Drought tolerance being developed in sugarcane

THE Philippine Sugar Research Institute Foundation, Inc. is seeking to develop sugarcane varieties tolerant of drought and resistant to disease, the Department of Science and Technology (DoST) said.

One of the projects will utilize in-vitro techniques to identify sugarcane with the desired qualities, the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD), an arm of the DoST, said.

Sugarcane-growing areas in the Philippines experience dry periods lasting four to six months, making drought tolerance a vital trait for sustainable production.

Diseases such as downy mildew and smut can cause significant yield losses, the DoST, which is helping funding the project, said.

The second project will seek to develop a hybrid of wild and conventional varieties to achieve disease resistance and high sucrose content.

“These efforts are expected to provide valuable insights into the diversity and phenotypic variation of sugarcane and its relatives, contributing to the long-term breeding efforts toward a more resilient sugarcane industry,” PCAARRD said. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza