Screening of environmental stress tolerant superior sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.)

Abstract

Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) is among the important commodities of the commercial sector since it accounts for 65% of the world’s sugar production. Indonesia is the world’s eighth largest country in terms of productivity, planting area and yield of sugarcane. Environmental stresses due to climate change are among factors that may cause negative impacts on the production of sugarcane. The purpose of the present study was to determine sugarcane cultivars tolerant to environmental stress based on a multiplex analysis of SCDR 1 and P5CS, as well as sugarcane defense mechanisms against environmental stress conditions. The methods used in this study were quantitative test with spectrophotometry, qualitative test with electrophoresis, DNA amplification of the target SCDR 1 and P5CS by the PCR method. The presence of these two genes in the tested sugarcane cultivars indicates a tolerant trait of environmental stress. The study found that 24 tested sugarcane cultivars are potentially tolerant to environmental stress due to the presence of those two genes.