Varieties, plant breeding and release

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://elibrary2.sugarresearch.com.au/handle/11079/13841

Research outcomes: Comprehensive and efficient variety breeding, selection and release programs responding to yield expectations, environmental constraints, resource scarcity and regional preferences. Faster varietal adoption using advanced methods for bulking, distribution and planting.

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Author: search.filters.author.Piperidis, GStart date: 2010

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Now showing 1 - 6 of 6
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    Field evaluation of selected introgression clones for their resistance to root-knot nematodes : ASSCT peer-reviewed paper
    (ASSCT, 2019) Bhuiyan, SA; Piperidis, G; Hu, F; Parfitt, R; Garlick, K; Quinn, B; Jakins, A
    Sugarcane nematodes, root-knot (RKN) and root-lesion (RLN), cause an estimated loss of over $80 million per year to the Australian sugar industry. In particular, RKN is a major problem if sugarcane is planted in sandy soil. No effective control method is available for sugarcane nematodes in Australia. Crop rotation and fallowing provide only short-term control and nematode populations usually bounce back within 12 months after these control methods. The use of nematicides is restricted due to inconsistent results, difficulty in application and the highly toxic nature of the chemicals to humans and the environment. No commercial cultivars are resistant to sugarcane nematodes. Recent glasshouse trials in Australia suggested that clones from introgression populations, originating from crossing between commercial canes and Saccharum spontaneum or Erianthus arundinaceus, possessed good resistance to root knot nematodes. Field trials were established to determine the reliability of glasshouse resistance-screening results. Eight introgression clones that showed resistance to RKN in glasshouse trials were evaluated in a field in Wallaville, north of Childers. Test clones were planted in plots with high and low nematode populations and maintained up to the second ratoon crop. Trial plots were assessed for nematodes each year 6 weeks after planting and ratooning. Three years of results showed that 7 of 8 introgression clones consistently maintained low numbers of RKN until the end of the trial period, and significantly (P
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    Exploiting Erianthus diversity to enhance sugarcane cultivars : ASSCT peer-reviewed paper
    (ASSCT, 2019) Piperidis, N; Tom, C; Aitken, KS; Atkin, FC; Piperidis, G
    Introgression of Erianthus arundinaceus into the SRA sugarcane-breeding program has been a goal for researchers for many years. The Erianthus genome was finally accessible to sugarcane breeders with the identification in 2005 of the first Saccharum/Erianthus fertile hybrids, developed in China. Today, Saccharum/Erianthus BC3 and BC4 clones are available in Australia, and Erianthus-sugarcane hybrids have been characterised by cytogenetics and investigated for their potential resistance against pachymetra root rot, sugarcane smut and nematodes. Some clones have shown potential as new sources of resistance for incorporation into the SRA breeding program. These hybrids were created from Erianthus clones indigenous to China and their reaction to the above diseases is unknown in Australian conditions. In Meringa we also have access to many Erianthus clones of Indonesian origin. Some of these Erianthus clones have previously shown immunity to pachymetra root rot. In the late 1990s, these Indonesian Erianthus clones were used in crossing but no fertile hybrids were ever produced due to an incompatibility between the Saccharum and the Erianthus genomes. We revisited this untapped source of resistance by utilising the fertile Erianthus hybrids derived from China to cross with the Indonesian Erianthus of known resistance to pachymetra root rot. Here we report on the early stage results of introgressing Indonesian Erianthus into the SRA breeding program.
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    Genomic organisation of sugarcane cultivars revealed by chromosome-specific oligonucleotide probes : ASSCT peer-reviewed paper
    (ASSCT, 2021) Piperidis, N; Piperidis, G; D’Hont, A
    Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) is probably the crop with the most complex genome. Modern cultivars (2n=100-120) are derived from interspecific hybridization between the noble cane S. officinarum (2n=80) and the wild cane S. spontaneum (2n=40-128). We investigated the genome organization of important sugarcane cultivars and their parental species using chromosomespecific probes combined with genomic in situ hybridization (GISH). This allowed the genomic and genetic characterisation of Australian sugarcane cultivars and one of the major contributing parental clones, Mandalay. The S. spontaneum clone Mandalay follows the classical organization of S. spontaneum clones with x=8 with a major discrepancy related to an extra six chromosomes compared to the previously reported 2n=96 for Mandalay’s clone. Our previous results reported the rearrangements between the S. officinarum (x=10) and S. spontaneum (x=8) chromosomes, with a most likely scenario of a two-step process leading to x= 9 and then x=8, where each step involved three chromosomes that were rearranged into two. Further polyploidization led to the wide geographical dispersion of S. spontaneum clones with x= 8. In modern cultivars, the 13-20% of the S. spontaneum contribution originated from cytotypes with x=8. Modern cultivars have mainly 12 copies of each of the first four basic chromosomes and a more variable number for those basic chromosomes whose structure differs between the two parental species. These new insights and cytogenetic tools substantially improve our understanding of the extreme level of complexity of modern sugarcane cultivar genomes and could lead to guiding breeding strategies in the development of new improved varieties for the Australian industry.
