Identifying Quantitative Trait Loci for Fiber Content and Fiber Components in Sugarcane Using Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism Markers

Abstract

The cane yield, fiber content and fiber components (cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin) were determined from the segregation of 171 hybrid sugarcane clones derived from crossing K 84-200 and Kps 94-13 at 12 mth after planting. The results revealed that the average cane yield and fiber content in the hybrid sugarcane clones were 11.54 t.rai-1 (1 rai = 0.16 hectare) and 12.66%, respectively. The bagasse or fiber consisted of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin with values of about 37.88–47.75, 30.15–40.73 and 4.81–10.23% dry weight, respectively. For amplified fragment length polymorphism identification, a total of 107 simplex markers were used to analyze the inheritance of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for fiber, cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin contents. Eleven putative QTLs from the simplex markers were identified for these four traits. Each QTL explained from 2.5 to 4.3% of the variation in the fiber content. In parts of the fiber components, each QTL explained from 3.3 to 5.6% of the variation in the cellulose content and 2.3 to 3.0 % in the hemicellulose content, while the QTL explained 2.4 to 5.0 % of variation in the lignin content. Moreover, there were two putative QTLs related to more than one trait.