Physiological analyses reveal CAD genes drive lignin biosynthesis, improving drought tolerance in sugarcane.
Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.), a vital economic crop, suffers significant yield losses from drought. This study elucidates the genetic regulation of lignin biosynthesis—a key drought-resistance mechanism—by analyzing three contrasting accessions: drought-sensitive Saccharum officinarum (Badila), drought-resistant hybrid (XTT22), and drought-tolerant wild Saccharum spontaneum (SES-208) under progressive drought (7–21 days). Physiological analyses revealed pronounced lignin accumulation in XTT22 roots/leaves, driven by elevated coniferyl/sinapyl alcohol substrates, while Badila showed minimal deposition. Genomic characterization of cinnamyl/sinapyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD/SAD) families across six sugarcane genomes identified 322 genes phylogenetically clustered into three clades. Class I members (CAD1, CAD5, etc.) were critical for lignin biosynthesis, with tandem/segmental duplications driving family expansion and promoters enriched in stress-responsive cis-elements (ABA, MeJA, light). Transcriptomics and qRT-PCR confirmed strong correlations between Class I CAD expression, lignin content, and drought tolerance. These findings establish CAD Class I genes as novel molecular targets for enhancing drought resilience in sugarcane breeding programs.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Wang et al. (2025) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: