Background

Sugarcane, which belongs to the genus Saccharum in the family Poaceae and the tribe Andropogoneae, is related to Miscanthus, Sclerostachya, Erianthus, and Narenga, and constitutes the Saccharum complex. The genus Saccharum comprises six species, including Saccharum officinarum, Saccharum robustum, Saccharum spontaneum, Saccharum sinense, Saccharum barberi, and Saccharum edule [1]. Of these, S. spontaneum and S. robustum are considered to be wild species, as the others have been cultivated [2]. Except for S. edule, five other native species, including S. officinarum (2n = 80) and S. spontaneum (2n = 40–128), have played an important role in sugarcane breeding [1]. S. officinarum (which is referred as “noble” cane) is essential for sugarcane breeding program, as it is the main source of alleles controlling high sugar content and almost all modern sugarcane cultivars contain its lineage [3]. Typically, S. officinarum have 2n = 80 chromosomes [4], with a basic chromosome number of x = 10 [5]. S. spontaneum is a wild species characterized by high stress-resistance, and then is the most valuable wild germplasm resources in the genus Saccharum [6]. It has a wide range of chromosome numbers, ranging from 2n = 40 to 128 [7, 8]. Recently, research on S. sinense and S. barberi has shown that they are derived from natural interspecific hybridization between S. officinarum and S. spontaneum [9]. Furthermore, all modern sugarcane cultivars were hybrids between S. officinarum and S. spontaneum in the twentieth century [10]. The first artificial interspecific hybrids between these two species were created to overcome disease outbreaks and were followed by repeated backcrossing using S. officinarum as the recurrent female parent to restore high sucrose content. This procedure is referred as “nobilization”.

Interspecific hybridization is an innovative and effective method for sugarcane breeding. This strategy allows for increasing stress-resistance from S. spontaneum, as well as maintaining high sugar genes from S. officinarum, which promote the genetic improvement process [3]. Through the process of sugarcane nobilization, utilization of diverse clones of S. officinarum and S. spontaneum has been proposed as a way to introduce genetic diversity [11, 12]. While a large number of germplasm resources are available for exploitation, a limited understanding of the quantitative aspects of nobilization makes the parent selection process for nobilization difficult. In 1922, Bremer discovered the classical cytological peculiarity of 2n chromosome transmission from S. officinarum in interspecific crosses with S. spontaneum [5]. Later studies verified his work and further demonstrated that the same process occurs in BC1 when S. officinarum is used as the female parent [13]. Endoduplication, or fusion of two nuclei following the second meiosis, has been proposed by Bhat and Gill to explain this peculiar chromosome transmission [14]. However, Roach found that n + n transmission occurs in crosses between S. officinarum and S. spontaneum with 2n = 80, but seldom occurs in crosses between S. officinarum and S. spontaneum with 2n = 64 or 96 [15].

Modern sugarcane cultivars are derived from intercrossing between the first nobilized hybrids of a few parental clones with chromosome numbers ranging from 100 to 130, approximately 10% of which originating from S. spontaneum [5, 15]. The accurate number of S. spontaneum chromosomes in the different cultivars is not completely understood, as is their segregation during successive crosses. This problem impedes our understanding of the exact genetic contribution of S. spontaneum to sugarcane cultivars. To innovate germplasm in sugarcane breeding, study on chromosome composition of the progenies between S. officinarum and S. spontaneum in sufficient early generation is needed. Genomic in situ hybridization (GISH) is a highly efficient molecular cytogenetic tool that takes genomic DNA from one species as the labelled probe in hybridization experiments to chromosomal DNA in situ [16, 17]. The technique is mainly used to identify chromosome recombination, genetic relationship of interspecific hybrids, and chromosome transmission [5, 18]. To date, many researches had verified the accuracy and high-efficiency of the GISH technology in studying the chromosome composition and chromosomal translocation in a wide range of natural allopolyploids or artificial polyploidy progenies [19,20,21,22]. D’Hont et al., for the first time, demonstrated that GISH can be used to differentiate parental chromosomes in interspecific hybrids between BNS 3066 (S. officinarum) and SES 14 (S. spontaneum) [5, 18]; in addition, they identified n + n transmission of parental chromosomes in the interspecific F1 between S. officinarum and S. spontaneum. They also analyzed chromosomes of cultivar “R570” and found that approximately 10% originated from S. spontaneum and another approximately 10% were recombinant chromosomes, demonstrating that exchanges had occurred between chromosomes derived from S. officinarum and S. spontaneum. Recently, George Piperidis et al. used GISH to identify the occurrence of 2n + n transmission in crosses and the first backcrosses of S. officinarum and S. spontaneum [4]. GISH was also applied to identify parental genomes of an intergeneric hybrid between S. officinarum and a related wild species, Erianthus arundinaceus. These studies confirmed that the F1 and BC2 crosses resulted from an n + n chromosome transmission, while the BC1 cross resulted from a 2n + n transmission [23].

