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Water deficit tolerance in sugarcane is dependent on the accumulation of sugar in the leaf
Author(s) -
Garcia Fernando H. S.,
Chagas Mendonça Ane M.,
Rodrigues Marcelo,
Matias Filipe I.,
Silva Filho Mário P.,
Santos Hugo R. B.,
Taffner Julian,
Barbosa João P. R. A. D.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
annals of applied biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1744-7348
pISSN - 0003-4746
DOI - 10.1111/aab.12559
Subject(s) - biology , photosynthesis , sugar , chlorophyll fluorescence , sucrose , saccharum , chlorophyll , horticulture , starch , agronomy , botany , food science
Sugarcane productivity is severely affected by the occurrence of water deficit in the field, causing inhibition of growth and sugar production. Evaluating physiological responses of sugarcane under water deficit conditions is essential to understand physiological variables responsible for reaching homeostasis. Therefore, we analysed physiological traits of two sugarcane genotypes, RB835486 (Tolerant) and RB855453 (Susceptible), under water deficit conditions: well‐watered (WW‐Control), water deficit (WD) and rewatered (RW). The physiological response was evaluated using linear regression and multivariate analysis. Some characteristics such as water potential in leaves, photosynthesis, chlorophyll fluorescence, chlorophyll index, sucrose and starch contents did not show differences between the genotypes under water deficit conditions. However, the tolerant genotype showed increased reducing sugars content in the leaves, whereas the susceptible genotype had increased non‐photochemical quenching ( qN ). After rewatering, the susceptible sugarcane genotype showed higher electron transport rate ( ETR ) and efficiency of PSII ( Y ). Multivariate analysis revealed that non‐photochemical quenching and reducing sugars in the leaves were physiological variables responsible for reaching homestasis under water deficit conditions. Therefore, the reducing sugars concentration should be considered a physiological variable responsible for the adjustment made by the tolerant sugarcane genotype when submitted to water deficit.