Sugarcane and energy-cane genomics and biotechnology for the improvement of yields, future climate resilience and bioproducts

• Grant number: 22/11460-1
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• Start date: December 01, 2024
• End date: November 30, 2029
• Field of knowledge: Interdisciplinary Subjects
• Principal Investigator: Glaucia Mendes Souza
• Grantee: Glaucia Mendes Souza
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Pesquisadores principais: Marcelo Menossi Teixeira
• Associated researchers: Alan Mitchell Durham ; Carolina Gimiliani Lembke ; Doreen Ware ; Jean Felipe Leal Silva ; Jorge Alberto Goncalves da Silva ; Kranthi Kiran Mandadi ; Monalisa Sampaio Carneiro ; Pio Colepicolo Neto ; Rubens Maciel Filho
• Associated scholarship(s): 25/00137-3 - Furfural and Its Derivatives as a Strategy for Utilization of Biomass of New Cane Varieties, BP.MS

Abstract

The Project builds on previous knowledge and genetic resources developed by the group on sugarcane and energy-cane genomics, biotechnology, and sustainability. The group has been successful in generating improved plants with elevated yields and drought tolerant plants. We propose to evaluate the underlying molecular mechanisms of high biomass traits including an analysis of the role that drought tolerance pathways might play in the achieving of high yields. We will conduct drought experiments with genotypes contrasting for high biomass.We will continue the analysis of transgenic plants through Agrobacterium transformation and CRISPR-Cas9 of target genes. As part of the development of biotechnological tools to increase control in transgenics, we will explore gene expression associated with transcription factor binding motifs and the architecture of promoter regions using a comparative genomics and systems biology approach between grasses. In addition, metabolic pathways will be explored to identify building blocks and potential biotechnological routes to explore the potential of sugarcane to produce bioproducts. This will be accompanied by an analysis of market opportunities and sustainability aspects, including life cycle analysis and techno-economic analysis of products of interest. The project will impact bioenergy production, biotechnology and the development of interdisciplinary expertise and human resources in a team that includes geneticists, breeders, molecular biologists, biochemists, chemical engineers, agronomists, physiologists, bioinformatics, and computer scientists. (AU)