Yield-related traits and biochemical properties of Thai black sugarcane at different harvest ages

Nongluk  Teinseree; Siriphan  Sukkhaeng; Somnuk  Promdang; Patiwat  Sookgul; Apiwich  Songkarsin; Anuruck  Arunyanark

Authors

Nongluk Teinseree Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture at Kamphaeng Saen, Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Nakhon Pathom 73140, Thailand
Siriphan Sukkhaeng Phytochemistry Research and Analysis Unit, Central Laboratory and Greenhouse Complex, Research and Development Institute, Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Pathom 73140, Thailand
Somnuk Promdang Phytochemistry Research and Analysis Unit, Central Laboratory and Greenhouse Complex, Research and Development Institute, Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Pathom 73140, Thailand
Patiwat Sookgul Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture at Kamphaeng Saen, Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Nakhon Pathom 73140, Thailand
Apiwich Songkarsin Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture at Kamphaeng Saen, Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Nakhon Pathom 73140, Thailand
Anuruck Arunyanark

Keywords:

Anthocyanins, Antioxidant activity, Landrace sugarcane, Phenolic compounds, Total soluble solids

Abstract

Importance of the work: Black sugarcane is a traditional Thai landrace with medicinal and
functional food potential; however, its biochemical traits and their relationships to yield attributes
remain poorly characterized.
Objectives: To evaluate the phenolics, anthocyanins and antioxidant activity in the juice and
bagasse of Thai black sugarcane, to investigate genotypic variation and to examine the relationships
between yield traits and bioactive accumulation.
Materials and Methods: A field trial in Kamphaeng Saen, Thailand was conducted in a randomized
complete block design using six genotypes (five black sugarcane landraces and Suphanburi 50).
Growth and yield traits were recorded during 4–9 mth after transplanting (MAT) and juice and
bagasse samples were analyzed for total phenolics, anthocyanins and antioxidant activity.
Results: Black sugarcane had greater values for stalk length, internode number and stalk number per
clump, whereas Suphanburi 50 had larger values for stalk diameter, internode length and single-stalk
weight. Black sugarcane accumulated higher phenolics (up to 867 µg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/
mL in juice; 4,966 µg GAE/g in bagasse), anthocyanins (14.5 µg/mL in juice, 34 µg/g in bagasse)
and antioxidant activity (>400 µg Trolox equivalents (TE)/mL in juice; approximately 3,600–4,100
µg TE/g in bagasse at mid-maturity), while Suphanburi 50 consistently had the highest soluble solids
(18.7°Brix). Stalk length and internode number were positively correlated with phenolics, anthocyanins
and antioxidant activity, whereas soluble solids were negatively correlated with internode number and
stalk number per clump but positively correlated with stalk diameter and single-stalk weight.
Main finding: Thai black sugarcane is a promising source of health-promoting bioactive
compounds, particularly when harvested at 8–9 MAT and the identified trait associations should
provide guidance for breeding and utilization strategies that integrate biomass productivity with
biochemical quality