By Joseph Vackayil
CHENNAI, India - The structure, water use, fertiliser intake, sucrose
content, and the very nature of sugar production in sugarcane are likely to
undergo major changes with the modern tools of biotechnology and genetic
modification. Field trials of GM sugarcane crops for these traits are being
undertaken in Brazil and Australia.
Cane Technology Center (CTC), a research organisation based in the state of
Sao Paulo, Brazil is conducting field trials to test three varieties of
genetically modified cane. According to CTC, these GM plants have been
modified to exhibit sucrose levels 15% higher than those of ordinary
sugarcane - for now, under laboratory conditions. However, if field trials
are successful, the company may bring these plants to the market by the end
of the decade. Scientists and engineers think that the ethanol yield of
sugarcane can be doubled from 6000 litre/ha to more than 12,000 litre/ha
within the next 15 years.

Other biotech companies in Brazil also are interested in the potentially
large market of GM sugarcanes and they are awaiting approval from the
Brazilian authorities to conduct field trials with several sugarcane
varieties. University of Queensland, Australia, has applied to the Gene
Technology regulator of the Australian government for a limited and
controlled release of GM sugarcane.

The Bureau of Sugar Experiment Stations Ltd is seeking to introduce mainly
four modified traits: shoot architecture (shoot number, stalk size, and
height), water use efficiency, nitrogen use efficiency and marker gene
expression (antibiotic resistance and reporter genes).

The proposed trial will take place in 15 sites in Queensland between
September 2008 and December 2014, and will involve experiments to assess the
agronomic properties of the GM sugarcane under field conditions and to
analyse sugar production and quality. Promising lines would be selected for
propagation for possible future commercial development, subject to further
approvals.

Results of the trial will be the basis for future commercial developments
and for the possibility of using the transgenic lines in future breeding
programmes. The GM sugarcane in this trial will not be consumed by humans
nor by livestock. Currently, a comprehensive Risk Assessment and Risk
Management Plans are being prepared, which will be released for public
comment soon.

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