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Sequencing of Sugarcane Genome

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August 18, 2018

Why in news?

A global team of researchers recently announced the sequencing of sugarcane genome.

Why is it so significant?

  • Sugarcane produces 80% of the world’s sugar.
  • It has also emerged as the primary crop for biofuel production.
  • The sugarcane genome is nearly 20 times bigger than that of rice.
  • Its complex genetic makeup has so far posed challenges to classical sequencing approaches.
  • So significantly, sugarcane is one of the last crop plants to be genome-mapped.
  • In comparison, the rice genome was cracked nearly 14 years ago.

How was it done?

  • Each of the 10 basic sugarcane chromosomes is duplicated in 8-10 copies with a total of more than 100 chromosomes.
  • In comparison, the human genome has just 23 pairs of chromosomes.
  • An earlier discovery that the genomic structures of sugarcane and sorghum being very similar helped here.
  • Sugarcane and sorghum share large fragments with numerous genes in the same order.
  • So scientists used the sorghum genome (which was sequenced years ago) as a template.
  • The template was used to assemble and select the sugarcane chromosome fragments to sequence.

What are the benefits?

  • Until now, breeding programmes were restricted to hybridisation and was followed by cumbersome field assessments.
  • With the recent finding, sugarcane breeding will be able to enter the age of molecular biology.
  • The finding will help scientists create a reference genome of sugarcane.
  • The reference sequence can help in effectively analysing and comparing variations between various sugarcane varieties.
  • It can also help develop new molecular screening techniques to supplement conventional breeding methods.
  • Characteristics that contribute to improving a variety rely on the combination of several genes inherited.
  • The traits may include yield, drought resistance and ability to withstand pest attacks.
  • So if scientists can identify genes associated with these agronomic traits, they can easily be transferred to commercial varieties.
  • This in turn could shorten the time required for getting a new variety to the field.
  • Varieties - Theoretically, the maximum sucrose content that sugarcane can have is around 25%.
  • This could be breached with the knowledge of molecular mechanisms involved in sucrose storage in the plant.
  • Very significantly, sugarcane is a known water-consuming crop.
  • Genetic sequences linked to enduring water stress can help develop varieties that require lesser water.

What lies ahead for India?

  • The cracking of the sugarcane genome can transform the sector.
  • But India needs to clarify its stance on GM foods as India does not currently allow GM food crops.
  • This is essential to reap the benefit of the advances in sugar genome sequencing.
  • Notably, Brazil (with largest area in the world under sugarcane) recently allowed commercial cultivation of the world’s first GM sugarcane.

 

Source: BusinessLine

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