Multiomic insights into sucrose accumulation in sugarcane

Area of Science:

• Plant Genomics and Molecular Biology
• Agricultural Science
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Sugarcane is economically vital for sugar and biofuel, but its complex genome hinders understanding of quantitative traits like sucrose accumulation.
• Previous research has not fully elucidated the genetic architecture and molecular mechanisms governing sucrose content in sugarcane.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the genetic architecture and molecular mechanisms controlling sucrose accumulation in sugarcane using a multiomic approach.
• To identify genetic markers and genes associated with variations in soluble solids (Brix) and sucrose content (POL).

Main Methods:

• Evaluated Brix and POL in biparental and diverse sugarcane populations over multiple years.
• Genotyped populations using genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) and performed genotype-phenotype association analyses with mixed-effect models and machine learning.
• Conducted RNA sequencing on contrasting genotypes and integrated findings with gene coexpression network analysis.

Main Results:

• Identified strong correlations and modest to high heritabilities for Brix and POL traits.
• Discovered single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) linked to phenotypic variance and associated them with differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to sucrose levels.
• Delineated a set of genes potentially involved in sucrose accumulation regulation through integrated multiomic data and network analysis.

Conclusions:

• The study provides a significant resource for sugarcane biotechnology and plant breeding, offering insights into sucrose accumulation.
• Developed genotype-phenotype association models show promise for genomic selection, aiding in the development of improved sugarcane varieties.