Marker-assisted selection (MAS) has been widely used in the last few decades in plant breeding programs for the mapping and introgression of genes for economically important traits, which has enabled the development of a number of superior cultivars in different crops. In sugarcane, which is the most important source for sugar and bioethanol, marker development work was initiated long ago; however, marker-assisted breeding in sugarcane has been lagging, mainly due to its large complex genome, high levels of polyploidy and heterozygosity, varied number of chromosomes, and use of low/medium-density markers. Genomic selection (GS) is a proven technology in animal breeding and has recently been incorporated in plant breeding programs. GS is a potential tool for the rapid selection of superior genotypes and accelerating breeding cycle. However, its full potential could be realized by an integrated approach combining high-throughput phenotyping, genotyping, machine learning, and speed breeding with genomic selection. For better understanding of GS integration, we comprehensively discuss the concept of genetic gain through the breeder’s equation, GS methodology, prediction models, current status of GS in sugarcane, challenges of prediction accuracy, challenges of GS in sugarcane, integrated GS, high-throughput phenotyping (HTP), high-throughput genotyping (HTG), machine learning, and speed breeding followed by its prospective applications in sugarcane improvement.

Sugarcane grown under a wide range of agro-climatic conditions accounts for ~80% of the sugar production worldwide. Since sugarcane productivity is severely affected by abiotic stresses and hence, an experiment was conducted for two consecutive years during 2020 and 2021 on popular sub-tropical sugarcane varieties. The experiment was laid out in two-factorial RBD consisting of nine sugarcane genotypes (Co 98014, Co 0118, Co 0238, Co 05011, Co 06034, Co 09022, Co 12029, Co 15023 and Co 15027) and salinity treatments (Control, EC_iw ~ 4, 8 and 12 dS m⁻¹) in 5 replications. Two budded setts were planted in pots and irrigated with saline water of respective levels till formative phase and observed the build-up in electrical conductivity of soil extract (ECse) from 0.48 (control) to 2.99, 4.81 and 7.08; while further saline irrigation increased the ECse values to 4.48, 6.24 and 9.33 dS m⁻¹ in treatments EC_iw ~ 4, 8 and 12 dS m⁻¹, respectively. Increase in soil EC decreased plant survival by 24.1, 47.0 and 79.6% under continued irrigation of EC_iw ~ 4, 8, 12 dS m⁻¹ with respect to control. Continued saline irrigation caused significant reduction in growth, which was associated with reduction in relative water content (RWC) and gas exchange traits. RWC decreased by 4.91 to 21.9%, chlorophyll content by 8.46 to 32.75%, photosynthetic rate (Pn) by 16.85 to 91.44%, stomatal conductance by 14.96 to 84.25%, transpiration rate by 14.13% to 89.8% and chlorophyll fluorescence by 5.33 to 42.67% from EC_iw ~ 4 to 12 dS m⁻¹, respectively. Significant variations in Na⁺ and K⁺ ion content was observed under elevated saline condition in roots, leaves and juice extract of genotypes. Na⁺/K⁺ ratio, an important trait for screening salinity tolerance, increased in all genotypes as compared to control, the increase was predominant in susceptible varieties. Single cane weight (SCW) was drastically affected by saline irrigation, with a reduction of 36.4, 68.5 and 83.5% at EC_iw ~ 4, 8 and 12 dS m⁻¹, respectively as compared to control, with similar declining trend in juice quality. Based on our results, Co 0238, Co 0118 and Co 98014 were tolerant to salinity stress by maintaining higher Pn, lower leaf Na⁺/K⁺ ratio, higher SCW and higher juice sucrose content.

This investigation aimed to optimize the time, pH, pressure, and temperature of sugarcane juice pasteurization and to develop a “ready to serve” bottled sugarcane juice with a high preservation efficiency. Fresh sugarcane juice was extracted from sugarcane genotype Co 89003, and beverage samples were collected using three different treatments: sulphitation of juice with the addition of potassium metabisulphite (KMS-25, 50, 100, and 150 ppm), acidification of juice (addition of citric acid, to reduce the pH of the juice to 4.8, 4.5, and 4.25), and steam treatment of the canes (5 min, 10, and 15 min at 7 psi). In all treatments, the juice was pasteurized in glass bottles @ 65 °C for 25 min and stored at low temperature (5 °C) in pre-sterilized glass bottles. Juice properties such as the ˚Brix, total sugar, pH, and total phenolic content decreased with storage, whereas the microbial count, titrable acidity, and reducing sugar content significantly increased during storage. The addition of KMS, citric acid, and the steam treatment reduced the browning of juice and maintained the color of juice during storage, by inhibiting the polyphenol oxidase enzyme activity, from 0.571 unit/mL to 0.1 unit/mL. Among the selected treatments, sugarcane juice with KMS (100 and 150 ppm) and steam treatment of the canes for 5 and 10 min at 7 psi showed the minimum changes in physico-chemical properties, sensory qualities, and restricted microbial growth. Thesulphitation treatment with pasteurization proved best for increasing the shelf life of sugarcane juice upto 90 days with refrigeration. Similarly, the steam-subjected cane juice (10 and 15 min at 7 psi) could be effectively preserved for upto 30 days with refrigeration, without any preservative.

