Sugarcane of the future: Argentina is a pioneer in genetic improvement

In the green plains of Tucumán, a group of researchers from INTA Famaillá is carrying out pioneering work that promises to change the future of sugarcane production in Argentina. With an eye on the climatic challenges and the needs of the sector, they have adopted an innovative biotechnological technique: in vitro mutagenesis. Although it may sound complex, this process is surprisingly accessible and offers a promising solution to improve both the productivity and resistance of sugarcane varieties. The objective of these scientists is clear: to develop new sugarcane varieties that not only thrive in various regions of the country, but also present superior agronomic and industrial characteristics. Valentina Di Pauli, one of the leading researchers on the project, highlights the importance of this technique. “In vitro mutagenesis allows us to incorporate new alleles into the germplasm, which is essential to generate the genetic variability necessary in any breeding program,” she ...