Multi-omics integration reveals candidate genes and molecular mechanisms associated with resistance to sugarcane smut

Multi-omics integration in a sugarcane panel of 155 genotypes linked smut resistance to candidate genes spanning immune signaling, redox homeostasis, and genome maintenance.

• Why it matters: Classical breeding is constrained by sugarcane’s genetic complexity, so there is a need to pinpoint molecular factors underlying resistance to sugarcane smut.
• What they did: The study genotyped 155 genotypes with 33,335 SNP markers, inoculated them with Sporisorium scitamineum, measured three phenotypic variables, and ran genome-wide association analyses; it also integrated transcriptomics from four public smut-response studies.
• The result: Joint analysis identified candidate genes tied to structural reinforcement, immune signaling, redox homeostasis, genome maintenance, and cellular adaptation, supporting functional validation and breeding for improved smut resistance.

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