Plant nuclear factor (NF-Y) is a transcriptional activating factor composed of three subfamilies: NF-YA, NF-YB, and NF-YC. These transcriptional factors are reported to function as activators, suppressors, and regulators under different developmental and stress conditions in plants. However, there is a lack of systematic research on the NF-Y gene subfamily in sugarcane. In this study, 51 NF-Y genes (ShNF-Y), composed of 9 NF-YA, 18 NF-YB, and 24 NF-YC genes, were identified in sugarcane (Saccharum spp.). Chromosomal distribution analysis of ShNF-Ys in a Saccharum hybrid located the NF-Y genes on all 10 chromosomes. Multiple sequence alignment (MSA) of ShNF-Y proteins revealed conservation of core functional domains. Sixteen orthologous gene pairs were identified between sugarcane and sorghum. Phylogenetic analysis of NF-Y subunits of sugarcane, sorghum, and Arabidopsis showed that ShNF-YA subunits were equidistant while ShNF-YB and ShNF-YC subunits clustered distinctly, forming closely related and divergent groups. Expression profiling under drought treatment showed that NF-Y gene members were involved in drought tolerance in a Saccharum hybrid and its drought-tolerant wild relative, Erianthus arundinaceus. ShNF-YA5 and ShNF-YB2 genes had significantly higher expression in the root and leaf tissues of both plant species. Similarly, ShNF-YC9 had elevated expression in the leaf and root of E. arundinaceus and in the leaf of a Saccharum hybrid. These results provide valuable genetic resources for further sugarcane crop improvement programs.

Screening for elite sugarcane genotypes for canopy cover in a rapid and non-destructive way is important to accelerate varietal/clonal selection, and little information is available regarding canopy cover and leaf production, leaf area, biomass production, and cane yield in sugarcane crop. In the present investigation, the digital images of sugarcane crop by using Canopeo software was assessed for their correlation with the physiological and morphological parameters and cane yield production. The results revealed that among the studied parameters, canopy coverage has shown a significantly better correlation with the plant height (0.581 **), leaf length (0.853 **), leaf width (0.587 **), and leaf area (0.770 **) in commercial sugarcane clones. Two-way cluster analysis has led to the identification of Co 0238, Co 86249, Co 10026, Co 99004, Co 94008, and Co 95020 with better physiological traits for higher sugarcane yield under changing climate. Additionally, in another field experiment with pre-breeding, germplasm, and interspecific hybrid sugarcane clones, the canopy coverage showed a significantly better correlation with germination, shoot count, leaf weight, leaf area index, and plant height, and finally with biomass (r = 0.612 **) and cane yield (r = 0.458 **). It has been found that the plant height, total dry matter (TDM), and leaf area index (LAI) had significant correlation with the cane yield, and the canopy cover data from digital images act as a surrogate for these traits, and further it has been observed that CC had better correlation with cane yield compared to the other physiological traits viz., SPAD, total chlorophyll (TC), and canopy temperature (CT) under ambient conditions. Light interception determined using a line quantum sensor had a significant positive correlation (r = 0.764 **) with canopy coverage, signifying the importance of determining the latter in a non-destructive way in a rapid manner and low cost.

A total of sixteen accessions of Tripidium arundinaceum (Retz.) Welker, Voronts. & E.A. Kellogg (previously known as Erianthus arundinaceus (Retz.) Jeswiet) were evaluated for salinity tolerance at the bud germination stage by irrigating with 175 mM salinized Hoagland solution in perlite-sand hydroponics. Six accessions, IND99-907, IND01-1134, IND01-1136, IK76-48, and Bethuadahari, were germinated with healthy roots as compared to other accessions. These six accessions were further evaluated for morphological, physiological, and root anatomical parameters for different levels of salinity stress at the formative phase. Young leaf elongation was ceased after the fourth and twelfth day in Co 97010 and Co 86032, respectively, at 175 mM of salinity stress. The growth of young leaves in Co 97010 and Co 86032 was observed up to 25 mM of salinity stress only, whereas in T. arundinaceum accessions viz., IND99-907 and Bethuadahari, growth was recorded even at 175 mM. Lignification of cell walls, thickening of protoxylems, and vacuolization of cortex regions were observed in Co 97010, Co 86032, Bethuadahari, and IND01-1134 as compared to the normal anatomical structures in IND99-907. The accession IND99-907 recorded the lowest Na/K ratio, followed by IND99-1136 at 175 mM of salinity stress. The accession IND99-907 was identified as a salinity-tolerant genotype and suitable for utilization in the sugarcane crop improvement programmes.