DOST, Philsurin Launch Sugarcane R&D Projects in Philippines

Two newly launched projects aim to strengthen the Philippine sugarcane industry by developing high-performing varieties with improved drought tolerance and disease resistance.

Sugarcane-growing areas in the country experience dry periods lasting 4.5 to 6 months, making drought tolerance a critical trait for sustainable production.

Diseases such as downy mildew and smut also pose serious threats, causing significant yield losses across sugarcane plantations.

To address these challenges, the Department of Science and Technology–Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD) is funding two research initiatives.

The first project, titled “Genetic Variability and Selection for Drought Tolerance and Disease Resistance in Sugarcane Through In-Vitro Techniques,” is led by Rosalyn T. Luzaran and implemented by the Philippine Sugar Research Institute Foundation Inc. (Philsurin).

The project uses in-vitro techniques to identify sugarcane varieties that can tolerate drought and resist diseases such as smut and downy mildew.

Through somaclonal variation, Philsurin researchers aim to induce genetic diversity using cell and tissue culture, which enables faster development of improved sugarcane varieties compared to traditional breeding methods.

The second project, titled “Integrating Wild Species for Sugarcane Varietal Improvement: Advancing Genetic Diversity and Crop Sustainability,” is led by Graziella O. Tabulinar.

This project explores the use of wild sugarcane relatives—Saccharum spontaneum and Pennisetum purpureum—to create new hybrid varieties.

Researchers aim to combine the wild species’ disease resistance and performance traits with the high sucrose content of conventional varieties to enhance genetic diversity and long-term crop sustainability.

Both projects are expected to yield valuable insights into sugarcane’s phenotypic variation and contribute to ongoing breeding efforts for a more resilient sugarcane industry.

At the inception meeting, DOST-PCAARRD Crops Research Division Director Leilani D. Pelegrina highlighted the projects’ potential to increase sugarcane production in the country.

Dr. Liwayway M. Engle, project consultant and scientist, expressed appreciation for the initiatives and emphasized their importance in sustaining sugarcane R&D efforts.

The inception meeting was attended by Philsurin Director General Ma. Regina Bautista-Martin, Dr. Engle, Director Pelegrina, and other key officials from DOST-PCAARRD.

Attendees also included Sugarcane Industry Strategic S&T Program Manager Ofelia F. Domingo of the Agricultural Resources Management Research Division, Commodity Specialist Sharie Al-Faiha A. Lubang, and representatives from the Crops Research Division, Financial and Administrative Division, and the Office of the Executive Director for R&D. (Pepito G. Alberto and Jen Charmaine A. Lorenzo-Manohar, DOST-PCAARRD S&T Media Services)