Yield-related traits and biochemical properties of Thai black sugarcane at different harvest ages
Year: 2026
Type: article
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.
Institution: Kasetsart University
Language: English
Subfield: Plant Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: diamond
Funder: Kasetsart University
OpenAlex ID: W7156367751