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Stability of Gene Expression and Agronomic Performance of a Transgenic Herbicide-Resistant Sugarcane Line in South Africa

^a Coastal Farmers Co-operative, P.O. Box 1003, Umhlanga Rocks, KwaZulu Natal, 4320, South Africa
^b Biotechnology Dep., South African Sugar Association Exp. Stn., Private Bag X02, Mount Edgecombe, KwaZulu Natal, 4300, South Africa

View larger version (153K): [in a new window]   Fig. 1. Buster herbicide application to transformed sugarcane line 22.2 and untransformed parent cultivar NCo310 in a small-scale field trial. Incremental amounts (1–7 L ha-1) were applied to successive rows in plant cane and two ratoon crops, so that the transgenic cane in Row 7, to which 7 L ha-1 Buster was applied in the plant crop, received a total dose of 21 L ha-1 of Buster. Phytotoxic symptoms were visible on untransformed cane at all the rates tested (center; far right and left) and rates >4 L ha-1 were lethal. No phytotoxic damage was evident in the transformed line (flanking center).

View larger version (36K): [in a new window]   Fig. 2. A comparison of morphological stalk characteristics and fiber content in transformed line 22.2 and untransformed parent cultivar NCo310 under four weed control programs. Measurements were taken when the first ratoon crop was harvested at the age of 10 mo. Treatments are as follows: WCT1, Buster only; WCT2, preemergence and Buster application; WCT3, conventional herbicide-based (no Buster) weed control program; WCT4, hand-hoeing. Standard errors are shown by vertical lines above the bars (n = 8). (A) Stalk diameter. Measurements were taken around the center of stalks. (B) Stalk heights. (C) Stalk population. Bars with different alphabetical letters indicate significant differences (ANOVA SED = 3995; LSD0.05 = 8246). (D) Fiber content, the insoluble portion of a sugarcane stalk, expressed as a percentage of the fresh mass of the stalk.

View larger version (31K): [in a new window]   Fig. 3. Incidence of smut, Sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV), and borer in transformed line 22.2 and untransformed parent cultivar NCo310 under four weed control programs. Assessments were performed at the harvest of the ratoon crop, at age 10 mo. (A) Differences in percentage stalks infected with smut (Ustilago scitaminea Syd. & P. Syd.). Smut inspections were performed by the South African Sugar Association Experiment Station Pathology inspection team at harvest. Vertical lines above bars indicate SE (n = 8). (B) Incidence of stalks infected with SCMV. Observations were performed by the Plant Pathology inspection team directly before harvesting. Vertical lines above bars are SE (n = 8). (C) A comparison of internodes bored by the stalk borer (Eldana saccharina Walker; Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Vertical lines above bars represent SE (n = 8). Different alphabetical letters represent statistical differences (ANOVA SED = 1.3; LSD0.05 = 2.71).