Genetic engineering: an efficient approach to mitigating biotic and abiotic stresses in sugarcane cultivation

Abstract

Abiotic stresses are the foremost limiting factors for crop productivity. Crop plants need to cope with adverse external pressure caused by various environmental conditions with their intrinsic biological mechanisms to keep their growth, development, and productivity. Climate-resilient, high-yielding crops need to be developed to maintain sustainable food supply. Over the last decade, understanding of the genetic complexity of agronomic traits in sugarcane has prompted the integrated application of genetic engineering to address specific biological questions. Genes for adaptation to environmental stress and yield enhancement traits are being determined and introgressed to develop elite sugarcane cultivars with improved characteristics through genetic engineering approaches. Here, we discuss the advancement to provide a reference for future sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) genetic engineering.

Keywords: Biotic and abiotic stress resistance; genetic engineering; stress reliever; sugarcane (saccharum spp.); transformation approaches.

Figure 1.

Field assessment of transgenic sugarcane events resistant to glyphosate herbicide. The figure shows the resistant transgenic sugarcane events compared with the non-transformed parental plants after glyphosate application. Photo courtesy: Dr. Aldo Noguera, EEAOC, Argentina.

Figure 2.

Transgenic sugarcane varieties released for commercial use around the world. The figure shows the sugarcane events approved for domestic or non-domestic cultivation.