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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Canal Point, Florida » Sugarcane Field Station » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #422352
Research Project: Developing Improved Sugarcane Cultivars using Conventional and Molecular Breeding

Location: Sugarcane Field Station

Title: Genome size variation in complex sugarcane parental genotypes in United States sugarcane breeding

Author
item Momotaz, Aliya
item Coto Arbelo, Orlando
item LABORDE, CHRIS - Us Sugar Corporation

Submitted to: International Society of Sugar Cane Technologists Proceedings
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/18/2025
Publication Date: 11/20/2025
Citation: Momotaz, A., Coto Arbelo, O., Laborde, C. 2025. Genome size variation in complex sugarcane parental genotypes in United States sugarcane breeding. International Society of Sugar Cane Technologists Proceedings. 32, 70-75.

Interpretive Summary: Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) is the world leading sugar producing crop. The genome of modern sugarcane is complex with variable chromosome numbers among genotypes. The objectives of this study were to estimate the genome size of 61 sugarcane parental genotypes and to assess the correlations between genome size and fertility traits. We found significant differences among the genotypes in genome size with 2C-DNA values ranging from 4.86 (IND81-146) to 11.70 pg (CP 00-1101). Sugarcane lines from South Florida breeding programs had significantly higher amount of DNA content than others (lines from Louisiana, interspecific hybrids, one S. officinarum, one S. robustum and one S. spontaneum). Days to flower was weakly correlated with genome size, in contrast, seed set was negatively correlated with genome size though not significantly. Further characterization of variation in genome size and its relationship with different traits may elucidate potential applications for breeding improved sugarcane varieties for the USA.

Technical Abstract: Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) is the world leading sugar producing crop. The genome of modern sugarcane ('~12x) is complex with variable chromosome numbers among genotypes. The objectives of this study were to estimate the genome size (2C DNA) of 61 Saccharum parental genotypes using flow cytometry and to assess the correlations between genome size and fertility traits. Flow cytometry analysis revealed significant differences among the genotypes in 2C-DNA values ranging from 4.86 (IND81-146) to 11.70 pg (CP 00-1101). Parents from Canal Point (CP) and United States Sugar Corporation breeding program (CL) had significantly higher amount of 2C DNA content than others (clones from Houma, two Miscane hybrids, one S. officinarum, one S. robustum and one S. spontaneum). Days to flower was weakly correlated with genome size, in contrast, seed set was negatively correlated with genome size though not significantly. Further characterization of variation in genome size and its relationship with different traits may elucidate potential applications for breeding improved sugarcane varieties.