"Sugar Tech"

Martiniano, Sabrina E.;Philippini, Rafael R.;Chandel, Anuj K.;Rosa, Carlos A.;Pagnocca, Fernando C.;Silva, Sílvio S. da

doi: 10.1007/s12355-013-0219-8pmid: N/A

Abstract Xylose is the main sugar in hemicellulosic hydrolysates and its fermentation into ethanol by microorganisms is influenced by nutritional factors, such as nitrogen source, vitamins and other elements. Rice bran extract (RBE) is an inexpensive nitrogen source primarily consisting of high amount of protein. This study evaluates the potential of RBE as a nitrogen source for the “hemicellulosic ethanol” production from sugarcane bagasse dilute acid hydrolysate by novel yeast strains Scheffersomyces shehatae (syn. Candida shehatae) CG8-8BY and Spathaspora arborariae UFMG-HM19.1A, isolated from Brazilian forests. Two different media formulations were used for inoculum preparation and production medium, using yeast extract and RBE as nitrogen sources. S. shehatae CG8-8BY showed ethanol production of 17.0 g/l with the ethanol yield (0.33 g/g) and fermentation efficiency (64 %) from medium supplemented with RBE. On the other hand, S. arborariae presented 5.4 g/l of ethanol production with ethanol yield (0.14 g/g) and fermentation efficiency (21 %) in a fermentation medium supplemented with RBE. Appropriate media formulation is an important parameter to increase the productivity of bioconversion process and RBE proved to be an efficient and inexpensive nitrogen source to supplement sugarcane bagasse hemicellulosic hydrolysate for second generation ethanol production.

Pradeep, N. V.;Anupama, S.;Kumar, J. M. Arun;Vidyashree, K. G.;Lakshmi, P.;Ankitha, K.;Pooja, J.

doi: 10.1007/s12355-013-0227-8pmid: N/A

Abstract The consumption of large volumes of water and the generation of organic compounds as liquid effluents are major environmental problems in sugar cane processing industry. The aim of this work is to study the treatment of synthetic sugar wastewater by a downflow stationary fixed film (DSFF) reactor. The reactor was fabricated and packed with polyvinyl chloride pipe pieces and it was air tight sealed to maintain anaerobic conditions. The ambient room temperature during the study period was between 29 and 33 °C. Start-up period required by the reactor was 3 weeks. Initially a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 48 h was set, HRT was decreased when the reactor reached steady state. BOD and COD removal increased as the HRT decreased from 48 to 12 h. BOD and COD removal was 79 and 81.8 % respectively at 12 h HRT. A decline in removal was noticed when the HRT was set to 6 h. Biogas production was 445 ml/day at 12 h HRT. Differential staining was carried out, it revealed that the micro-organisms belong to gram negative class. Thus DSFF reactor can be used for treating sugar wastewater and for producing biogas.

Kocher, Gurvinder Singh;Phutela, R. P.;Dhillon, Harminder Kaur;Uppal, S. K.;Arora, Jatinder Kaur;Bakshi, Dapinder

doi: 10.1007/s12355-013-0245-6pmid: N/A

Abstract The fermentation parameters for production of fermented vinegar from sugarcane juice at 50 L scale were optimized and validated for 3 years (2010–2012) using indigenous strains S. cerevisiae strain 35 and A. aceti AC1 for ethanolic and acetic acid fermentations, respectively. The ethanolic fermentation was complete in 4 days producing ethanol between 8 and 11 % (v/v). The acetic acid fermentation was carried out by providing first 3 days of shaking, which took 23 ± 2 days for producing vinegar having 4.18–6.43 % (w/v) acetic acid. Recycling (2/3rd volume) of previous fermentation batches decreased the fermentation time to 5–9 days with an increase in acetification rate. The 81 days process developed was started with a 36 day of first batch followed by five recycled batches with a maximum of 9 days (each) thus producing 225 bottles (750 ml capacity) of sugarcane vinegar from 250 L juice at an approximate cost of Rs 45/bottle. The sugarcane vinegar produced was of standard quality with a sensory score of 8.3–8.5, had high total phenols and ascorbic acid contents, was rich in five minerals (K, Mg, Na, Ca and P) and seven amino acids (with six essential ones) and was stable for 12 months.

Patade, Vikas Yadav;Lokhande, Vinayak Haribhau;Suprasanna, Penna

doi: 10.1007/s12355-013-0261-6pmid: N/A

Abstract Antioxidant defense system provides protection against oxidative damage caused by abiotic stresses including salinity. Ameliorative effects of l-proline, l-glutamine, glycine betaine (GB) on growth, proline accumulation and antioxidant enzyme activities were studied using cultured cells of sugarcane against salt (NaCl) stress. NaCl stress reduced growth rate significantly over the control however, proline or glutamine supplementation resulted in growth revival. Proline supplementation to media with or without salt increased accumulation of free proline significantly than the controls and other (proline, GB and glutamine) treatments. Salt stress led to increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione reductase activity whereas guaiacol peroxidase (GPX), catalase and ascorbate peroxidase activities were significantly suppressed. Proline supplementation to the salt medium improved the GPX activity over the salt media supplemented with glutamine or glycine betaine. The activity ratio between SOD and H2O2 scavenging enzyme activities, which is considered as a working hypothesis for biochemical marker for salt tolerance, was lower in salt medium supplemented with proline. Thus, the higher growth rate and the lower activity ratio suggest maximum salt stress ameliorative potential of proline in sugarcane cultured cells.

