Detection of long non-coding RNAs in the total transcriptome of sugarcane under biotic stress

• Grant number: 25/03513-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: April 01, 2025
• End date: July 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Plant Genetics
• Principal Investigator: Marie-Anne Van Sluys
• Grantee: Joel Nunes Leite Junior
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Sugarcane (Saccharum sp.) is one of the most economically important agricultural crops in the world, used in the food and bioenergy industries, and is a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. Brazil, due to its favorable climate, stands out as the largest global producer of this crop. However, sugarcane productivity is often threatened by pathogens that reduce productivity. On the other hand, there are beneficial bacteria that can act against phytopathogens. Studying gene regulation in these interactions is a challenge, especially due to the complexity of the polyploid sugarcane genome, which is derived from multiple hybridization events between ancestral species and contains large proportions of repetitive elements. In this context, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play fundamental roles in the regulation of gene expression, including responses to biotic and abiotic stresses, often interacting with retrotransposons. However, the identification and functional characterization of lncRNAs in polyploid genomes remain poorly explored. This project aims not only to expand the knowledge about lncRNAs in plants, but also to develop an integrated approach to analyze the expression of lncRNAs associated with plant-microbiome interactions. The identification of lncRNAs and potential genetic markers regulating these interactions may offer new biotechnological tools for protection against agricultural pests, promoting greater production efficiency and lower costs for the sugarcane industry.