The Agroindustrial Research Institute EEAOC- ITANOA is currently developing herbicide tolerant sugarcane elite varieties for commercial release.

CASTAGNARO A. P.; WELIN, B.; NOGUERA, A.; ENRIQUE, R.; OSTENGO, S.; PERERA, F.; RACEDO, J.; SORIA FEMENÍAS, M. J.; COSTILLA, D. Y CUENYA, M. I.

Mar del Plata

Congreso; RedBio Argentina 2013; 2013

Commercial varieties of sugarcane are founded on inter-specific hybrids between S. officinarum and S. spontaneum. S. officinarum contributes with high sugar content while S. spontaneum contributes with vigorous growth, tolerance to abiotic stresses and resistance to diseases. Hybrids from crosses between these two species are genetically very complex with autopolyploidy, allopolyploidy and aneuploidy occurring in the offspring. The work conducted by ITANOA (EEAOC-CONICET) in order to commercially liberate a glyphosate tolerant sugarcane variety, include results on generating glyphosate tolerant lines and field testing to evaluate growth phenotypes to define transgenic lines indistinguishable as compared to parental variety. Genetic studies validating the field test growth data by using polymorphic molecular markers and measuring genetic diversity among transgenic lines and parental variety RA87-3 were performed. Finally, field studies were conducted at two independent sugarcane production areas in Argentina during two consecutive years. Data were collected and statistically analyzed for agronomical parameters, chemical composition and disease and plague monitoring.Furthermore, the combined work of ITANOA and the Agricultural Experimental Research Station La Chacra Santa Rosa in the Province of Salta, resulted in the newly approved alternative desregulation procedure for transgenic varieties reproduced agamically and with a genetically complex inheritance.