Molecular Plant Breeding 2024, Vol.15, No.5, 269-281 http://genbreedpublisher.com/index.php/mpb 274 associated with yield components, such as stalk height, stalk number, and cane yield, as well as quality traits like sugar content. These studies have revealed significant marker-trait associations that can be used to guide breeding decisions and improve the efficiency of selection. The application of GWAS in sugarcane breeding programs has the potential to enhance the precision of selection and accelerate the development of superior cultivars (Barreto et al., 2019; Zan et al., 2020). 7 Modern Cultivation Practices 7.1 Mechanized farming and its impact on sugarcane productivity Mechanized farming has significantly transformed sugarcane cultivation, particularly in regions like China and Thailand. Fully mechanized cultivation (FMC) has been shown to increase the diversity and richness of endophytic microorganisms in sugarcane stems, which can potentially enhance plant health and yield. However, the overall cane growth, yield, and health were not significantly altered by FMC compared to conventional artificial cultivation (CAC) (Xiao et al., 2023). In Thailand, mechanized harvesting practices, such as using cutting machines, have been assessed for their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and costs. While mechanized harvesting has moderate GHG emissions, it incurs higher costs due to the need for specialized equipment. This has led some farmers to revert to traditional practices like burning cane, which is less costly but environmentally detrimental (Pongpat et al., 2017). 7.2 Precision agriculture and the use of technology in sugarcane fields Precision agriculture (PA) is an emerging approach in sugarcane cultivation that involves the precise application of inputs to optimize yields and reduce costs. In developing countries, the adoption of PA techniques has been slow due to uncertainties and conflicting opinions. However, PA has the potential to significantly improve cane yield and quality by integrating affordable and effective technologies (Sanghera et al., 2020). In Mexico, the application of PA tools, such as remotely sensed yield estimation and agro-ecological zoning (AEZ), has shown that sugarcane fields have varying levels of land suitability. These tools help in identifying areas with high vulnerability to climate variability and in implementing agroecological management practices to increase yields (Aguilar-Rivera et al., 2018). Additionally, computational environments have been developed to support data-driven advances in sugarcane agricultural research, emphasizing the importance of spatial and temporal variations in soil attributes and crop yield (Driemeier et al., 2016). 7.3 Best practices for irrigation, pest management, and fertilization Effective irrigation, pest management, and fertilization practices are crucial for optimizing sugarcane productivity. Fertigation, the application of fertilizers through irrigation systems, has been shown to significantly improve sugarcane productivity. For instance, the fertigation of nitrogen (N) and zinc (Zn) in sugarcane fields in Brazil resulted in a 38.90% increase in productivity for plant crops and a 13.70% increase for ratoon crops when treated with 180 kg ha⁻¹ of N and 10 kg ha⁻¹ of Zn (Cunha et al., 2020). Precision agriculture techniques can also aid in the efficient use of fertilizers, reducing nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, a significant greenhouse gas. Enhanced efficiency fertilizers (EEF) have been shown to reduce N2O emissions by 38.6% compared to synthetic N fertilizers, highlighting the importance of innovative nutrient formulations in sustainable sugarcane cultivation (Yang et al., 2020). 8 Biotic and Abiotic Stress Management 8.1 Strategies for combating diseases and pests Sugarcane is susceptible to a variety of biotic stresses, including diseases caused by fungi, bacteria, viruses, and insect pests. Modern biotechnological approaches have been pivotal in developing sugarcane varieties resistant to these biotic stresses. For instance, genetic engineering techniques have been employed to introduce genes that confer resistance to pests and diseases. The expression of modified genes such as CEMB-Cry1Ac and CEMB-Cry2Ahas shown significant resistance against cane borers, while glyphosate tolerance has been achieved through the expression of the CEMB-GTGene (Qamar et al., 2021). Additionally, transgene-free genome editing techniques, such as CRISPR/Cas, have been explored to create pest and disease-resistant sugarcane cultivars without the regulatory hurdles associated with transgenic plants (Krishna et al., 2023).
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