尽管国际育种努力，先进的农艺和有效的病虫害管理，几十年来由于秆的发育限制，甘蔗产量一直是停滞不前。根据该地区的专家，秆的储糖能力在物理上是有限的，限制了蔗糖和生物质的累积。

“通过传统育种（杂交品种）突破这个发展的门槛是很难的，”巴西坎皮纳斯生物研究所大学遗传学、进化和生物制剂系（Department of Genetics, Evolution & Bioagents at the University of Campinas's Biology Institute (IB-UNICAMP)）的教授Marcelo Menossi说。

Menossi与他指导的研究生及Brazil's National Bioethanol Science & Technology Laboratory (CTBE), Sugar Research Australia and Germany's Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU)的同事合作，发现了克服这种产量限制的关键基因——ScGAI的基因。

Key gene to accelerate sugarcane growth is identified

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/08/180803114750.htm

1. Rafael Garcia Tavares, Prakash Lakshmanan, Edgar Peiter, Anthony O’Connell, Camila Caldana, Renato Vicentini, José Sérgio Soares, Marcelo Menossi. ScGAI is a key regulator of culm development in sugarcane. Journal of Experimental Botany, 2018; 69 (16): 3823 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/ery180