Biochemical Characterization and Identification of Tolerance Genes in Salt Stressed Sugarcane

Global production of sugarcane face several environmental concerns particularly drought and salinity. Madhuri Chandrakant Pagariya of Vasantdada Sugar Institute and colleagues conducted a study to understand the responses of sugarcane to high salinity at physio-biochemical and molecular level at various growth stages. They searched for the specific stage when maximum stress induction occurred then used it to identify candidate genes that could be involved in salt stress tolerance or adaptation.

Results of their study showed that there was an influx of antioxidant enzymes at the early stages of stress as well as in the extended stages of stress. Thus, these enzymes could be used as indicators of environmental stress in sugarcane plants. At the molecular level, the researchers have identified 137 candidate genes wherein 20% have not been reported to be related to stress in any other studies. These genes could provide more understanding about perception, response, and adaptation mechanisms of sugarcane and other non-model plants. These gene discoveries could also lead to more findings on how to manipulate salt tolerance of plants.

Read the abstract at http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168945211003396