Individual and Combined Overexpression of ScPetC and ScRTNL Genes in Sugarcane: An Approach for Developing Plants with Greater Drought Tolerance

• Grant number: 25/08364-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: September 01, 2025
• End date: August 31, 2030
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Plant Genetics
• Principal Investigator: Marcelo Menossi Teixeira
• Grantee: Camila Dias Barbosa
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Company: Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento (Brasil). Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (EMBRAPA). Embrapa Sede
• Associated research grant: 22/04006-2 - Center for Plant Molecular Breeding (CeM²P), AP.PCPE

Abstract

Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) is a crop of major economic importance, especially in tropical countries, and faces increasing challenges due to water scarcity resulting from climate change. The genomic complexity of this crop makes conventional breeding complex, and other approaches, such as transgenesis, can create a synergy. In this context, two sugarcane genes potentially involved in drought response stand out: ScPetC, which enhances photosynthetic efficiency under stress, and ScRTNL, which primarily promotes root development. Although these genes have shown promising results in model plants (Nicotiana tabacum and Arabidopsis thaliana), their role in sugarcane, their species of origin, remains unknown. This project proposes to functionally validate the individual overexpression of these genes in sugarcane, as well as their combined overexpression. Experiments will be conducted to evaluate their physiological, morphological, and molecular effects on drought tolerance. Analyses will include phenotypic characterization under water deficit, evaluation of , agronomic parameters and root system development, as well as molecular experiments such as transcriptome analysis, phylogenetic analysis of gene families, identification of physical interaction partners, and subcellular localization of ScPetC and ScRTNL proteins. This integrated approach aims to broaden the understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying drought responses in sugarcane and contribute to the development of more productive and environmentally adapted cultivars, with potential application in breeding programs focused on agricultural sustainability.