Selection strategy for indication of crosses between potential sugarcane genotypes aiming at the production of bioenergy

Sugarcane is one of the crops of greatest interest in the search for efficient biomass for the production of bioenergy. In addition to the production of sugar and ethanol from sugarcane juice, the industrialization process obtains the biomass, a lignocellulosic material with high energy content, which can be converted into biofuels. Recognized this importance, the objective of this study was to indicate crosses between potential sugarcane genotypes, aiming at the production of sugar and ethanol, and at the use of biomass for the production of bioelectricity or cellulosic ethanol. Ninety sugarcane genotypes of the Active Germplasm Bank of the Federal University of Vicosa were evaluated for 15 chemical and technological variables that characterize the juice and the bagasse. Crosses were defined by the genotypes which presented the best means using the simultaneous selection index, excluding the crosses between the most similar genotypes based on genetic dissimilarity verified by the analyses of diversity. Thus, it was possible to indicate 40 crosses between potential parents with high quality for production of sugar and ethanol and with efficient biomass for production of bioenergy, 19 crosses being for production of bioelectricity, 15 for production of cellulosic ethanol, and 6 for both purposes.