ABSTRACT
Modern cultivars of sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) comprise polyploids of huge and complex genomes derived from interspecific hybridization between S. officinarum L. and S. spontaneum L., with chromosomes up to 130 distributed among ~12 homologous groups and a total genome size reaching 10 Gbp. This genomic complexity of sugarcane is a major bottleneck for whole-genome sequencing, molecular diversity, DNA fingerprinting, and parentage determination, which currently are the pre-requisites for advanced molecular breeding and intellectual property rights (IPRs). Its big and complex genome structure has hampered genome sequencing, assembly, and annotation. Partial genome and transcriptome sequences are available, but no annotated whole-genome assemblies are reported to date. A couple of years ago, a complete monoploid sugarcane genome became available. It can provide essential information about the important genes controlling cell-wall and sugar-accumulation traits.