To date, most modern sugarcane cultivars are derived from a few clones of S. officinarum. The limited number of parents have leaded to narrow genetic background of sugarcane, various S. officinarum should be identified for germplasm innovation. Additionally, clear chromosome composition of early progeny between S. officinarum and S. spontaneum will provide enough valid germplasm for further sugarcane nobilization. The aim of the present study was to verify the authenticity of ten clones classified as S. officinarum via chromosome counting and GISH. Six clear pedigree noble F1 chromosome constitutions were analyzed using GISH. Our results will be applied to select the purest S. officinarum and valid germplasm for sugarcane breeding.

Results

Chromosome counting for identification of the authenticity of S. officinarum

We obtained chromosome preparations suitable for counting chromosomes in ten clones classified as S. officinarum (Table 2). The chromosomes were well spread with little cytoplasm background in all materials. Partial results are shown in Fig. 1, the rest results are shown in Additional file 1: Figure S1. The modal number of chromosomes for Muckche, Canablanca, 50uahapele, and Baimeizhe was 2n > 80, ranging from 86 to 114 (Table 2); however, in others six clones the chromosome modal number was 2n = 80.

Fig. 1
figure 1

The metaphase chromosomes of five clones of sugarcane. a: Badila; b: 50uahapele; c: Muckche; d: Luohanzhe; e: Baimeizhe

Full size image

GISH for identification of the authenticity of S. officinarum

GISH was carried out on the metaphase chromosomes of ten clones classed as S. officinarum. In chromosomes, sequences homologous to S. officinarum total DNA fluoresced red and sequences homologous to S. spontaneum total DNA fluoresced green. However, due to the high homology of S. officinarum and S. spontaneum genomes, S. officinarum-derived and S. spontaneum-derived chromosomes were visualized in orange-yellow and green-yellow, respectively. The chromosomes of ten clones classed as S. officinarum were labeled in orange-yellow and green-yellow, respectively. The fluorescence of the two groups of chromosomes were differentially enhanced where their sequences were different, orange or green (Fig. 2d, e, f, and j).

Fig. 2
figure 2

GISH results of ten S. officinarum clones using biotin labelled S. officinarum genomic DNA and digoxigenin labelled S. spontaneum genomic DNA. a: Badila; b: Loethers; c: Crystallina; d: Muckche; e: Canablanca; f: 50uahapele; g: Luohanzhe; h: Vietnam Niuzhe; i: Nanjian Guozhe; j: Baimeizhe; The chromosomes of S. officinarum show orange-yellow fluorescent, while those of S. spontaneum show green-yellow fluorescent

Full size image

In Badila, Loethers, Crystallina, Luohanzhe, Vietnam Niuzhe, and Nanjian Guozhe clones, all chromosomes fluoresced orange-yellow, indicating that the red signals were stronger than the green signals (Fig 2a, b, c, g, h, and i). These materials derived from only S. officinarum lineage. However, according to the color, the chromosomes of Muckche, Canablanca, 50uahapele, and Baimeizhe can be identified as two groups, orange-yellow and green-yellow (Fig 2d, e, f, and j). These orange-yellow chromosomes were derived from S. officinarum. While, the rest chromosomes fluoresced green-yellow were derived from S. spontaneum. Thus, these materials were hybrids between S. officinarum and S. spontaneum.

GISH of F1 hybrids between S. officinarum and S. spontaneum

In the six F1 hybrids analyzed, five F1 hybrids, including Yacheng 82–108, Yacheng 58–43, Yacheng 58–47, Yacheng 75–409, and Yacheng 75–419, had 2n = 112 or 120, of which 80 were derived from the S. officinarum female parent, and n = 32 or n = 40 derived from the male parents of S. spontaneum, being consistent with a typical 2n + n transmission of parental chromosomes (Table 3; Fig. 3a, b, c, d, f). However, Yacheng75–408, a sibling line of Yacheng 75–409 from the same parental combination, had 2n = 80, of which 40 were derived from the S. officinarum female parent and the other 40 were derived from the S. spontaneum male parent (Table 3; Fig. 3e). Therefore, Yacheng 75–408 is consistent with an n + n transmission of parental chromosomes.

