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Updated: Jul 17, 2026
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Multipronged Phenotyping Approaches to Characterize Sugarcane Root Systems
Published on: August 17, 2022
Spatio-temporal characterization of polyhydroxybutyrate accumulation in sugarcane
Matthew P Purnell1, Lars A Petrasovits, Lars K Nielsen
1BSES Limited, PO Box 86, Indooroopilly, Qld 4068, Australia.
Plant Biotechnology Journal
|January 9, 2007
Summary
Transgenic sugarcane accumulates polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) with higher concentrations in older leaves. PHB accumulation did not negatively impact sugarcane
Area of Science:
- Plant Biotechnology
- Metabolic Engineering
- Biopolymer Production
Background:
- Sugarcane is a potential platform for producing biopolymers.
- Transgenic approaches can engineer plants to accumulate valuable compounds like polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB).
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize PHB accumulation patterns in transgenic sugarcane.
- To identify limiting factors for PHB production.
- To assess the impact of PHB accumulation on agronomic performance.
Main Methods:
- Glasshouse trials with transgenic sugarcane lines.
- Spatio-temporal analysis of PHB concentration.
- Molecular analysis of transgene expression and enzyme abundance.
- Agronomic performance assessment (plant height, biomass, sugar content).
Main Results:
- A vertical gradient of PHB concentration was observed, increasing with leaf age.
- A horizontal gradient showed higher PHB concentration from leaf base to tip.
- PHB accumulation did not adversely affect plant height, biomass, or sugar content.
- Maximum leaf PHB concentration reached 1.77% of dry weight, with a total plant yield of 0.79%.
Conclusions:
- PHB accumulation in sugarcane exhibits distinct spatio-temporal patterns.
- Agronomic performance is not compromised at moderate PHB levels.
- Strategies to increase PHB yield in sugarcane can be developed based on these findings.
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