugarcane seed, called “fuzz,” is bagged to be dried and later germinated for seedling production. Chris LaBorde is the research associate in charge of crossing. (Photo by John Wozniak)