Weichang Wu¹ , Zhen Li²

1 Biotechnology Research Center, Cuixi Academy of Biotechnology, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China
2 Hainan Institute of Biotechnology, Haikou, 570206, Hainan, China
Author    Correspondence author
Plant Gene and Trait, 2025, Vol. 16, No. 3   
Received: 03 Apr., 2025    Accepted: 10 May, 2025    Published: 19 May, 2025

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.

Photosynthetic efficiency is a crucial determinant of sugarcane yield and biomass accumulation, particularly in tropical environments where sugarcane, a C₄ plant, thrives due to its high carbon assimilation capacity. This study investigates the genetic regulation of photosynthetic efficiency in sugarcane, focusing on the molecular mechanisms underlying the C₄ pathway and carbon metabolism. We provide a comprehensive overview of C₄ photosynthesis, emphasizing Kranz anatomy and CO2-concentrating mechanisms, and examine the genetic regulation of key enzymes such as PEPC, NADP-ME, and PPDK. The study explores transcriptional and post-transcriptional control, including the role of epigenetic factors and non-coding RNAs, alongside genetic components involved in Rubisco regulation, sugar transport, and carbon partitioning. Furthermore, we analyze the integration of light reactions with carbon metabolism and identify regulatory genes for chlorophyll biosynthesis and photoprotection. Advances in biotechnological tools such as CRISPR/Cas9 and omics-based gene discovery are discussed in this study of improving photosynthetic traits. We also present a case study on elite sugarcane varieties, highlighting the association between gene expression and photosynthetic performance under field conditions. Our findings underscore the need for integrative genetic models and systems biology approaches to optimize photosynthetic efficiency and promote sustainable sugarcane production through targeted genetic innovation.

Sugarcane; _C4 photosynthesis; Genetic regulation; Carbon metabolism; Photosynthetic efficiency