Marcelo de Almeida Silva

Use of physiological parameters as fast tools to screen for drought tolerance in sugarcane

Drought is one of the major limitations to plant productivity worldwide. Identifying suitable screening tools and quantifiable traits would facilitate the crop improvement process for drought tolerance. In the present study, we evaluated the ability of four relatively physiological parameters (variable-to-maximum chlorophyll a fluorescence ratio, F v/F m; estimated leaf chlorophyll content via SPAD index; leaf temperature, LT; and, leaf relative water content, RWC) to distinguish between drought tolerant and susceptible sugarcane genotypes subjected to a 90-d drought cycle. Eight field-grown genotypes were studied. By 45 d after the onset of treatments, the F v/F m, SPAD index and RWC of drought-stressed plants had declined significantly in all genotypes compared to values at the onset of well-watered treatments. However, the reductions were more severe in leaves of susceptible genotypes. Under drought stress, the tolerant genotypes as a group, maintained higher F v/F m (8%), SPAD index (15%), and RWC (16%) than susceptible genotypes. In general, LT of drought-stressed plants was higher (~4oC) than that of well-watered plants but the relative increase was greater among drought susceptible genotypes. Under drought stress, LT of tolerant genotypes was on average 2.2oC lower than that of susceptible genotypes. The results are consistent with the tolerant-susceptible classification of these genotypes and indicate that these tools can be reliable in screening for drought tolerance, with F v/F m, SPAD index and LT having the added advantage of being nondestructive and easily and quickly assessed.

Yield components as indicators of drought tolerance of sugarcane

Water deficit is one of the major factors limiting the production of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.). A study of the effects of limited water condition on yield components and their relationship with productivity can aid breeding programs in selecting for high yielding genotypes under this condition. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationships among the parameters stalk number, stalk height, stalk diameter, and stalk weight with cane yield in sugarcane growing in a field under moderate water stress during its grand growth period, in order to provide information to help breeders in adopting traits for selecting drought tolerant varieties. Seventy-eight genotypes plus two controls, one drought-tolerant and one drought-susceptible, were grown under a moderate water deficit condition in the field in 2005/2006 at Weslaco, TX. Productivity and yield components were measured. Under stress, the tolerant control (TCP93-4245) showed higher productivity, stalk number, stalk height and stalk weight than the susceptible one (TCP87-3388). However, the susceptible control showed higher stalk diameter. Linear association was found between productivity and its yield components, but stalk diameter showed to be fairly unstable among genotypes. Stalk height showed significant correlation with stalk number, stalk diameter and stalk weight. Stalk diameter also showed positive correlation with stalk weight. Therefore, during the selection procedure, when one of these traits is enhanced by drought tolerance, the correlated trait should also increase, making it feasible to select genotypes with high productivity, stalk number, stalk height, and stalk weight under water deficit.

Produtividade de três cultivares de cana-de-açúcar sob manejos de sequeiro e irrigado por gotejamento

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of drip irrigation technology in different sugarcane varieties in two crop cycles (plant cane and ratoon). The experimental design was in completly randomized blocks, in split-plot with four replications, constituted by three sugarcane genotypes: RB867515; RB855536 and SP80-3280 and two crop management: drip irrigation system and rainfed system, totalizing six treatments. The first cycle lasted for 336 days, with rainfall of 1,480 mm. The volume of water provided by the system of drip irrigation was 400 mm, totaling 1,880 mm. The second cycle lasted for 365 days, the volume of water through rainfall was 1,394 mm, added to 320 mm provided by the system of irrigation, totaled 1,714 mm. Interaction between management and cultivars was found significant for the variables: productivity of stalks (TCH) and sugar yield (TPH), in which the largest difference was observed for cultivar SP80-3280. There was significant response to drip irrigation, on average the increase of production of stalks and sugar was 24 and 23%, respectively.

