Genetic Improvement of Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) Contributed to High Sucrose Content in China Based on an Analysis of Newly Developed Varieties

Abstract

In China, sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) hybrid cross-breeding began in 1953; approximately 70 years since then, >100 commercial sugarcane varieties have been created. In this study, 88 commercial varieties bred in China between 1953 and 2010 and 12 original foundational varieties were planted to investigate the effect of improving sugarcane varieties in China. Considering 20 years as a time node, the commercial varieties were classified into four improved generations. Retrospective analysis showed significant improvements in sucrose and other technological characteristics of commercial sugarcane varieties. The adoption of improved varieties over generations has continuously increased sugarcane’s sucrose, juice sugar, and gravity purity, and the difference was significant between Gen1 and Gen3, and between Gen2 and Gen4. Gen4 showed 2.06%, 2.35%, and 3.69% higher sugarcane sucrose (p < 0.01), juice sugar (p < 0.01), and purity (p < 0.05), respectively, and 1.13% lower sugarcane fiber (p < 0.01) than Gen1, the original foundational hybrid varieties. The development of new varieties has improved the technological characteristics of Chinese sugarcane. Sugarcane sucrose, juice sugar, and purity showed an increasing trend. Sugarcane fiber content did not significantly change with the development of new varieties but declined in comparison with the original foundational hybrid varieties.

CRISPR technology towards genome editing of the perennial and semi-perennial crops citrus, coffee and sugarcane

“…Several elite cultivars are recalcitrant to genetic transformation, thus hindering even conventional transgenesis ( Altpeter et al., 2016 ). Although there are a few dozen genetically engineered Saccharum genotypes in the literature, e.g., ROC22 (China) ( Wang et al., 2017 ), RB855156 and SP80-3280 (Brazil) ( Reis et al., 2014 ; Cristofoletti et al., 2018 ), Co 86032 (India) ( Augustine et al., 2015 ) and Q117 (Australia) ( Jackson et al., 2013 ), there are many varieties of commercial interest around the world ( Cursi et al., 2022 ; Zhao et al., 2022 ). To illustrate, our team witnessed energy cane genotypes ( S. spontaneum x S. spp.…”

Selection of New Sugarcane Genotypes for Sandy Soils in Florida with Enhanced Sucrose Content

“…In sugarcane, high-yielding genotypes generally have a low sucrose content, and genotypes with a high sucrose content generally have low cane yield. Obtaining an ideal sugarcane genotype with a high cane yield and sugar content is relatively difficult [67]. The GEI analysis enables the identification of genotypes with narrow adaptation, which can significantly improve crop productivity in specific regions [68].…”

Genetic association analysis in sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) for sucrose accumulation in humid environments in Colombia

“…Colombia ranks 14th among the world’s largest sugar producers and 12th among the largest exporters, accounting for 1.1% of the world’s sugar trade [ 3 ]. Given the economic importance of the crop, breeding programs around the world have directed their efforts in producing genotypes with high biomass (i.e., tons of cane per hectare or TCH), high sucrose content, and resistance to the most limiting diseases of the crop [ 4 – 6 ]. In general, this process involves making decisions based on the phenotypic information collected during the early stages of selection (three stages in most breeding programs) and multi environmental trials (METs), which provide information on genotype adaptability to the environment or to the target population of environments [ 4 – 7 ].…”

“…Sucrose accumulation in sugarcane is influenced by the crop cycle and variety planted [ 6 ]. For instance, it has been reported a difference between the plant cane and the ratoons, with the accumulation in the ratoons commonly being higher than the accumulation in the plant cane.…”