Fig. 3
figure 3

GISH results of six F1 hybrids between S. officinarum and S. spontaneum using biotin labelled S. officinarum genomic DNA and digoxigenin labelled S. spontaneum genomic DNA. a: Yacheng 82–108; b: Yacheng 58–43; c: Yacheng 58–47; d: Yacheng 75–419; e: Yacheng 75–408; f: Yacheng 75–409

Full size image

Discussion

The authenticity of S. officinarum

Modern sugarcane cultivars have complex and unique genome structures and variable chromosome numbers. S. officinarum, which includes Badila, Black Cheribon, Crystallina, and Otaheite, has 2n = 80 chromosomes [24]; those with more than 80 chromosomes are likely to be hybrids [13, 24]. Badila is commonly used for sugarcane breeding and sugar production. Previous studies have indicated that of 31 clones in New Guinea, 29 were typical clones with chromosome number of 2n = 80 and two were atypical clones with chromosome number of 2n = 116 and 70 [25]. Piperidis et al. showed that six atypical clones (2n > 80) belong to hybrids from S. officinarum and S. spontaneum, indicating that more than 80 chromosome clones may not have originated from a pure S. officinarum [4]. In our study, the chromosome numbers of 50uahapele (2n ≈ 86), Muckche (2n ≈ 142), Baimeizhe (2n ≈ 104) and Canablanca (2n ≈ 114) were exceeded 80. Then, using GISH, we demonstrated that these cultivars were hybrids with a portion of chromosomes derived from S. spontaneum. Hence, these results were consistent with previous reports that S. officinarum may be characterized by 2n = 80 [26]. Furthermore, these differential typical S. officinarum will broaden the narrow genetic of sugarcane and provide larger pure S. officinarum for selecting cross parents in nobilization.

Chromosome transmission in F1 hybrids between S. officinarum and S. spontaneum

Interspecific hybridization had proved to be a major breakthrough for germplasm innovation in sugarcane breeding. POJ2878 is one of the most successful example in nobilization that has been widely applied [27]. However, the practical chromosome transmission is crucial for obtaining an ideal species with higher sugar, higher yield, and greater stress-resistance in nobilization. Diversity of chromosome transmission in F1 hybrids had deeply affected the efficiency of sugarcane breeding. Different genetic inheritance would lead to diverse traits of the progeny. Cytogenetic studies have demonstrated that 2n + n chromosome transmission can occur in crosses between S. officinarum (female) and S. spontaneum (male); this was also confirmed by Piperidis [4]. The 2n + n transmission is key to the nobilization process since it accelerates return to the sugar-producing type. However, the results of chromosome counting showed that n + n transmission often occurs with crosses of S. spontaneum with 2n = 80 as a male parent and seldom in crosses of S. spontaneum with 2n = 64 and 96 [15]. D’Hont et al. revealed n + n transmission of parental chromosomes by using GISH to analyze an interspecific hybrid between S. officinarum (2n = 80) and S. spontaneum (2n = 64) [5]. Here, we confirmed that four F1 clones of different series (S. spontaneum with 2n = 80 or 2n = 64 as male parents) were 2n + n. Furthermore, two different nobilization F1 clones of the same series had two different transmissions simultaneously, 2n + n or n + n, with S. spontaneum (2n = 80) as the parent. Altogether, these results concluded that diverse transmissions, 2n + n or n + n, will occurs in two different ploidy S. spontaneum (2n = 80 or 2n = 64 as male parents). Therefore, different ploidy S. spontaneum have no influence on the type of chromosome transmission (2n + n versus n + n). Furthermore, nobilization may produce different frequencies of n + n, 2n + n, and aneuploid offspring in larger numbers of F1 clones.

Many studies have shown that most F1 crosses and BC1 backcrosses result in chromosome doubling of the noble parent S. officinarum in transmission with the 2n chromosome [6,7,8, 28]. Although 2n + n is the main chromosome transmission in nobilization, there are also cases of n + n transmission [4, 5, 29]. Even more, in our study, we found that the differential transmissions in the same parents using GISH. Indeed, chromosome transmission is complex in sugarcane and further studies should be performed to guide optimized sugarcane breeding. The 2n + n chromosome transmission in interspecific crosses is considered an important factor in the rapid breakthrough that interspecific hybridization has provided to sugarcane breeding, leading to a rapid reduction in the proportion of chromosomes from wild species of hybrids and subsequent backcrosses to rapidly recover clones with highest sugar content [3, 30].

Conclusions

Using GISH, this is the first direct evidence that Loethers, Crystallina, Luohanzhe, Vietnam Niuzhe, and Nanjian Guozhe with 80 chromosomes were typical S. officinarum; while 50uahapele, Muckche, Baimeizhe and Canablanca with more than 80 chromosomes were interspecific hybrids between S. officinarum and S. spontaneum. Additionally, GISH analysis demonstrated that five F1 hybrids between S. officinarum and S. spontaneum, Yacheng 82–108, Yacheng 58–43, Yacheng 58–47, Yacheng 75–409, and Yacheng 75–419 were products of a 2n + n transmission; while, Yacheng 75–408 was the product of an n + n transmission. Although Yacheng 75–408 and Yacheng 75–409 are the sibling lines of the different F1 progeny with the same parents, there was a large difference in chromosome numbers that led to different patterns of chromosome inheritance. The results of this study support previous reports that S. officinarum may be characterized by 2n = 80 and provide more useful molecular cytogenetic information for the larger germplasm resources of S. officinarum. Futhermore, clear chromosome composition of early progenies between S. officinarum and S. spontaneum will provide guidance for further sugarcane nobilization.

