Use of ethanol and ACC synthesis for the induction of maturation of sugarcane

• Grant number: 05/60513-5
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: August 01, 2006
• End date: August 31, 2008
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Plant Genetics
• Principal Investigator: Marcelo Menossi Teixeira
• Grantee: Marcelo Menossi Teixeira
• Host Institution: Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética (CBMEG). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) cultivation is among the most important activities in Brazil, it being a sector of great economic importance to the country due to the increasing consumption of alcohol and sugar. A common practice prior to harvesting the cane is the application of ethylene hormone precursors to accelerate the final ripening of the plants, and consequently to increase sucrose levels. The main objective of this project is to develop a strategy to promote the controlled ripening of the sugarcane at the end of the cultivation period, using ethanol in place of ethylene precursors. To this end, an evaluation will be made of the use of an active promoter only in the presence of ethanol (the ALC expression system of Aspergillus nidulans) controlling the expression of the gene that codifies the ACC synthase, a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of ethylene. In this way, it is intended to activate the biosynthesis of ethylene through dusting with ethanol. (AU)