Aliya Momotaz1, Orlando Arbelo Coto1 and Chris LaBorde2
1USDA-ARS Sugarcane Field Station, 12990 US Hwy. 441N, Canal Point, FL 33438, USA; aliya.momotaz@usda.gov
2United States Sugar Corporation, 211 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Clewiston, FL 33440, USA
Modern sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) (`~12x) has a very complex genetic blueprint. The genome size (2C DNA) of 61 Saccharum parental genotypes was estimated using flow cytometry, and whether the 2C value is associated with the clone’s fertility traits was tested. Flow cytometry analysis revealed significant differences among the genotypes ranges of 2C-DNA value from 4.86 (IND81-146) to 11.70 pg (CP 00-1101). Parents from Canal Point (CP) and United States Sugar Corporation breeding program (CL) had higher 2C DNA content than others (clones from Houma, two Miscanthus hybrids, one S. officinarum, one S. robustum and one S. spontaneum). 2C DNA content was further analyzed to reveal the correlation among flowering characteristics. Days-to-flower was weakly correlated with genome size, but seed set was negatively correlated though not significant. Further understanding of this genetic variation and its relationship with different traits may improve the effectiveness of and have potential applications in breeding and molecular cytogenetic genetic analysis.