Aussie researchers to have draft sugarcane genome published next year

In Australia, scientists based at the University of Queensland said that they expect to have the first sugarcane genome draft sequence ready by the middle of next year. Led by Southern Cross University (SCU) and funded by the UQ-based Cooperative Research Centre for Sugar Industry Innovation through Biotechnology (CRC SIIB), the research also involves contributions from the CSIRO.

The project team said that “Energy canes have been touted, both here and internationally, as one of the most efficient future options for producing plant-based fuels, plastics and many sought-after bio-products. It is becoming well known that sugarcane is a perfect candidate for energy production and a potential replacement to petroleum in a wide range of manufacturing processes.”

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