Seasonal changes in growth and yield of sugarcane plants in southwestern islands of Japan. II. Changes in growth of internodes.

Abstract

The internode of each stalk in three varieties, NCo 310, F 161 and Yomitanzan rapidly elongated and thickened within 10 days after the time of unfolding of the leaf attached at each node and attained the maximum size within 20 days after the time. Dry matter weight and Brix of the internode in NCo 310 and F 161 continuously increased within 100 days after the time of unfolding of the leaf, while the dry weight in Yomitanzan reached the maximum within 70 days afrer the time. The moisture content of the internode gradually decreased with time. The length and diameter of internodes in the main stalk of F 161 planted every month from June, 1980 to May, 1981 showed the pronounced variation. The length of all upper internodes from 11th node order was significantly correlated with mean daily air temperature, mean daily solar radiation and precipitation during the growing period of each internode. Partial correlations between the length of internodes from 11th to 40th node order and precipitation and between the length of upper internodes from 11th and mean daily solar radiation were positive, but those between the length of internodes from 11th to 40th and the mean daily temperature were negative. The each diameter of internodes from 11th to 30th node order was negatively correlated with the mean daily air temperature and precipitation, but the each diameter of upper node order from 31th was positively correlated with the three climatic factors. Partial correlations of the diameter with mean daily air temperature were highly negative, but those of the diameter with mean daily solar radiation and precipitation were positive.