Effect of stress on the leaf anatomy of sugarcane cultivars with different drought tolerance (Saccharum officinarum, Poaceae)

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Introduction: Drought is an important stress factor for sugarcane production in many areas of the world. Water proportion and moisture indices are applicable information for agronomic planning to forecast water excess or deficit during the crop cycle. Objective: Leaf anatomical features of two different sugarcane Saccharum ‘UT12’ (drought susceptible cultivar) and Saccharum ‘UT13’ (drought tolerant cultivar) were compared under early drought stress situation between 30 and 90 days after planting. Methods: Forty leaf anatomical features were investigated using peeling and free hand sectioning technique. Results: Some anatomical characteristics showed response to drought stress. Saccharum ‘UT12’ demonstrated higher sensitivity toward anatomical characteristics than Saccharum ‘UT13’. A total of 23 and 15 out of the 40 anatomical characteristics showed significance in Saccharum ‘UT12’ and Saccharum ‘UT13’, respectively. Some anatomical features such as cell wall and cuticle thickness, vascular bundle size, stomatal size and density can be used as important markers for drought stress assessment in sugarcane leaf. Conclusions: This is the first report describing comparative leaf anatomy of sugarcane Saccharum ‘UT12’ and Saccharum ‘UT13’ in Thailand under drought stress. Results will provide important information to improve adaptation mechanisms of tolerant sugarcane cultivars under initial drought stress situations.

Leaf Anatomical Adaptation Under Early Drought Stress of Sugarcane Cultivars – KKU-1999-02 and KKU-1999-03

“…As shown in the present study, the lamina thickness of both experimental sugarcane cultivars decreased aer drought stress treatment. is result concurred with our previous studies on sugarcane KK3 (Taratima et al, 2019), UT12, and UT13 (Taratima et al, 2020), but not with Junior et al (2019), who reported that the specific leaf areas of some sugarcane genetic lines (RB931011, RB855536, and RB72454) were clearly reduced aer drought stress treatment. A decrease in specific leaf area under water deficit indicates higher leaf thickness, which may facilitate the preservation of water in the leaf tissues, consequently allowing a more effective response to drought stress (Junior et al, 2019;Trujillo et al, 2013).…”

“…Numerous factors affect sugarcane yield, such as cultivar, physiology, soil quality, economics (Santillán-Fernández et al, 2016), and the watering system management. Climatic features can be predicted and analyzed for proper crop production management based on historical regional meteorological conditions ( Van-Ittersum & Rabbinge, 1997), while cultivar selection is also essential (Taratima et al, 2020). Sugarcane production is affected by drought stress in numerous zones (Santillán-Fernández et al, 2016).…”

“…In ailand, sugarcane is grown under rain-fed conditions (Laclau & Laclau, 2009). e planting season is October and November at the beginning of winter, with moisture remaining in the soil (Taratima et al, 2020). However, soil moisture content dramatically decreases due to drought and directly affects sugarcane growth and yield by up to 60% (Robertson et al, 1999).…”

“…Pressure alteration balancing is controlled by the water uptake process using osmosis. Under arid conditions, the plasma membrane is damaged by free radicals, leading to electrolyte leakage from cells (Taratima et al, 2020). As an adaptation to drought, water potential in plant cells is reduced, while carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) concentration within both the palisade and spongy parenchymatous cells decreases, reducing photosynthetic and growth rates (Shao et al, 2008).…”

“…Stomatal size decreases while stomatal density increases (Nawazish et al, 2006;Tatatima et al, 2019). Because the anatomical features show plasticity under drought stress, they can be effectively used in breeding programs to select parents of drought-tolerant cultivars (Taratima et al, 2020). KKU-1999-02 is a hybrid cultivar between SLC92-90 (mother) × Chainat1 (father), while KKU-1999-03 is a hybrid cultivar of K84-200 (mother) × Co775 (father).…”