Methods

Plant materials and DNA extraction

In this study, ten experimental materials classified as S. officinarum were used, including Badila, Loethers, Crystallina, 50uahapele, Muckche, Canablanca, Luohanzhe, Vietnam Niuzhe, Nanjian Guozhe, and Baimeizhe. Of these, 50uahapele, Canablanca, Baimeizhe were provided by the research Institute Ruili Station of Yunnan Agriculture Science Academy; the Sugarcane Research Institute of Yunnan Agriculture Science Academy provided the rest materials. The Hainan Sugarcane Breeding Station, Guangzhou Sugarcane Industry Research Institute provided six F1 clones between S. officinarum and S. spontaneum for nobilization (Table 1). All plant materials used in this study were grown in the germplasm resources nursery at the Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University. Leaf tissues from the above materials were ground in liquid nitrogen and stored at − 80 °C. Total genomic DNA was extracted from young leaves following CTAB methodology [31].

Table 1 Crosses of A, B, C, and D
Full size table

Chromosome preparation

Root tips were obtained from ten clones classified as S. officinarum and six clones of F1 between S. officinarum and S. spontaneum. Meristem of root-tips were treated with saturated p-dichlorobenzene solution for 1.5 h at 25 °C. The root tips were then fixed in 3:1 (v/v) ethanol: acetic acid solution for 24 h and successive eluted in ethanol solution (75, 95 and 100% ethanol), finally kept at − 20 °C with 75% ethanol solution. The fixed roots were washed in water and digested in an enzyme solution (4% Onozuka R10 cellulose, 0.5% pectolyase Y-23 and 0.5% pectinase) for 4 h at 37 °C. The digestive meristematic cells were squashed on the clear slide in 20 μL of 3:1 (v/v) ethanol: acetic acid. Slides were stored at − 20 °C.

Probe labelling

Probes were labelled using a Nick-translation kit with biotin-dUTP (Roche, Germany) and digoxigenin (Roche, Germany). For in situ hybridization, 100 ng/μL of Badila (S. officinarum) genomic DNA, labeled with biotin-dUTP, and 100 ng/μL Yunnan 75–2-11 (S. spontaneum) genomic DNA, labeled with digoxigenin were used as probes.

Genomic in situ hybridization (GISH)

GISH technique were performed as described previously by D’Hont et al. [32] with moderate improvement. The denaturing solution included 70% formamide in 2× SSC. Slides were denatured in this solution for 3 min at 80 °C. Dehydration was performed in cold ethanol and slides were then air dried at room temperature. The probe mixture including hybridization buffer (50% formamide, 2× SSC, 10% dextransulfate) and 200 ng labeled probe after denaturation for 10 min at 97 °C was applied to each slide and incubated for 20 h at 37 °C in a humid dark box. The high stringency conditions of post-hybridization washes were carried out with 2 × SSC for 8 min at 42 °C, a second wash in 50% formamide, 2 × SSC, pH 7.0, for 3 × 8 min at 42 °C, followed by a rinse in 2 × SSC for 8 min at room temperature and a final wash in 0.1 × SSC for 3 × 8 min at 55 °C. The biotin-labelled probe was detected with avidin-conjugated Texas red and the digoxigenin-labelled probe was detected with FITC (fluorescein isothiocyanate)-conjugated anti-digoxigenin antibody. Slides then were counterstained with 4′, 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) in a Vectashield anti-fade solution (Vector Laboratories, Burlingame, CA). GISH signals were captured using the AxioVision measurement module of AxioScope A1 Imager fluorescent microscope (Zeiss, Germany).

Chromosome counting

The metaphase chromosomes of the above materials were captured using phase contrast microscope (Fig. 1) or fluorescence microscope (Additional file 1: Figure S1; Figs. 2 and 3). The number of chromosome was counted using the program Image-pro plus 6.0 (Media Cybernetics). Results were presented as the modal number (occurred the most times among different cells in each clone) and the number of cells observed at least 30 cells for each clone (Tables 2 and 3). Additionally, at least three materials in one generation had been studied in six F1 clones.

Table 2 The chromosome numbers and ranges of ten clones in sugarcane
Full size table
Table 3 Chromosome composition of six F1 hybrids between S. officinarum and S. spontaneum in nobilization
Full size table