Genotype-Specific Transcriptional Responses to Soil Type Reveal Differential Plasticity in Sugarcane

This study investigates the transcriptional responses of sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) to contrasting soil fertility conditions. The experiment was conducted in Sao Paulo, Brazil, using two sugarcane varieties with contrasting adaptability to low-fertility soils: IACSP01-5503 (adapted to low fertility and resistant to Sporisorium scitamineum) and IACSP-6007 (not adapted to low fertility and with intermediate resistance to S. scitamineum). Seedlings were planted in December 2022 in a randomized block design with six replicates. Each plot consisted of four rows (4 m long, 0.5 m spacing) totaling 32 plants per plot. Plants were grown under field conditions for ten months before tissue sampling for RNA sequencing. The main objective of this project is to characterize the genotype-specific transcriptional responses of sugarcane to contrasting soil fertility conditions. By comparing gene expression patterns between the two varieties, we aim to identify molecular mechanisms underlying differential plasticity, soil adaptation, and potential resistance trade-offs.