Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.), a major cash crop that is an important source of sugar and bioethanol, is strongly influenced by the impacts of biotic and abiotic stresses. The intricate polyploid and aneuploid genome of sugarcane has shown various limits for conventional breeding strategies. Nonetheless, biotechnological engineering currently offers the best chance of introducing commercially significant agronomic features. In this study, an efficient Agrobacterium-mediated transformation system that uses the herbicide-resistant CP4-EPSPS gene as a selection marker was developed. Notably, all of the plants that were identified by PCR as transformants showed significant herbicide resistance. Additionally, this transformation protocol also highlighted: (i) the high yield of transgenic lines from calli (each gram of calli generated six transgenic lines); (ii) improved selection; and (iii) a higher transformation efficiency. This protocol provides a reliable tool for a routine procedure for the generation of resilient sugarcane plants.

This study aimed to prepare the sugar industry for the possible introduction of genetically modified (GM) sugarcane and derived retail sugar products and to address several potential public concerns regarding the characteristics and safety of these products. GM sugarcane lines with integrated Cry1Ab and EPSPS foreign genes were used for GM sugar production. Traditional PCR, real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were performed in analyzing leaves, stems, and other derived materials during sugar production, such as fibers, clarified juices, filter mud, syrups, molasses, and final GM sugar product. The toxicity of GM sugar was examined with a feeding bioassay using Helicoverpa armigera larvae. PCR and RT-qPCR results showed that the leaves, stems, fibers, juices, syrups, filter mud, molasses, and white granulated sugar from GM sugarcane can be distinguished from those derived from non-GM sugarcane. The RT-qPCR detection method using short amplified product primers was more accurate than the traditional PCR method. Molecular analysis results indicated that trace amounts of DNA residues remain in GM sugar, and thus it can be accurately characterized using molecular analysis methods. ELISA results showed that only the leaves, stems, fibers, and juices sampled from the GM sugarcane differed from those derived from the non-GM sugarcane, indicating that filter mud, syrup, molasses, and white sugar did not contain detectable Cry1Ab and EPSPS proteins. Toxicity analysis showed that the GM sugar was not toxic to the H. armigera larvae. The final results showed that the GM sugar had no active proteins despite containing trace amounts of DNA residues. This finding will help to pave the way for the commercialization of GM sugarcane and production of GM sugar.

Global warming, driven by greenhouse gas emissions, requires innovative climate change mitigation strategies. Sugarcane ( Saccharum officinarum L.), a highly efficient C4 plant with substantial biomass yield and carbon fixation abilities, offers a promising solution. This study investigates the distribution patterns and accumulation dynamics of biomass and carbon storage in sugarcane to inform breeding programs focused on developing high-biomass, carbon-sequestering varieties. Thirteen local sugarcane varieties were systematically analyzed for biomass and carbon storage across different plant tissues and growth stages, with the objective of contributing to net-zero carbon targets. The study revealed consistent trends in biomass (B) accumulation and carbon (C) storage across different sugarcane varieties. Notably, varieties such as ZT1 (B: 90.94; C: 45.32), ZT2 (B: 89.83; C: 43.74), ZT3 (B: 81.88; C: 40.65), GNY146210 (B: 89.83; C: 43.74), and YZ08-1609 (B: 90.94; C: 45.32) demonstrated superior performance in both parameters across all growth stages. In contrast, varieties such as GT44 (B: 75.16; C: 34.61) and ZT6 (B: 63.32; C: 32.20) exhibited comparatively lower levels of biomass and carbon storage. These findings highlight significant varietal differences in carbon sequestration potential, with certain genotypes offering promising advantages for ecological engineering and climate-smart agriculture. Further analysis elucidated distinct distribution patterns across sugarcane parts, with the stem predominating in biomass and carbon storage, thereby emphasizing its pivotal role in overall carbon sequestration among the varieties. Moreover, the study uncovered consistent accumulation patterns across growth stages, identifying the elongation stage as pivotal for maximal biomass and carbon sequestration. Particularly, high annual net carbon fixation capacity during leaf growth was observed across all varieties, with certain cultivars such as ZT1, ZT2, ZT3, ZT4 and GNY146210, and exhibiting notably superior performance. Annual assessments showed substantial variability in biomass, carbon storage, and photosynthetic net carbon fixation, with certain cultivars excelling. Strong positive correlations between biomass, carbon storage, and net carbon fixation were observed, emphasizing the intrinsic link between sugarcane biomass and its carbon fixation capacity (R = 0.99). These findings highlight the exceptional capacity of sugarcane, as a C4 plant, to excel in carbon absorption. In brief, these findings offer essential guidance for advancing breeding programs focused on developing high-performance sugarcane cultivars. Enhancing biomass production and carbon sequestration capabilities through these initiatives will markedly strengthen strategies for mitigating climate change.