Ceramides unveiled as key regulators in sugarcane defense against smut fungus
image: This research was the initial examination into the lipidomics-based molecular mechanisms underlying sugarcane’s resistance to Sporisorium scitamineum, offering a theoretical foundation for enhancing sugarcane resistance through genetic engineering.
Credit: Li, Jian, Dan-Xia Wu, Zhi-Qiang Fang, Kuai-Fei Xia, He-Nan Bao, Li-Qun Huang, Yong-Jia Li, Wan-Kuan Shen, Ming-Yong Zhang, and Xuan Zeng.
Date: April 24, 2026
Guangzhou, China: Researchers from the South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, and South China Agricultural University have published a pioneering study in Biological Diversity uncovering the critical role of ceramides in sugarcane’s defense against sugarcane smut, a devastating fungal disease caused by Sporisorium scitamineum.
The team conducted lipidomic, hormonal, and gene-expression analyses comparing susceptible variety ROC22 and resistant YT93-159. Results showed that S. scitamineum infection markedly elevated ceramide (Cer) and hydroxyceramide (hCer) levels in ROC22, accompanied by reduced jasmonoyl-isoleucine (JA-Ile) and suppressed JA-pathway genes. In contrast, resistant YT93-159 displayed constitutively lower Cer and hCer levels, higher JA-Ile, and stronger JA-pathway activation.
Protoplast assays demonstrated exogenous ceramides upregulate the salicylic acid (SA) pathway marker ScNPR1 while repressing the JA regulator ScMYC2 in ROC22; YT93-159 exhibited distinct responses, suggesting genotype-specific crosstalk.
This work establishes ceramides as central signaling hubs balancing SA–JA crosstalk in smut resistance. The findings provide a molecular framework for engineering smut-resistant sugarcane cultivars, safeguarding global sugar and bioenergy production.
Original Source
Li, Jian, Dan-Xia Wu, Zhi-Qiang Fang, Kuai-Fei Xia, He-Nan Bao, Li-Qun Huang, Yong-Jia Li, Wan-Kuan Shen, Ming-Yong Zhang, and Xuan Zeng. 2024. “Ceramides Involve Sugarcane Defense Response to Sporisorium Scitamineum.” Biological Diversity 1(2): 83–92.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/bod2.12017
Keywords
ceramide, plant defense response, sphingolipid, Sporisorium scitamineum, sugarcane
About the Author
Jian Li (First Author), Associate Professor (Chen Huan-Yong Fellow) at the South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences. She has long been engaged in research on plant sphingolipid functions, identified multiple key genes in the sphingolipid metabolic pathway, and elucidated the molecular mechanisms by which sphingolipids regulate plant stress responses.
Xuan Zeng (Corresponding Author), Assistant Professor at the South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Her research focuses on the mining of resistant genetic resources in crops, dissection of the underlying molecular mechanisms, and the creation of resistant crop resources through genetic engineering.
Ming-Yong Zhang (Corresponding Author), Professor and doctoral supervisor at the South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and a Distinguished Core Researcher of CAS. His research group focuses on the molecular mechanisms of efficient plant nutrient utilization and molecular breeding.
About the Journal
Biological Diversity (ISSN: 2994-4139) is a new open-access, high-impact, English-language journal, devoted to advancing biodiversity conservation, enhancing ecosystem services, and promoting the sustainable use of resources under global change. It features innovative research addressing the global biodiversity crisis.