Search
- Home
- Profiles
- Black, Liz
- articles
- Sugarcane Variety Development Program- St. Gabriel, La.
The LSU AgCenter Sugarcane Variety Development Program (SVDP) is charged with developing genetically improved varieties of sugarcane for the Louisiana sugar industry. The efforts of a multidisciplinary team of researchers are needed to accomplish project goals. The team involves LSU AgCenter faculty from the following disciplines: breeding, molecular biology, entomology, pathology, agronomy and extension. Each year, a new crop of about 80,000 genetically distinct individual seedlings of sugarcane created through crossing are planted to begin a new selection cycle. These seedlings undergo several years/rounds of selection and testing as experimental varieties, and those that perform at par with or outperform current sugarcane varieties grown in the state are released to growers for commercial exploitation. Characteristics such as agronomic performance and resistance to economically important pests and diseases of sugarcane in Louisiana are evaluated during this process lasting 12 years.
Location: St. Gabriel, Louisiana
Supervisor: Brayden Blanchard
Compensation: College credit will be contingent upon university approval. Intern will receive competitive financial compensation.
The student intern will work part time with members of the SVDP to develop genetically improved varieties of sugarcane for the Louisiana sugar industry. The interns will have many functional roles within the SVDP including, but not limited to: crossing, planting, harvesting and collection of samples for analysis in the sucrose laboratory. The intern must be willing to work in typical Louisiana weather conditions while working in the field. The intern must be able to take detailed notes for data collection and be proficient with Microsoft Excel. The intern can potentially present a poster or oral presentation of their research at a conference or class. The intern will gain critical knowledge and skills on several aspects related to sugarcane variety development including: molecular marker development, crossing, field plot techniques, variety testing and selection, and screening for pest and disease resistance.
Brayden Blanchard
Research Associate, Sugar Research Station
Phone: (337) 258-1730
E-mail: bablanchard@agcenter.lsu.edu
Collins Kimbeng, PhD
Sugarcane Breeder, Sugar Research Station
Phone: (225) 642-0224
E-mail: ckimbeng@agcenter.lsu.edu