Kaiwen Liang

Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory of Crop Molecular Breeding, Sanya, 572025, Hainan, China
Author    Correspondence author
Plant Gene and Trait, 2024, Vol. 15, No. 2   
Received: 11 Feb., 2024    Accepted: 16 Mar., 2024    Published: 25 Mar., 2024

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Gene duplication has played a significant role in the evolution and trait diversity of sugarcane (Saccharum spp.). Sugarcane, a highly polyploid and aneuploid crop, has undergone extensive gene duplication events, contributing to its complex genome structure and large genome size (~10 Gb). These duplications have facilitated the development of novel functions and adaptive traits, such as enhanced disease resistance and stress tolerance, which are crucial for the crop's agronomic performance. The retention of duplicated genes, particularly those involved in essential metabolic pathways, has been a driving force in the diversification and adaptation of sugarcane Furthermore, whole-genome duplications (WGDs) have been instrumental in the evolution of sugarcane, promoting genetic diversity and enabling the crop to adapt to various environmental conditions. Understanding the mechanisms and impacts of gene duplication in sugarcane can provide valuable insights for breeding programs aimed at improving yield traits and stress resilience. This study synthesizes current knowledge on gene duplication in sugarcane, highlighting its role in the crop's evolution and trait diversity.

Gene duplication; Sugarcane evolution; Trait diversity; Polyploidy; Whole-genome duplication