Madhavi Pali1, Md Najmul Islam1, Anna Hale2, James Todd2, Orlando Coto Arbelo3, Amanda Hulse-kemp4, Keo Corak4, Paul White2, Brian Scheffler4, Md Sariful Islam3 and Shawana Tabassum1
1The University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, TX, USA
2Sugarcane Research Unit, USDA ARS, Houma, LA, USA
3Sugarcane Production Research Unit, USDA ARS, Canal Point, FL, USA; md.islam@usda.gov
4Genomics and Bioinformatics Research Unit, USDA ARS, Stoneville, MS
Maximizing the yield potential of sugarcane varieties requires accurate assessment of physiological maturity, as under-aged or over-aged cane can lead to reduced sugar yield, poor juice quality, and difficulties in sugar recovery. Traditional methods for assessing maturity include visual field inspections and destructive juice sampling using handheld refractometers for brix measurements, which are labor-intensive, time-consuming, and unsuitable for large-scale applications. Furthermore, these methods lack automation, real-time monitoring, and scalability, limiting their effectiveness in sugarcane breeding and production systems in this modern era. Hence, accurate, real-time sucrose monitoring is crucial for determining the optimal harvesting time for sugarcane in an effective and resource-efficient way. This study introduces a regenerative, real-time, in situ sensor for minimally damaging sucrose measurement directly within the cane stalk in the field. The sensor enables temporal and spatial monitoring of sugar content, minimizes plant damage, and reduces the need for destructive sampling. The sensor offers a broad detection range, covering Brix values from 5 to 25 %. Additionally, the sensor achieves comparable Brix measurements with respect to a commercial refractometer and reaches over 96% accuracy. Testing directly within cane stalks further highlights the sensor’s capability to distinguish between high-sucrose and low-sucrose clones. This innovation offers a scalable, efficient solution for improving sugarcane maturity assessments and breeding programs.Madhavi Pali1, Md Najmul Islam1, Anna Hale2, James Todd2, Orlando Coto Arbelo3, Amanda Hulse-kemp4, Keo Corak4, Paul White2, Brian Scheffler4, Md Sariful Islam3 and Shawana Tabassum1
1The University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, TX, USA
2Sugarcane Research Unit, USDA ARS, Houma, LA, USA
3Sugarcane Production Research Unit, USDA ARS, Canal Point, FL, USA; md.islam@usda.gov
4Genomics and Bioinformatics Research Unit, USDA ARS, Stoneville, MS
Maximizing the yield potential of sugarcane varieties requires accurate assessment of physiological maturity, as under-aged or over-aged cane can lead to reduced sugar yield, poor juice quality, and difficulties in sugar recovery. Traditional methods for assessing maturity include visual field inspections and destructive juice sampling using handheld refractometers for brix measurements, which are labor-intensive, time-consuming, and unsuitable for large-scale applications. Furthermore, these methods lack automation, real-time monitoring, and scalability, limiting their effectiveness in sugarcane breeding and production systems in this modern era. Hence, accurate, real-time sucrose monitoring is crucial for determining the optimal harvesting time for sugarcane in an effective and resource-efficient way. This study introduces a regenerative, real-time, in situ sensor for minimally damaging sucrose measurement directly within the cane stalk in the field. The sensor enables temporal and spatial monitoring of sugar content, minimizes plant damage, and reduces the need for destructive sampling. The sensor offers a broad detection range, covering Brix values from 5 to 25 %. Additionally, the sensor achieves comparable Brix measurements with respect to a commercial refractometer and reaches over 96% accuracy. Testing directly within cane stalks further highlights the sensor’s capability to distinguish between high-sucrose and low-sucrose clones. This innovation offers a scalable, efficient solution for improving sugarcane maturity assessments and breeding programs.