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Scientists from the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia recently
developed transgenic lines of sugarcane with increased total sugar content,
March 2007.

The transgenic lines called 'Sugarbooster', produce the high-value sugar
isomaltutose (IM) through the introduction of vacuole-targeted sucrose
isomerase (SI) gene. The IM accumulates in storage tissues of sugarcane
without any decrease in stored sucrose concentration. This resulted in up to
two-fold increase in the total sugar yield in the harvested juice.

The transgenic sugarcane lines were found to be morphologically similar to
non-transformed controls of the same sugarcane cultivar. However, delayed
leaf senescence, increased photosynthetic activity, and enhanced sucrose
transport were observed in the transgenics.

The abstract in the Plant Biotechnology Journal, with links to the complete
paper for subscribers, can be accessed at www.blackwell-synergy.com