Plant Gene and Trait 2024, Vol.15, No.1, 23-32 http://genbreedpublisher.com/index.php/pgt 25 selection. Through these advanced data analysis technologies, genomic selection not only enhances the science and accuracy of breeding, but also significantly speeds up the development of new varieties, providing strong technical support for the development of modern agriculture. 3 Application of Genomic Selection in Sugarcane Breeding 3.1 Implementation status The application of genomic selection technology in sugarcane breeding marks the transition from traditional breeding methods to modern molecular breeding technology. In the past few years, many major sugarcane producing countries in the world have begun to apply genomic selection technology to sugarcane breeding projects. For example, in Brazil, one of the world's largest sugarcane producers, scientific research institutions and companies have launched breeding experiments based on genomic selection to improve sugarcane's sugar yield and stress resistance. By analyzing thousands of sugarcane genotypes, researchers are able to predict which genotypes may show excellent growth performance and high sugar accumulation under specific environmental conditions. In addition, the application of genomic selection in sugarcane breeding also includes the improvement of disease resistance. Sugarcane leaf spot and rust are major diseases affecting global sugarcane yields, and traditional disease-resistant breeding methods are time-consuming and have limited effectiveness. Through genomic selection, breeders can quickly select sugarcane varieties with high resistance, greatly shortening the breeding cycle of disease-resistant varieties. In Indonesia, research cases have shown that genomic selection technology has been successfully used to screen new sugarcane varieties with strong resistance to various diseases. 3.2 Technical achievements The application of genomic selection technology in sugarcane breeding has achieved remarkable results (Figure 1) (Meena et al., 2022). First, breeding efficiency has been greatly improved. Traditional sugarcane breeding usually takes 10 to 12 years to develop a new variety, but through genomic selection technology, this cycle can be shortened to 5 to 6 years. This accelerated breeding process means faster responses to market demands and environmental changes, such as increased pest and disease pressure due to climate warming. Genomic selection technology also shows great potential in improving agronomic traits of sugarcane varieties. For example, sugarcane productivity in arid areas can be effectively improved by breeding sugarcane varieties with excellent water use efficiency. In addition, genomic selection technology has been used to enhance the sugar content of sugarcane, which directly increases the economic value of sugarcane. In terms of variety adaptability, genomic selection technology has also made breakthroughs. By making precise predictions of the genetic performance of sugarcane varieties under different environmental conditions, breeders can develop sugarcane varieties better suited to specific soil and climate conditions. This kind of precision breeding not only enhances the adaptability of sugarcane, but also improves the sustainable production capacity of the crop. The application of genome selection technology not only greatly accelerates the process of sugarcane breeding, but also improves the accuracy and efficiency of breeding, enabling the cultivation of more new sugarcane varieties with excellent agronomic traits in a shorter time, effectively addressing various challenges faced by global agricultural production. 4 Challenges Faced 4.1 Biological challenges The genomic complexity of sugarcane represents a major biological challenge in implementing genomic selection. As a highly polyploid plant, the number of chromosomes in sugarcane can reach 100 to 130, and its genome size is approximately 8 times that of humans. This unique genetic structure results in extremely high genetic variability in sugarcane, which not only increases the difficulty of genome interpretation, but also challenges the accuracy of genetic manipulation.
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