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    Seed-based in vitro propagation to accelerate variety development : ASSCT peer-reviewed paper
    (ASSCT, 2021) Zhao, L; Bolton, C; Piperidis, G; Eglinton, J
    To shorten the current lengthy selection process in sugarcane breeding and to accelerate genetic gain, Sugar Research Australia is implementing a range of novel breeding strategies and selection tactics. One strategy is to rapidly evaluate the progeny of elite crosses in replicated trials without passing through the traditional Stage 1 trials. However, insufficient planting material hinders its adoption. A seed-based in vitro propagation system has been developed for sugarcane in which sodium hypochlorite (bleach) and plant preservative mixture (PPMTM) were used in the sterilisation of seeds and seedlings, as well as in the treatment of infected seedlings. The system had been successfully implemented to propagate over 1000 clones of the elite cross Q208A x CP74-2005, for a Stage 2 selection trial. The new system, a first for sugarcane, is more cost efficient, providing three times the number of clones as in the seedling-based micropropagation system with the same input of resources. This innovation will shorten the selection cycle of proven elite crosses by up to 3 years, accelerating the delivery of new varieties.
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    Advancing yield, disease resistance and ratooning by exploiting new sources of genetic variability from wild relatives of sugarcane : phase 1
    (2017) Piperidis, G
    This project was originally planned and designed for six years to allow collection of data over 2 or 3 ratoon crops. In this first phase of the project, all propagations and trials were well established and good quality data collected from the plant crop trial harvests. Analysis and interpretation of results will be an on-going task. Some introgression clones were identified as close to commercial potential. The average performance of introgression clone trials according to their generation was as expected for CCS, Fibre and the selection index rEGV. Continued backcrossing to elite material, after the initial cross to produce the F1, increases CCS and rEGV and decreases Fibre with each backcross generation. The variation observed for each of these traits also decreases with each backcross. Introgression clones producing high value progeny have been identified and further crossing cycles will focus on using these clones. In general, seedling families derived from S. spontaneum appear to ratoon faster than E. arundinaceus progeny, regardless of the generation (BC3 or BC4). There was a very high correlation between stalk numbers per plot and stalk numbers of the best 2 stools per plot based on visual assessment, which suggests the latter to be a more efficient and cost effective method of measuring this trait in seedling trials. High and low nematode treatments were successfully achieved at 2 sites using cover crops and nematicide. No association between nematode numbers and cane yield could be identified at this stage. It is expected that cane yield differences between treatments will be more pronounced in the ratoon crops.
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    AGR2008150 : Provision of research and development services for the Ord Sugarcane project
    (2010) Croft, BJ; Webb, B; Piperidis, G
    The requirements for year 2 of the contract for the delivery of research and development services to the Ord sugar project have been fully achieved. The harvest results from two second ratoon, two first ratoon and two plant crop yield trials were analysed using BSES statistical procedures and the analysed results were provided to the WA Dept of Agriculture and Food. These data were used to identify promising new varieties for further propagation. Barry Croft, BSES Program leader biosecurity (Plant pathologist), and George Piperidis, BSES Program Leader Variety Adoption (Plant Breeder), visited the Ord from the 24-27 May 2010. They inspected selected varieties in yield trials and propagation plots for sugarcane smut, top rot and other diseases and made notes on growth of the varieties. Recommendations were made on the maintenance and further propagation of varieties that have performed well in yield trials and have acceptable reaction to sugarcane smut and top rot. A heavy infestation of scale insects was noted on a few varieties in the 2008 propagation plot in block 6B. These insects have been seen before but this was a particularly severe infestation and the variety Q208 which has performed well in the Ord and is the major variety in Queensland was one of the varieties affected. A borer that was attacking rice was collected. BSES is currently involved in an Australian Centre for Agricultural Research (ACIAR) funded project investigating biological control of borer species attacking sugarcane in Indonesia. Part of this study is to collaborate with other research groups that are DNA barcoding endemic and exotic moth borers and these samples will be submitted for DNA barcoding.