Drought tolerance of the sugar cane varieties during the initial development

Abstract

This study was conducted to identify the water-deficit tolerant sugarcane varieties (Saccharum officinarum L.) by cultivating them under mild-to-severe water deficit conditions. The experiments were performed in a greenhouse, employing the randomized block design in a 7 x 5 factorial scheme corresponding to seven sugarcane varieties (RB867515, RB92579, RB855536, RB72454, RB073036, RB073028, and RB073040) and five types of soil water stress (12, 24, 36, 48, and 60 kPa). Water stress was maintained throughout the experiment period. The experimental units included 10 dm3 pots, with three replications, accounting for 105 pots in total. Height, diameter, and stalk dry mass were the variables analyzed and evaluations were done 90 days post transplantation. Finally, the RB073028, RB867515, and RB72454 varieties were identified as being tolerant to severe water stress. The varieties of RB073036 and RB073040 could tolerate moderate water deficit and the RB92579 and RB855536 varieties showed water deficit sensitivity.