Satbhai, R. D.;Naik, R. M.

doi: 10.1007/s12355-013-0243-8pmid: N/A

Abstract Osmolyte accumulation (proline and glycine–betaine), chlorophyll content, nitrate reductase (NR) activity and antioxidative system in terms of superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), catalase (CAT) and malondialdehyde content was studied in two sugarcane varieties (CoM-265 and CoC-671) differing in salt tolerance. The result clearly indicated higher level of osmolytes like proline and glycine–betaine in CoM-265, a salt tolerant variety. The reduction in chlorophyll content and NR activity was less in salt tolerant sugarcane variety CoM-265 than that of CoC-671, a salt susceptible variety. Higher activity of SOD, APX and CAT with lower LPO content in salt tolerant (CoM-265) variety compared to salt susceptible (CoC-671) variety, suggests that antioxidant enzymes protect cell from oxidative burst. Proline and glycine–betaine protect cell membrane integrity by maintaining higher chlorophyll and NR activity by scavenging ROS under salt stress.

Govindaraj, P.;Amalraj, V. A.;Mohanraj, K.;Nair, N. V.

doi: 10.1007/s12355-013-0255-4pmid: N/A

Abstract Saccharum spontaneum L., one of the wild species in Saccharum complex has reservoir of genes for various economically important traits including resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Its contribution in the development of modern sugarcane varieties through nobilization has resulted in the first sugar revolution in the country. In India, many explorations were conducted by Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore and several valuable germplasm were collected and maintained for further utilization. The arid and semi arid zones of northwestern India are the unexplored regions of the country and collections from these zones would be valuable in terms of tolerance to abiotic stresses. An exploration was conducted in the six agro climatic zones of northwestern India in the state of Gujarat. A total of 32 collections were made and detailed information on passport data and various important descriptors were documented. These clones were planted and characterized for ten quantitative and 26 qualitative traits. The collections showed the existence of high variability for most of the traits. Clustering based on phenotypic data grouped whole collections into six clusters. Clones from high rainfall south Gujarat (Cluster II) and low rainfall western arid (Cluster III) and north Gujarat (Cluster IV) were grouped into separate clusters. This paper describes the potential uses of the S. spontaneum collected in northwestern India and further utilization in sugarcane improvement programmes.

Cheong, L. R. Ng;Kwong, K. F. Ng Kee;Du Preez, C. C.

doi: 10.1007/s12355-013-0247-4pmid: N/A

Abstract Marked differences exist in the properties of the major soil groups of Mauritius on account of differences in age of parent material and in climatic conditions under which these soils have developed. Further differences are expected to be observed in their organic matter and microbial biomass contents as a result of sugarcane cropping. A study was conducted on the four major soil groups of Mauritius to quantify and compare these effects. Organic carbon, total nitrogen and microbial biomass carbon contents were measured for uncropped and cropped conditions. The results showed that soils of Mauritius have average organic carbon and total nitrogen contents of about 100 and 9.5 T/ha for the upper 50 cm layer, and 500 kg/ha of microbial biomass carbon for the upper 15 cm layer. Cropping with sugarcane had variable effects on these three parameters, but did not necessarily cause their degradation. Differences observed could be explained by differences in agronomic practices, as a consequence of differences in rainfall regimes and rock contents. These different agronomic practices include rock-removal for mechanization, cane burning for harvest and addition of organic amendments.

Poongothai, M.;Viswanathan, R.;Malathi, P.;Sundar, A. Ramesh

doi: 10.1007/s12355-013-0249-2pmid: N/A

Abstract The fungal pathogen Fusarium sacchari causing wilt in sugarcane exhibits enormous variation in cultural characters. Detailed studies were conducted on recovery of the pathogen from wilt infected canes and to characterize the pathogen for its cultural characters. From 346 samples collected from 15 states, 263 Fusarium isolates were recovered and no other fungal genera were recovered. Overall, a higher pathogen recovery was recorded in nodal tissues as compared to internodal tissues of wilt infected stalk tissues. Cultural characterization of 117 isolates divided the Fusarium isolates into three groups based on radial growth as slow, moderate and fast. Based on mycelial colour, the isolates were grouped into seven groups viz., white, orange, pinkish orange, pink, dark pink, pinkish violet and reddish brown. The isolates were further divided into 21 groups based on mycelia colour on the top and agar pigmentation at the reverse side of the culture plate and three groups viz., submissive, raised and fluffy based on topology of the mycelium. Based on conidial frequency, the isolates were grouped as those produce microconidia with low, moderate, higher frequencies, micro and macroconidia at lower frequencies and micro and macroconidia production at higher frequencies. The results of this study revealed extensive variation in F. sacchari isolates recovered for their cultural characters from wilt infected stalks and sick soils.

