Enhanced aluminum tolerance in sugarcane: evaluation of SbMATE overexpression and genome-wide identification of ALMTs in Saccharum spp.

Background: A major limiting factor for plant growth is the aluminum (Al) toxicity in acidic soils, especially in tropical regions. The exclusion of Al from the root apex through root exudation of organic acids such as malate and citrate is one of the most ubiquitous tolerance mechanisms in the plant kingdom. Two families of anion channels that confer Al tolerance are well described in the literature, ALMT and MATE family.

Correction to: Silencing of a BAHD acyltransferase in sugarcane increases biomass digestibility.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s13068-019-1450-7.].

Silencing of a BAHD acyltransferase in sugarcane increases biomass digestibility.

Background: Sugarcane ( spp.) covers vast areas of land (around 25 million ha worldwide), and its processing is already linked into infrastructure for producing bioethanol in many countries. This makes it an ideal candidate for improving composition of its residues (mostly cell walls), making them more suitable for cellulosic ethanol production.

Identification and characterization of core abscisic acid (ABA) signaling components and their gene expression profile in response to abiotic stresses in Setaria viridis.

Abscisic acid (ABA) is an essential phytohormone that regulates growth, development and adaptation of plants to environmental stresses. In Arabidopsis and other higher plants, ABA signal transduction involves three core components namely PYR/PYL/RCAR ABA receptors (PYLs), type 2C protein phosphatases (PP2Cs) and class III SNF-1-related protein kinase 2 (SnRK2s). In the present study, we reported the identification and characterization of the core ABA signaling components in Setaria viridis, an emerging model plant for cereals and feedstock crops presenting C4 metabolism, leading to the identification of eight PYL (SvPYL1 to 8), twelve PP2C (SvPP2C1 to 12) and eleven SnRK2 (SvSnRK2.

Setaria viridis as a Model Plant for Functional Genomic Studies in C4 Crops.

Setaria viridis is an emerging model for C4 species, and it is an important model to validate some genes for further C4 crop transformation, such as sugarcane, maize, and wheat. Here, we describe two protocols for stable transformation of S. viridis mediated by Agrobacterium tumefaciens with three different reporter genes and two selectable markers.

Improved Genetic Transformation of Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) Embryogenic Callus Mediated by Agrobacterium tumefaciens.

Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) is a monocotyledonous semi-perennial C4 grass of the Poaceae family. Its capacity to accumulate high content of sucrose and biomass makes it one of the most important crops for sugar and biofuel production.

Characterization of sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) leaf senescence: implications for biofuel production.

Background: Second-generation ethanol (2G-bioethanol) uses lignocellulosic feedstocks for ethanol production. Sugarcane is one among the most suitable crops for biofuel production. Its juice is extracted for sugar production, while sugarcane bagasse, straw, and senescing leaves are considered industrial waste.

Selection of reliable reference genes for RT-qPCR analysis during developmental stages and abiotic stress in Setaria viridis.

Real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) expression analysis is a powerful analytical technique, but reliable results depend on the use of stable reference genes for proper normalization. This study proposed to test the expression stability of 13 candidate reference genes in Setaria viridis, a monocot species recently proposed as a new C4 model plant. Gene expression stability of these genes was assayed across different tissues and developmental stages of Setaria and under drought or aluminum stress.

floral-dip: A simple and rapid -mediated transformation method.

was recently described as a new monocotyledonous model species for C4 photosynthesis research and genetic transformation. It has biological attributes (rapid life cycle, small genome, diploid, short stature and simple growth requirements) that make it suitable for use as a model plant. We report an alternative method of transformation using floral dip to circumvent the necessity of tissue culture phase for transgenic plant regeneration.

A simple and highly efficient -mediated transformation protocol for .

The production and use of sugarcane in Brazil is very important for bioenergy production and is recognized as one of the most efficient in the world. In our laboratory, is being tested as a model plant for sugarcane. has biological attributes (rapid life cycle, small genome, diploid, short stature and simple growth requirements) that make it suitable for use as a model system.

Induced over-expression of AtDREB2A CA improves drought tolerance in sugarcane.

Drought is one of the most challenging agricultural issues limiting sustainable sugarcane production and, in some cases, yield losses caused by drought are nearly 50%. DREB proteins play vital regulatory roles in abiotic stress responses in plants. The transcription factor DREB2A interacts with a cis-acting DRE sequence to activate the expression of downstream genes that are involved in drought-, salt- and heat-stress response in Arabidopsis thaliana.