Jershon López-Gerena, Monica Prias, Rocio Barrios, Claudia Ocampo, Hugo Jaimes, Fredy Salazar,Fernando S Aguilar, Carolina Camargo and John Jaime Riascos
Centro de Investigación de la Caña de Azúcar de Colombia (CENICAÑA), Cali, Colombia; jlopez@cenicana.org
Sugarcane is a crucial crop in Colombia, serving as a key source of sugar, bioethanol, and cogeneration of electricity, and is a pillar of the agricultural economy. However, it faces significant threats from pests such as Diatraea sp. and water stress. To address these challenges, the Colombian sugarcane research center (Cenicaña) is developing genetically modified varieties by incorporating genes to enhance insect resistance and boost water-stress tolerance. A variety with high sucrose content but susceptible to Diatraea was transformed by biolistics with the Cry1Ab gene. In a field trial, this transgenic event achieved 81% effectiveness in controlling the sugarcane borer, marking a significant advancement in combating this economically important pest and highlighting the potential to improve agricultural productivity. In the next generation of transgenic events, new promoters will be introduced to enhance the expression of the Cry1Ab and Vip3Aa genes, providing a broader spectrum of resistance to the pests. Additionally, genes conferring tolerance to water stress are being incorporated, enabling these varieties to better withstand water scarcity, a growing challenge in Colombia due to climate change and variability in water supply. This will lead to improved growth and yield under limited irrigation conditions. Cenicaña is also making strides in developing a DNA-free protocol using ribonucleoprotein complexes (RNP) for genetic editing. The use of the PDS gene served as a proof of concept; by utilizing efficient guide RNAs from previous assays, RNP complexes were triggered to produce albino phenotypes without the Crispr Cas9 vector, resulting in non-transgenic edited plants. This protocol will facilitate the production of DNA-free sugarcane varieties linked to high productivity. The combination of transgenic sugarcane and genetic editing is essential for enhancing productivity and ensuring agricultural sustainability amid climate change.