SucEST - the sugarcane EST project - sequencing laboratory

• Grant number: 99/02867-2
• Support Opportunities: Genome Research Grants
• Start date: June 01, 1999
• End date: December 31, 2002
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Molecular Genetics and Genetics of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Maria Helena de Souza Goldman
• Grantee: Maria Helena de Souza Goldman
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 00/02999-5 - SUCEST: The Sugarcane Est Project, BP.TT; 00/04735-5 - SUCEST: The Sugarcane Est Project, BP.TT; 99/12753-4 - SUCEST: The Sugarcane Est Project, BP.TT; 99/12754-0 - SUCEST: The Sugarcane Est Project, BP.TT; 99/12752-8 - SUCEST: The Sugarcane Est Project, BP.TT

Abstract

Sugarcane is one of the world's most important crop plants and is cultivated in tropical and subtropical areas. Brazil is responsible for 25% of the world's production, half of which comes from Sao Paulo state. The main goal of SUCEST is to undertake a large scale EST (expressed sequence tag) program by sequencing random clones from cDNA libraries prepared from several sugarcane tissues (calli, root, stalk, etiolated leaves, flowers, developing seeds, etc.). ESTs should play a major role in generating information on expressed genes in grasses. The aim of the SUCEST project is to identify around 50,000 sugarcane genes. The information provided by SUCEST can be exploited by the research community in studies aimed to use the sugarcane genes as source of markers for agriculturally significant characteristics and also to provide molecular basis for studies of plant growth and development that could be further used to solve questions in plant physiology, biochemistry, cell biology, pathology and ultimately plant breeding. (AU)