Sugarcane Growth and Nutrient Absorption Research Provides Key Insights

Strategic Insights -

Researchers at Fujian Agricultural and Forestry University have conducted a comprehensive study on the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizas (AM) fungi on sugarcane growth and nutrient absorption. The study, funded by the Guangxi Science and Technology Major Special Project, employed pot experiments and analyzed the phenotypic traits, rhizosphere soil nutrient contents, and transcriptomics of sugarcane during the elongation stage. The results demonstrated that AM fungal inoculation enhanced sugarcane growth, nutrient absorption, and soil organic matter, available nitrogen, available phosphorus, and total phosphorus in the rhizosphere.

Key Takeaways:

  • Sugarcane is a major sugar crop with substantial economic importance worldwide, accounting for significant economic value globally.
  • Arbuscular mycorrhizas (AM) play a pivotal role in plant productivity and soil nutrient cycling, influencing the contents of soil organic matter, available nitrogen, available phosphorus, and total phosphorus in the rhizosphere.
  • The study employed pot experiments, using a randomized block design, and conducted comparative analyses on the phenotypic traits, rhizosphere soil nutrient contents, and transcriptomics of sugarcane during the elongation stage.
  • The results showed that AM fungal inoculation facilitated the accumulation of above- and belowground biomass in sugarcane, as well as influencing the contents of soil organic matter, available nitrogen, available phosphorus, and total phosphorus in the rhizosphere.
  • The study identified genes and modules associated with sugarcane growth and nutrient absorption, including the MEmoccasin and MElightpink3 modules, and the MEhoneydew1 module.
  • The study concluded that this research provides insights into the effects of AM fungi on sugarcane growth and nutrient absorption, establishing a theoretical foundation for further understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying AM fungal influence in sugarcane.

Statistics:

  • 13.7 billion metric tons of sugarcane were produced globally in 2020 (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations).
  • Sugarcane cultivation accounted for 21.5% of the world's agricultural production in 2020 (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations).
  • The study analyzed the transcriptomics of sugarcane during the elongation stage, identifying genes and modules associated with sugarcane growth and nutrient absorption.
  • The Guangxi Science and Technology Major Special Project funded this research, providing financial support for the project.
  • The study was conducted using a randomized block design, with two treatments (inoculation with AM fungi and non-inoculation) each with nine replicates within each block.

Sources:

  • "Transcriptome and Wgcna Reveal the Key Genes of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi In Regulating Sugarcane Growth and Nutrient Absorption." Food Science & Nutrition, 2025;13(7).
  • NewsRx. Data on Food Science and Nutrition Detailed by Researchers at Fujian Agricultural and Forestry University (Transcriptome and Wgcna Reveal the Key Genes of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi In Regulating Sugarcane Growth and Nutrient Absorption). Food Weekly News. August 28, 2025; p 39.