Molecular dissection of sugar related traits and it’s attributes in Saccharum spp. hybrid

Authors: Islam, Md; YANG, XIPING - University Of Florida; Sood, Sushma; Comstock, Jack; ZAN, FENGGANG - Yunan Academy Of Agricultural Sciences; WANG, JIANPING - University Of Florida

Submitted to: Euphytica
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/29/2018
Publication Date: 9/3/2018
Citation: Islam, M.S., Yang, X., Sood, S.G., Comstock, J.C., Zan, F., Wang, J. 2018. Molecular dissection of sugar related traits and it’s attributes in Saccharum spp. hybrid. Euphytica. 214:170. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10681-018-2252-x.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10681-018-2252-x

Interpretive Summary: Sugarcane, one of the most genetically complex polyploid crops of a tremendous economic importance in tropical and sub-tropical countries, is primarily being used for the production of table sugar and bioethanol. Releasing new cultivars with improved sugar content along with other agronomic traits is the main goal of sugarcane breeding. A study was conducted to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with sugar and yield related traits (BRIX, Pol, recoverable sugar content (SC), fiber content (FC), moisture content (MC), juice purity, stalk diameter (SD), and stalk weight (SW)) using a segregating F1 population derived from two sugarcane hybrid commercial cultivars. we identified a total of 36 and nine QTL for sugar and yield related traits, respectively. Of the 45 detected QTL, seven QTL were associated with each of the three sugar related traits BRIX, Pol, and SC; six QTL for FC, and MC; three QTL for juice purity; four QTL for SD; and five QTL for SW. The detected QTL explained a total phenotypic variations of 70.9, 61.8, 61.7, 68.7, 91.6, 33.0, 49.9, and 64.5 % for BRIX, Pol, SC, FC, MC, purity, SD, and SW, respectively. Upon validation, markers from the identified QTL could be use in marker-assisted selection for selecting these traits during sugarcane breeding.

Technical Abstract: Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) is one of the most important crops in the tropical and sub-tropical regions worldwide because it supplies over half of the world’s sugar. The main goal of sugarcane breeding programs is releasing new cultivars with improved sugar content, disease resistance and agronomic traits. Molecular markers linked to the sugar yield would greatly facilitate the development of sugarcane cultivars with higher sugar content. In this study, quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with sugar and yield related traits were identified using a segregating F1 population derived from two Saccharum spp. hybrids. Specifically, BRIX, POL, recoverable sugar content (SC), fiber content (FC), moisture content (MC), juice purity, stalk diameter (SD), and stalk weight (SW) data were collected from a replicated field trial of a biparental population. A total of 36 and nine QTL for sugar and yield related traits, respectively were identified using a high density genetic map with markers developed by genotyping-by-sequencing. Of the 45 detected QTL, seven QTL were associated with each of the three sugar related traits BRIX, POL, and SC; six QTL with FC and MC; three QTL with juice purity; four QTL with SD; and five QTL with SW. The QTL explained a total of phenotypic variations of 70.90, 61.80, 61.68, 68.67, 91.62, 33.00, 49.91, and 64.49% for BRIX, POL, SC, FC, MC, purity, SD, and SW, respectively. Upon validation, markers from the identified QTL would be useful in marker-assisted selection for selecting superior cultivars with these traits.