BIOEN WORKSHOP ON SUGARCANE IMPROVEMENT

FAPESP

São Paulo - Brazil

March 18^th to 19^th, 2009

REFERENCE TERM

The objective of the workshop is to explore key issues behind a roadmap to the goal of sugarcane improvement as a sustainable bioenergy and biomaterial feedstock. The Workshop has been divided in four sessions followed by a debate and preceded by an introductory conference.

Opening Conferece - Sucrose metabolism and sugar physiology: An introductory, historical perspective on sugarcane research focusing on the physiological aspects of growth and development of this crop.

Section 1: Gene Discovery and Sugarcane Genomics: We are all thinking about how to best exploit the amazing new capacity for fast genomic sequencing - does it make sense as an international effort? What tools are available for sugarcane Gene Discovery efforts? What agronomic traits of interest should be targeted? Yield, sucrose content, drough tolerance, insect and disease resistance? How successful have we been in using the knowledge already available (ESTs data) for the improvement of sugarcane? What are the strategies in Functional Genomics most suited to address sugar metabolism and allow for a systemic understanding of physiology and then how to engineer the energy cane?

Section 2: Transgenics and Controlled Transgene Expression: Gene transfer into sugarcane has been routine for more than 15 years, but can we deliver commercial lines for 'next generation' traits? What are the hurdles to efficient production of lines with stable transgene expression in the required developmental patterns?

Section 3: Photosynthesis, sucrose metabolism, drought and sugar physiology: What are the key gaps in knowledge of sugar accumulation, cell wall metabolism, source-sink control mechanisms, water usage, carbon partitioning and ways to 'redesign' sugarcane as a sustainable bioenergy feedstock. Which questions must we answer in sugarcane, and which ones can we answer faster with help from other model systems?

Section 4: Breeding and Statistical Genetics: How can molecular biotech best interface with conventional breeding approaches? How much progress can be expected using non-GM approaches with better selection methods? How can molecular markers be efficiently identified and effectively used for the improvement of sugarcane? Do we have efficient trial designs to detect elite transgenics against a large background of lines with unwanted adverse effects on other commercial traits? How quickly can favourable transgene events be moved into commercial lines through crossing?

March 18th Wednesday

9:00 h

Opening Conference: Paul Moore (Sucrose metabolism and sugar physiology) (USDA, USA)

Coffee 10:00 – 10:30 am

Section 1: Gene Discovery and Sugarcane Genomics

10:30 h Rosanne Casu (CSIRO, Australia)

11:00 h Derek Watt (SASRI, South Africa)

11:30 h Glaucia Souza (IQ-USP)

12:00 h Debate

reference term: Glaucia Souza

Debate leaders: Marie-Anne Van-Sluys (IB-USP), Manuel Sainz (Syngenta), Paulo Arruda (Allelyx)

12:30 h

Lunch

Section 2: Transgenics and Controlled Transgene Expression

14:00 h Helaine Carrer (ESALQ)

14:30 h Robert Birch (University of Queensland, Australia)

15:00 h João Carlos Bespalhok (UFPR, Brazil)

15:30 h Debate

Debate reference terms: Helaine Carrer and Robert Birch

Debate leaders: Marcelo Menossi (IB-UNICAMP), Eduardo Romano (EMBRAPA), Eugenio Ulian (Monsanto)

Day 3 March 19th Thursday

9:00 h coffee

Section 3: Photosynthesis, sucrose metabolism, drought and sugar physiology

9:30 h Rowan Sage (University of Toronto)

10:00 h Marcos Buckeridge (IB-USP)

10:30 h Graham Bonnett (CSIRO, Australia)

11:00 h Laurício Endres (UFAL)

11:30 h Debate

Debate reference terms: Buckeridge

Debate leaders: Rejane Mansur (UFRPE) , Paul Moore (USDA), Katia Scortecci (UFRN)

12:30 h Lunch

Section 4: Breeding and Statistical Genetics

14:30 h Marcos Sanches (UFSCAR)

15:00 h Augusto Garcia (ESALQ)

15:30 h Robert Henry (Southern Cross University)

16:00 h Debate

Debate reference term: Anete de Souza

Debate leaders: Jorge da Silva (TAMU), Walter Maccheroni (Canavialis), Marcos Landell (IAC)