ARS | Publication request: World Collection of Sugarcane and Related Grasses: Utilizing a Vast Genetic Resource

Submitted to: Sugar Journal
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: May 20, 2013
Publication Date: June 21, 2013
Citation: Nayak, S.N., Pathak, B., Glynn, N.C., Glaz, B.S., Villa, A., Patel, J., Bae, A., Vaccaro, A., Ayala Silva, T., Comstock, J.C., Gilbert, R., Wang, J. 2013. World Collection of Sugarcane and Related Grasses: Utilizing a Vast Genetic Resource. Sugar Journal. 75(1):p26.

Technical Abstract: Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) cultivar improvement programs have not yet systematically utilized most of the genetic sources of yield potential and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses that may exist in the Saccharum germplasm. Two collections of genetic material potentially useful to sugarcane breeding programs, which are maintained in India and USA, are known collectively as the ‘World Collection of Sugarcane and Related Grasses’. The objectives of this study are 1) to genotypically evaluate the World Collection of Sugarcane and Related Grasses maintained at the National Plant Germplasm System in Miami, FL, and 2) to select representative accessions in the collection that sugarcane breeders can utilize as a core breeding collection. In total, 1002 accessions in the world germplasm collection, comprising 16 species, were sampled for genotypic evaluation using microsatellite markers. A total of 192 microsatellite markers were initially screened on eight species of sugarcane accessions and about 76 markers were found polymorphic with polymorphic information content ranging from 0.22 to 0.89. These polymorphic markers will be used to genotype the 1002 accessions. Meanwhile, accessions will also be evaluated on several phenotypic parameters and phenotypic data will be merged with genotypic data. Based on diversity parameters of cluster and phylogenetic analyses, a sugarcane core collection will be identified, which will be useful in sugarcane breeding programs after thorough evaluation and later for genetic studies such as association mapping and genomic selection.