Molecular Plant Breeding 2024, Vol.15, No.5, 269-281 http://genbreedpublisher.com/index.php/mpb 269 Review Article Open Access Diversity and Cultivation of Sugarcane: From Traditional Practices to Modern Breeding Techniques Wenying Hong, Wenzhong Huang Hainan Institute of Tropical Agricultural Resources, Sanya, 572025, Hainan, China Corresponding email: Wenzhonghuang@126.com Molecular Plant Breeding, 2024, Vol.15, No.5 doi: 10.5376/mpb.2024.15.0026 Received: 30 Aug., 2024 Accepted: 01 Oct., 2024 Published: 11 Oct., 2024 Copyright © 2024 Hong and Huang, This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Hong W.Y., and Huang W.Z., 2024, Diversity and cultivation of sugarcane: from traditional practices to modern breeding techniques, Molecular Plant Breeding, 15(5): 269-281 (doi: 10.5376/mpb.2024.15.0026) Abstract Genome selection, marker-assisted breeding and the integration of biotechnology methods are accelerating the development of excellent sugarcane varieties. This study explores the diversity and cultivation of sugarcane with a focus on the evolution from traditional practices to modern breeding techniques, aiming to study the genetic diversity of sugarcane species, assess traditional and modern cultivation methods, and highlight advances in breeding techniques that significantly increase yield, disease resistance, and environmental adaptability. The findings show that while traditional methods provided the foundation for sugarcane cultivation, modern genomic tools and molecular breeding methods have revolutionized crop improvement, increasing productivity and sustainability, and the combination of genetic diversity with advanced breeding techniques is expected to further optimize sugarcane cultivation, contributing to global agriculture and biofuel production. Keywords Sugarcane diversity; Traditional practices; Modern breeding techniques; Genomic selection; Sustainable agriculture 1 Introduction Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) is a vital crop globally, serving as the primary source of sugar and a significant contributor to biofuel production. It accounts for approximately 80% of the world's sugar supply and 40% of biofuel production (Zan et al., 2020; Budeguer et al., 2021). The crop is cultivated extensively in tropical and subtropical regions, with Brazil and India being the leading producers (Luo et al., 2023). Sugarcane's importance extends beyond sugar production; it is also a key raw material for ethanol and electricity generation, making it a cornerstone of the bioenergy sector (Mahadevaiah et al., 2021; Guo, 2024). The plant's complex polyploid genome, resulting from interspecific hybridization, poses challenges for breeding but also offers opportunities for significant genetic improvements (Yadav et al., 2020; Luo et al., 2023). Sugarcane’s role in agriculture and industry is multifaceted. Agriculturally, it is a high-yielding crop that supports the livelihoods of millions of farmers worldwide. Industrially, it is indispensable for producing sugar, ethanol, and various byproducts such as fibers and bioenergy (Shabbir et al., 2021). The demand for sugarcane-derived products is consistently increasing, driven by the need for renewable energy sources and the global shift towards sustainable practices (de Morais et al., 2015). Modern biotechnologies and genetic engineering have further enhanced sugarcane’s resilience to environmental stresses, making it a more reliable crop in the face of climate change (Shabbir et al., 2021; Li et al., 2023). Additionally, sugarcane breeding programs have focused on developing varieties with high sucrose content, drought tolerance, and efficient nitrogen use, thereby reducing environmental impacts and improving overall productivity (de Morais et al., 2015; Yadav et al., 2020). This study explores the genetic makeup of sugarcane, breeding methods, and the potential for future innovations to increase its productivity and sustainability, and provides a comprehensive overview of the role of sugarcane in modern agriculture and industry, highlighting advances in breeding techniques and efforts to meet the growing global demand for sugarcane-derived products. The aim of this study is to explore sugarcane diversity and cultivation, trace its evolution from traditional practices to modern breeding techniques, provide a comprehensive overview of sugarcane genetic diversity and its impact on breeding programs, evaluate the progress of modern breeding techniques such as molecular marker-assisted breeding, genome selection, genetic transformation and
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