Abstract
Global climate change will result in extreme environments, such as droughts and floods. We investigated the individual and combined effects of droughts and floods of varying duration on sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) growth using a pot experiment under glasshouse conditions with the following six treatments: drought for 15 d, prolonged drought for 30 d, flood for 15 d, prolonged flood for 30 d, short flood followed by prolonged drought, and prolonged flood followed by prolonged drought. Plants that were subjected to drought conditions, including drought after a flood, had reduced CO2 assimilation (through stomatal closure) and leaf areas, whereas flood conditions showed no effect. During flooding, some roots died, and adventitious roots with well-developed aerenchyma appeared from the submerged nodes. At the time of harvest, there were no significant differences in stem fresh weight, sucrose content, or sugar yield between the treatments. However, ion content analysis revealed that flood conditions caused an accumulation of sodium in the bottom of stems and adventitious roots. Therefore, under flood conditions, plants may develop adventitious roots, which may offset the negative effects of root death, helping them to maintain their growth and yield.
Highlights
Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) is a major economic crop in many tropical and subtropical countries, including Thailand, where production has dramatically increased as a result of the Government encouraging rice (Oryza sativa) producers to switch to sugarcane production for better returns (USDA Foreign Agriculture Service, 2014)
Our study showed that CO2 assimilation was reduced dramatically in sugarcane plants that were exposed to drought and prolonged drought treatments but recovered once the plants were re-irrigated
The flood and combination treatments did not affect CO2 assimilation, even when the water was drained or the plants were subsequently exposed to prolonged drought
Summary
Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) is a major economic crop in many tropical and subtropical countries, including Thailand, where production has dramatically increased as a result of the Government encouraging rice (Oryza sativa) producers to switch to sugarcane production for better returns (USDA Foreign Agriculture Service, 2014). The amount of flood stress experienced by sugarcane plants depends on the duration of waterlogging, the condition of the floodwater, and soil type (Gomathi et al, 2014). Both cane and sugar yield have been reported to decrease under flood conditions as a result of a reduction in photosynthesis, root development, leaf area (LA), LA index, Drought or a limited water supply usually suppresses the rate of assimilation and leaf extension and promotes leaf senescence (Inman-Bamber, 2004; Smit & Singels, 2006). Morphological and chemical changes in the sugarcane juice and adventitious roots were analyzed to gain a better understanding of their adaptive significance
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