Resposta de genótipos de cana-de-açúcar à aplicação de indutores de maturação

The use of plant regulators as sugarcane ripeners has been in order widely used to induce early harvest and optimize crop planning. However, little information exists about the interactions among new released genotypes, plant regulators and technological quality. This study aimed to evaluate the quality response of sugarcane genotypes IAC87-3396, IAC87-3410, IAC89-3124, IAC91-2195, IAC91-5155, PO88-62 and SP80-1842, to the application of ripeners and by three crop management: sulfomethuron-methyl, 15 g a.i. ha-1; ethephon, 480 g a.i. ha-1 and control. The experiment was installed in March 2004 near Jau, State of Sao Paulo, Brazil in split-plot randomized complete blocks, with four replicates. The technological attributes evaluated were: total soluble solids (o Brix) in the juice, sucrose (pol %) in the juice, juice purity, cane fiber, reducing sugars (AR) in the juice and recoverable total sugar (ATR) in the juice at 0, 21, 42, 63, 84, 105 and 126 days after the application (DAA) of ripeners. It was observed that the use of ripeners anticipated the harvest at least 21 days compared to the untreated control. With ethephon application harvest can be done between 42 and 84 DAA, and with sulfomethuron-methyl between 105 and 126 DAA. The genotypes showed different responses to the application of ripeners. The genotype PO88-62 was highly responsive to sulfomethuron-methyl; IAC87-3396, IAC87-3410, IAC91-5155 and SP80-1842 to ethephon, and IAC89-3124 and IAC91 2195 to both regulators.

Qualidade tecnológica da cana-de-açúcar sob adubação com torta de filtro enriquecida com fosfato solúvel

The study had the objective to evaluate the effect of the fertilization with filter cake enriched with soluble phosphate on the sugar yield. The experiment carried at Presidente Prudente-SP, used a randomized complete block design, in the factorial scheme 5 x 4, where the first factor consisted of doses of filter cake (0; 0.5; 1.0; 2.0 and 4.0 t ha-1) and the second, doses of phosphorus fertilizer (0, 50, 100, 200 kg ha-1 of P2O5), with 4 replicates, totaling 80 plots. The results indicated that phosphorus applied in planting furrows improves the quality of sugarcane raw matter by increasing the levels of soluble solids, total reducing sugars and sucrose in the stalks. The phosphorus also increases the productivity of sugar. The filter cake applied in planting furrow has the potential to partially replace the chemical fertilization with phosphate aiming to improve the quality and the productivity of sugar. The best combination was filter cake at dose between 2.6 and 2.7 t ha-1 combined with dose between 160 and 190 kg P2O5 ha-1 for obtaining best response of soluble solids and productivity of sugar.

Agronomic performance of sugarcane families in response to water stress

Water deficit is one of the major factors limiting the production of sugarcane, especially in areas where there is a prolonged period of water deficiency, such as the West Central Brazilian region. One way to overcome this problem is to cultivate resistant or tolerant varieties. An experiment was set up at the Jalles Machado Sugar Mill, located near Goianesia, Goias State, Brazil, to evaluate agronomic performance of several sugarcane families. A comparative analysis was carried out among the families under two irrigation regimes, one under regular environmental conditions and another under monthly irrigations during the period of water deficiency. Evaluated families consisted of 25 progenies planted in a factorial design with three replications with 20 plants each. The first ratoon crop was evaluated for four yield components, stalk height, stalk diameter, stalk number and Brix. By analysis of variance, stalk number and stalk height were influenced by water stress conditions during the initial growth phase, and for stalk diameter and Brix, water regime had no effect on the average expression of the characters during the growth phase. The method of classificatio n in four categories proved to be adequate. Some families had high values for stalk diameter, stalk number and stalk height under water stress conditions. This study showed that it is possible to select sugarcane families under water deficit conditions associated with higher stalk diameter, stalk number and stalk height.

Genetic variability for girth growth and rubber yield in Hevea brasiliensis

Basic knowledge of genetic characteristics of populations is necessary to conduct effective breeding and selection. The objective of this paper is describing the genetic variation of rubber yield and the correlation with other traits, and estimating the genetic parameters for girth growth and total number of latex vessels. Sixty seven clones of Hevea brasiliensis (Willd. ex Adr. de Juss.) Muell.-Arg. were tested at five sites during 10 years. Characters girth growth at panel opening and rubber yield, showed broad sense heritability on plot mean level, from 0.32 to 0.66 and 0.59 to 0.92, respectively. Predicted genetic gains equal to 0.73 cm and 0.79 g increase respectively on girth and yield in the opening panel and mature phases seems realistic, even with moderate selection intensities. Genetic correlations with rubber yield, bark thickness and total number of latex vessels were very large, and almost no genotype-environment interaction was present for girth growth. High genotype-environment interaction was present for rubber yield with genetic and phenotypic correlations across the sites, ranging from 0.64 to 0.92 (genetic) and 0.63 to 0.89 (phenotypic). Total number of latex vessels rings had a high heritability, ranging from 20.0% to 64.0% in the sites E and B, respectively.

