Root characteristics of sugarcane cuttings derived from different stalk parts and their relationships with plant growth

Abstract

Background and Objective: Seedling uniformity is an important factor in crop growth. In sugarcane cultivation, the position of the cutting impacts cane emergence and biomass accumulation. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate shoot and root traits of sugarcane cuttings derived from different stalk portions and their relationships with above-ground parts. Materials and Methods: A 3×3 factorial randomized complete block design with four replications was used. The different stalk parts, namely bottom, middle and top, represented factor A, while factor B was represented by three different commercial sugarcane cultivars available in Thailand, namely KK3, LK92-11 and K88-92. Emergence was observed daily from planting up to 45 DAP. Cane height and stem diameter were measured at 3-day intervals from 21-45 DAP. Shoot dry weight, root length, root average diameter, root volume and root surface area were measured at 45 DAP. Results: Cuttings from different stalk parts differed in emergence date, with cuttings from the higher parts showing a good performance in shoot dry weight and rooting traits, similar to cuttings from the middle part. The three cultivars differed in terms of root and shoot traits and showed a correlation between germination date and rooting traits. Shoot traits and rooting traits were positively correlated. Conclusion: To obtain uniform seedling growth, cuttings should be taken from the same position.