Abstract
Poor ratooning ability for sugarcane can limit crop productivity and profitability of sugarcane growers. The objective of this study was to determine the association of physiological responses and root distribution patterns on the yield of the second ratoon cane, and the relationships between these traits. Seventeen sugarcane genotypes were planted in a randomized complete block design with four replications. The second ratoon crop was evaluated for germination percentage, cane yield, Soil Plant Analysis Development (SPAD) chlorophyll meter reading (SCMR), chlorophyll fluorescence, relative water content (RWC), specific leaf area (SLA), and stomatal conductance. Root length density (RLD) was evaluated through the auger method. The root samples were divided into upper and lower soil layers in order to study root distribution patterns. Sugarcane genotypes were significantly different for RLD, germination percentage, and cane yield. Root distribution patterns were classified into three groups based on the RLD. High RLD between plants in the upper soil layers at 90 days after harvest (DAH) was positively correlated with high germination, whereas high RLD between rows in the lower soil layers at 90 and 270 DAH was associated with high cane yield. RWC at 90 DAH and stomatal conductance at 180 DAH were closely related to germination percentage, whereas chlorophyll fluorescence and stomatal conductance at 180 DAH were closely related to cane yield.
Highlights
IntroductionSugarcane is an industrial crop used mainly as a raw material for sugar production
Sugarcane is an industrial crop used mainly as a raw material for sugar production.The by-products from sugar mills are used for the production of other value-added products, such as electricity, veneer, monosodium glutamate, and ethanol
Kps01-12, MPT05-187, and TBy28-0941 were the genotypes with low yield reductions in the second ratoon crop compared to the planted crop and the first ratoon crop (Table S1)
Summary
Sugarcane is an industrial crop used mainly as a raw material for sugar production. The by-products from sugar mills are used for the production of other value-added products, such as electricity, veneer, monosodium glutamate, and ethanol. Sugarcane is largely grown under rain-fed conditions in arid and semi-arid tropical regions. Drought stress is the most important factor reducing the ratooning ability and yield of sugarcane in the world. Reduction in cane yield has been estimated at up to 60% [1]. A low yield of a ratoon crop is mainly due to the low ratooning ability of sugarcane varieties and suboptimal crop management
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