Improvement of sugarcane root characteristics through intergeneric hybridization between sugarcane and Erianthus

Related Research Project

Tropical crop genetic resources

Country

Thailand

Description

In order to improve crop productivity and sustainable production under climate change, crops that are tolerant to drought stresses need to be developed. Improving root characteristics is an important breeding target to increase the productivity of crops grown under drought conditions. In sugarcane (Saccharum spp. hybrid), an important crop for global food and energy production, there is concern about increasing drought damage and a need to improve drought tolerance through root improvement. However, there have been few reports on root improvement in sugarcane, and the limitations of improvement using existing breeding materials have been pointed out. Erianthus arundinaceus, a genetic resource of a closely related genus of sugarcane, has large and deeply developed roots, making it highly adaptable to drought. Its roots also show high deposition of lignin, which is one of the major components of plant cell walls and is also associated with drought stress tolerance. Therefore, it has great potential to be a promising breeding material for improving the root characteristics of sugarcane. This study evaluated the root characteristics of an intergeneric F₁ hybrid of sugarcane and E. arundinaceus to assess the potential for introducing the root characteristics of E. arundinaceus into sugarcane through intergeneric hybridization.

Field experiments were carried out at the Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences using the sugarcane cultivar NiF8, E. arundinaceus clones, and their intergeneric F₁ hybrid J08-12. We evaluated root distribution from 0 to 120 cm depth and fiber composition. J08-12 and E. arundinaceus clones had greater root dry weight per stool and smaller shoot-root ratios than NiF8. Regarding root distribution, J08-12 and E. arundinaceus clones had significantly greater root dry weights and root length densities than NiF8 in the deep soil layers. Root lignin contents were low in NiF8, high in E. arundinaceus clones, and intermediate in J08-12. These results indicate that intergeneric hybridization of sugarcane and E. arundinaceus could successfully introduce root characteristics of E. arundinaceus, such as deep root distribution and high lignin content, into sugarcane. Improving sugarcane root characteristics through intergeneric hybridization with E. arundinaceus will be a powerful strategy to improve drought tolerance and achieve sustainable sugarcane production in the future.