Chand, Mehar;Singh, Samar;Bir, Dharam;Singh, Narender;Kumar, Vijay

doi: 10.1007/s12355-013-0263-4pmid: N/A

Abstract Halosulfuron methyl (HM) at 67.5, 75.0 and 150.0 g/ha recorded significantly effective in lowering the population (1.2–2.2/m2) and dry weed weight (0.45–0.49 g/m2) of C. rotundus at 60 DAT as compared to other treatments including its lower doses. Atrazine (PE) followed by 2,4-D was not effective against C. rotundus. HM at 67.5, 75.0 and 150.0 g a.i./ha gave 96.3–97.0 % control of C. rotundus as against increase in C. rotundus population (15.1 %) in atrazine (PE) + 2,4-D treatment and 24.4 % increase in untreated check over pre-treatment population. HM at 67.5, 75.0 and 150.0 g a.i./ha recorded higher weed control efficiency (97.8–97.9 %) as compared to atrazine (PE) followed by 2,4-D (8.7 %) and three hoeings (48.8 %). None of the doses of HM affected the dry weight of grassy as well as broad leaf weeds recorded at 60 days after treatment. HM used at 67.5, 75.0 and 150.0 g a.i./ha also recorded significantly higher cane yield as compared to its lower doses, atrazine (PE) followed by 2,4-D and weedy check. Treatment of three hoeings gave maximum cane yield whereas; lowest cane yield was recorded in untreated plots. An increase of 60.9–64.8 % in cane yield over control was recorded when HM was applied at 67.5, 75.0 and 150 g a.i./ha whereas standard check (atrazine followed by 2,4-D) recorded 33.9 % increase. There was no phytotoxicity of halosulfuron on sugarcane in terms of crop discolouration, chlorosis, stunting, wilting, deformation and vein clearing even up to dose of 150.0 g/ha of HM indicating that it was safe to the sugarcane crop. HM was also found safe to succeeding crops (black gram, maize and cucumber) up to 150.0 g a.i./ha dose. Post emergence application of HM 75%WG applied at 52.5, 60.0, 67.5, 75.0 and 150.0 g a.i./ha on sugarcane crop did not affect the germination and yield of follow up crops (black gram, maize and cucumber) during both the years when sown on the same plot after harvesting of sugarcane. Thus halosulfuron methyl 75%WG (Sempra) at 67.5 g a.i./ha at 45 days after sowing was realized to be the optimum dose for effective control of C. rotundus in sugarcane crop.

Sinha, S. K.;Jha, C. K.;Kumar, Vipin;Kumari, Geeta;Alam, M.

doi: 10.1007/s12355-013-0256-3pmid: N/A

Abstract The integrated effect of bio-methanated distillery effluent (BMDE), bio-compost and FYM as a source of plant nutrients and their effect on soil properties, nutrient uptake, juice quality and sugarcane yield were investigated. The BMDE, bio-compost and FYM were characterized. The treatments consisted of substitution of K2O through bio-methanated distillery effluent @ 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 % of BMDE, bio-compost and FYM (@ 20 t ha−1) with recommended dose of inorganic fertilizer. The cane yield increased significantly 2.6, 6.4, 20.4, 23.3, 17.2, 9.8 %, respectively with the application of BMDE, bio-compost and FYM over control. The uptake of nutrient, viz., N, P and K followed the similar trend of cane yield. The highest cane yield (BO 137) was recorded (72.13 t ha−1) in treatment receiving 100 % K2O replacement through BMDE and lowest (58.50 t ha−1) in control. The result also indicated that integrated use of BMDE along with inorganic potassium was superior to other treatments improving cane yield. The quality of juice, viz., sucrose and purity remains unaffected. However, commercial cane sugar significantly increased in all the treatments over control. The application of different doses of BMDE and bio-compost @ 20 t ha−1 significantly increased the EC, organic carbon and available N, P2O5 and K2O content of soil over control (recommended dose). They also enriched the soil organic matter which improved the physical properties of soil especially the water transmission characteristic of soil. Hydraulic conductivity, infiltration and soil aggregation increased significantly due to application of bio-compost and BMDE. The soil aggregation increased and bulk density decreased with increasing levels of BMDE. The K content of post harvest soil increased substantially in BMDE and bio-compost treated plots. The application of BMDE and bio-compost brings remarkable changes in the properties of soil and thus enhance the fertility of soil and productivity of sugarcane significantly.