Effect of the production environment and genetics in the conversion efficiency of solar energy in phyto-energy in sugarcane

Abstract

Increase the efficiency of solar energy conversion in phyto-energy is one of the strategies described by many authors to suply the world's energy production and food. The current values of the solar energy conversion in the literature are theoretical (calculated), and knowing the real efficiency of the photosynthetic process and how environmental and genetic factors may influence it, will help in the selection of cultivars more efficient and also assist in positioning for future research aimed at increasing the efficiency of this process. Accordingly, the objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of the production environment and genetics in the conversion efficiency of solar energy in phyto-energy in sugarcane, and also evaluate the distribution of this energy in different plant tissues in three stages of development. The study will be conducted in the city of Presidente Prudente/SP (Environment C) and Prado Ferreira/PR (Environment A) with the crop of sugar cane in two cycles, plant cane (2013/14) and ratoon cane (2014/15) during twelve months (cane of year) each cycle. The randomized block design will be adopted in a factorial scheme 2 x 3, two production environments x three varieties of sugarcane (RB867515, RB855156 and SP80-3280) with four replications, and for some analysis will be used sub-divided plots in time, where three stages of development will be evaluated: the end of vegetative growth (early winter), end ripening period (late winter) and end of the cycle before harvest (early spring). During the development period will be controlled daily rainfall, temperature (maximum, minimum and average), the total daily radiation, and will be evaluated biweekly the solar radiation and PAR intercepted by the plants, that will be adjusted to the polynomial equation, where will be obtained radiation intercepted daily. During the development of the plants and at the end of the crop will be assessed the efficiency of partial and total solar energy conversion, the distribution of partial and total accumulated energy in plant; the photosynthetic capacity and potential quantum efficiency of photosystem II; technological analysis (Brix, Pol, ATR and AR) and biometric analysis. The data will be submitted to analysis of variance and to Tukey test at 5% of significance level.