John J Riascos
Colombian Sugarcane Research Center – Cenicaña, Cali-Florida route km 26, Valle del Cauca, Colombia; jjriascos@cenicana.org
Sugarcane (Saccharum hybrids) improvement has long been limited by a complex, polyploid genome and slow breeding cycles. Molecular markers now offer the opportunity to accelerate selection and increase genetic gain, even in crops as complex as sugarcane. In Colombia’s Cauca River Valley, one of the world’s most productive sugarcane regions, Cenicaña has developed a genomics-assisted breeding platform to complement traditional phenotypic selection. This effort includes a reference genome for CC 01-1940, a high-density SNP panel, and predictive models trained through genomic selection (GS). These tools target key traits such as sucrose content, stem biomass, pest resistance, and abiotic stress tolerance. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified markers linked to metabolic and defense pathways, and genomic selection (GS) models are being tested as a strategy to prioritize early-generation genotypes for field evaluation. Current efforts focus on evaluating the predictive reliability of these models, and ongoing field trials will help determine their accuracy and practical value within the breeding pipeline. Rather than a finished achievement, this represents an ongoing transition toward a more adaptive and efficient breeding program. The experience illustrates how sustained investment, and vision can bring modern genomics into practice, even in crops considered genetically intractable.