As emphasized in the last chapter of this book, interest in sugarcane is increasing because of its potential for bio-energy production – helped by high yields, perennial growth and high fermentable sugars. This book provides some informative reviews of the genetics of this complex, highly polyploid, inter-specific hybrid. However, it takes an almost exclusively molecular genetics perspective: four of the twelve chapters focus on DNA marker research, three to other types of ‘omics’, one each to bio-informatics, cytogenetics and genetic diversity analysis, plus an introduction and conclusion. An underlying theme is the challenges of working with a complex polyploid.

Assuming a book title is meant to be a guide to its content, a notable deficiency is lack of mention about the breeding technologies and programmes that continue to deliver all sugarcane cultivars in the world, or the underpinning statistical genetics research. Also surprisingly given the molecular bias, there is hardly a mention of the major programmes underway in development of GM sugarcane.

Each chapter reads very well as a review paper focused on a particular topic. However, editing to reduce repetition of the same points across chapters and draw together important issues could have made a better ‘book’ rather than a set of ‘stand alone’ reviews.

Overall, this book provides some excellent reviews for those interested in molecular genetics of sugarcane. However, if it is sugarcane breeding or the practical process of sugarcane cultivar development you wish to read about, you will be disappointed.