Uso de reguladores de crescimento como potencializadores do perfilhamento e da produtividade em cana-soca

The use of plant growth regulators as ripeners in sugarcane has been an agronomic practice with well solidified results. However, the residual effect of these products over the next ratoon is still not very well studied. This research aimed to evaluate the residual effect of two plant growth regulators, applied before the harvest, in the stool regrowth and productivity of three sugarcane genotypes. The experiment was carried out near Jau (SP). The experimental design was a randomized complete block, in split-plot, with four repetitions, constituted by the genotypes IAC87-3396, IAC91-2195 and IAC91-5155, and by three crop management: 20 g ha-1 sulfomethuron-methyl; 480 g a.i. ha-1 ethephon and control. The growth regulators were applied 126 days before harvest. To quantify the action of growth regulators the following variables were evaluated: the number of tillers m-1 at 0, 90, 180, 270 and 360 days after the harvest; the final percentage of stalk number by meter in relation to the initial percentage; the mass of 10 stalks, the length and the diameter of stalks; the pol and the fiber% cane, the reducing and total recoverable sugars, and the productivity of stalks and sugar. It was concluded that there was stimulating effect on the emergency of tillering up to six months after the harvest. The ethephon promoted larger productivities of stalks and sugar. There were differences among genotypes in relation to growth regulators for stalk length. There was no effect on the technological quality over the subsequent ratoon crop.

Maximization of genetic gain in rubber tree (Hevea) breeding with effective size restriction.

The heritability coefficients and the genetic gains associated with individual, combined and among and within progeny selection, and with multi-effect index selection in long-term rubber tree [Hevea brasiliensis (Willd. ex Adr. de Juss.) Muell.-Arg.] breeding were determined using effective population size (Ne) restriction. Twenty-two half sib progenies were planted at the Jau Experimental Station, Sao Paulo State, Brazil, in a complete randomized block design, with five replications and 10 plants per plot. The following traits were assessed when the plants were three years old: number of laticiferous vessel rings (NR), dry rubber production (RP), bark thickness (BT) and stem girth (SG). Significant variability was found among progeny with good chances of obtaining genetic gain for RP, BT and SG. Effective population size restriction caused a greater reduction in genetic gain for RP with combined selection and with the multi-effect index than for individual or among and within progeny selection. The simultaneous use of accuracy values and genetic gain from the lower limits of the confidence intervals for gain indicated that individual selection is to be preferred in Hevea breeding programs.

Photosynthetic Capacity and Water Use Efficiency in Sugarcane Genotypes Subject to Water Deficit During Early Growth Phase

The objective of this study was to compare the gas exchange, photosynthetic capacity and water potential of sugarcane genotypes cultivated under water deficit conditions imposed during the initial growth phase. Experiments were performed in a greenhouse using two sugarcane genotypes namely: HoCP93-776 (drought susceptible) and TCP02-4587 (drought tolerant). Sixty days after planting, two different water treatments were applied (i.e., with or without water deficit). At 0,30 and 60 days after the treatment, gas exchange variables were evaluated for their relationship with water use, intrinsic instantaneous water use efficiency and instantaneous carboxylation efficiency. The SPAD index, photosynthetic pigments, water potential and relative water content in the leaves were also analyzed. The genotype HoCP93-776 was more sensitive to drought treatment as indicated by the significantly lower values of SPAD index, photosynthetic pigments, water potential (Ψw) and relative water content (RWC) variables. The genotype TCP02-4587 had higher water potential, stomatal control efficiency, water use efficiency (WUE), intrinsic instantaneous water use efficiency (WUEintr), instantaneous carboxylation efficiency and photosynthetic capacity. The highest air vapor pressure deficit during the drought conditions could be due to the stomatal closing in the HoCP93-776, which contributed to its lower photosynthetic capacity.