Biotechnology for Sugarcane Improvement in CSIRO Australia

Sugarcane is a significant industry in the north-eastern region of Australia, generating approximately $2B in revenue annually. Although conventional breeding and selection has been very successful in maintaining productivity, yields have not increased at the expected rate when compared to other crops. CSIRO has worked with sugarcane breeders and researchers over recent years to develop novel approaches for breeding and selection, based on research into the genetics of this complex polyploid. The development of high density genetic maps in Australian cultivars has provided valuable insights into the genetic structure of sugarcane as well as the basis for the assessment of both genetic variation and genetic associations in sugarcane. Genetic variation in a range of traits has been assessed, including sugar and fibre content, water use efficiency, plant architecture and disease resistance. Genetic associations have been determined through the construction of high density genetic maps and transcriptomic analyses. More recently, we have contributed to the development of the genome sequence of sugarcane and its relatives to better dissect gene function and to develop SNPs. A 40K SNP chip is currently being validated for use in selection for disease resistance in late-stage cultivar development and for genome wide selection for parental improvement. Transgenic approaches have also been tested and the group has delivered data to enable regulatory assessment of GM varieties by measuring the likelihood of gene flow from commercial sugarcane via seed production and establishment.