Two newly launched projects aim to strengthen the sugarcane industry by developing high performing varieties with drought tolerance and disease resistance.
Sugarcane-growing areas in the Philippines experience dry periods lasting 4.5–6 months, which makes drought tolerance a vital trait for sustainable production. Moreover, diseases such as downy mildew and smut can cause significant yield losses, which poses a threat to the sugarcane industry.
To address these challenges, the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) funded two projects titled, “Genetic Variability and Selection for Drought Tolerance and Disease Resistance in Sugarcane Through In-Vitro Techniques” and “Integrating Wild Species for Sugarcane Varietal Improvement: Advancing Genetic Diversity and Crop Sustainability” being implemented by the Philippine Sugar Research Institute Foundation, Inc. (PHILSURIN).
Led by Ms. Rosalyn T. Luzaran, the first project will utilize in-vitro techniques to identify sugarcane varieties that are tolerant to drought and resistant to diseases such as smut and downy mildew.
PHILSURIN researchers aim to accelerate the development of improved varieties more efficiently than traditional breeding methods through somaclonal variation. This process induces genetic diversity through cell and tissue culture.
Meanwhile, the second project led by Ms. Graziella O. Tabulinar will explore the integration of wild sugarcane relatives specifically, Sacharrum spontaneum and Pennisetum purpureum, to develop new hybrid varieties. The team will combine the wild species’ high performance and disease resistance with the conventional varieties’ high sucrose content to enhance genetic diversity and crop sustainability.
These efforts are expected to provide valuable insights into the diversity and phenotypic variation of sugarcane and its relatives, contributing to the long-term breeding efforts toward a more resilient sugarcane industry.
During the inception meeting, DOST-PCAARRD’s Crops Research Division (CRD) Director Leilani D. Pelegrina emphasized that the projects will be instrumental in increasing the production of the sugarcane industry.
Additionally, Dr. Liwayway M. Engle, scientist and project staff, expressed her appreciation for the two projects, emphasizing their role as a strong starting point in driving and sustaining R&D efforts in sugarcane.
The inception meeting was attended by representatives from PHILSURIN led by Director General Ma. Regina Bautista-Martin, Project Consultant Dr. Liwayway M. Engle, and DOST-PCAARRD led by Dir. Pelegrina along with Industry Strategic S&T Program (ISP) Manager for Sugarcane Ofelia F. Domingo from the Agricultural Resources Management Research Division (ARMRD), Commodity Specialist for Sugarcane Sharie Al-Faiha A. Lubang, and other key staff from Crops Research Division (CRD), Financial Administrative Division (FAD), and the Office of the Executive Director for Research and Development (OEDRD).