Sugarcane biotechnology: trends and prospects for the Philippine sugar industry

Professorial Chair Lecture

The First Philippine Sugar Research Institute Foundation Inc. (PHILSURIN) Professorial Chair Lecture

Place

Institute of Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture, UPLB, College, Laguna

Date

7-25-2000

Abstract

Sugarcane's highly complex genome, low fertility and large genotype x environment interactions make traditional varietal improvement and genetic studies difficult and laborious. Thus, biotechnology techniques have been utilized to complement and support traditional methods in the varietal improvement of sugarcane.

Tissue culture techniques for micropropagation and somatic embryogenesis have been optimized for sugarcane. Resistance to Fiji disease, downy mildew and eyespot disease have been generated by somaclonal variation. Protoplast culture has been achieved for various genotypes but regeneration to plantlets remains questionable/

The past ten years saw the rapid development of sugarcane molecular genetics. Primary genetic maps of S. officinarum, S. spontaneum and S. robustum have been constructed by various groups using RFLP, RAPD, AFLP, SSR using DNA probes from maize and sorghum. Collinearity of the genome of sugarcane with those of maize and sorghum has been established. Integration of genetic, QTL and physical maps is in progress. DNA markers diagnostic of discrete traits such as eyespot resistance and rust resistance as well as for viral diseases such as sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV) and sorghum mosaic virus (SRMV) have been identified. DNA markers for yellow leaf syndrome luteovirus, leaf scald and ratoon stunting disease (RSD) are also now available. Isolation and characterization of microsatellite markers are smoothly progressing with the International Sugarcane Microsatellite Consortium. Initial results showed that microsatellite primers could distinguish various cultivars and could be useful in diversity analysis as well. Identification and sequencing of important sugarcanes by expressed sequence tag technology are on-going in several countries: Brazil, USA, Australia, and South Africa. Much work is focused on genes involved in the synthesis, accumulation and storage of sucrose.

The genetic engineering procedures for sugarcane are quite established. Transgenic sugarcane with herbicide tolerance, insect pest resistance (cane grub, stemborer) and viral resistance (SCMV) are in various stages of development and field testing.

In the Philippines, tissue culture of sugarcane for micropropagation is well established. It is used by the Philsurin in providing good quality and uniform planting materials to various mill district development councils (MDDCs). Diagnostics for RSD have also been developed; the immunology-based assays being more practical for field use than the more sensitive PCR-based assay.

Recommendations on possible biotechnology applications for varietal improvement of sugarcane include: short term (1-2 years) -- molecular fingerprinting of sugarcane varieties, genetic diversity analyses of varieties, important pests and diseases; medium term (3-5 years) --- genome mapping for markers linked to important traits, eg, RSD resistance, basic studies on major diseases and pests and important metabolic aspects (synthesis, accumulation and stabilization of sucrose); and long term (≥ 6 years) - nobilization, introgression of important traits, marker assisted breeding. These researches require enhancement of human resources, facilities, networking and collaborative programs both at the national and international levels to facilitate transfer of technology and research progress and realistic budgets.

Location

UPLB Main Library Special Collections Section (USCS)

College

College of Agriculture and Food Science (CAFS)

Language

English

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