Pre-sprouted seedlings production methods through buds or mini-stems: Emergence and initial development of sugarcane cultivars

Abstract

This study evaluates the emergence and initial development of sugarcane cultivars with different bud sizes, based on the system of pre-sprouted seedlings (PSS). Early sugarcane cultivars (RB966928, RB855156 and IACSP91-1099) were evaluated. These evaluations comprised three positions of the sugarcane stem (tip, middle and base) and four types of sugarcane propagules (mini-stem and 3 bud sizes with different diameters: 22 mm (1), 29 mm (2) and 35 mm (3)). Three trials were performed, each with a different cultivar. The experimental design for each cultivar was a randomized block in a 3x4 factorial scheme (stem position x propagule size (vegetative material)) with 4 replicates. Emergence was evaluated daily, and from these evaluations the emergence speed index (ESI) was calculated. Plant height, shoot dry mass and root dry mass were also assessed. Data were submitted to analysis of variance with interaction, and the Tukey test was applied. When simple variable transformations were not enough to meet the assumptions of normality and homoscedasticity, the non-parametric Friedman test was used. ESI indicated that the best type of propagule was the mini-stem, and for cultivars IACSP91-1099 and RB855156 the best performing position was the tip. The Friedman test indicated significance of the causes of variation related to propagule size and stem position for shoot dry mass in all evaluated cultivars. In addition, the test indicated significant variation of root dry mass for cultivars IAC91-1099 and RB966928 between propagule sizes and the stem positions. The height of cultivar IACSP91-1099 showed interaction between the different propagule sizes and stem positions. The greatest increase of height in sugarcane seedlings occurred for the mini--stem propagule and tip position. Cultivars RB855156 and RB966928 also showed interaction between the different propagule sizes and stem positions. Cultivar RB855156 showed the highest plant height with the mini--stem propagule at the tip position, however it did not differ statistically from the propagule with size 3 at the tip and middle positions. The mini-stem and the bud with size 3, removed from the tip of the stem, are the best alternatives for seedling production. ResumoO objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar a emergência e desenvolvimento inicial de diferentes tamanhos de gemas de cultivares de cana-de-açúcar, comparando ao sistema de mudas pré-brotadas (MPB). Foram avaliadas cultivares de ciclo precoce de cana-de-açúcar (RB966928, RB855156 e IACSP91-1099), em três posições do colmo da cana (ponta, meio e base) e quatro tipos de propágulos de cana-de-açúcar (rebolo ou minitolete e 3 tamanhos de gemas com diferentes de diâmetro 22 mm (1), 29 mm (2) e 35 mm (3)). Foram realizados três ensaios cada um com uma cultivar diferente. O delineamento experimental para cada cultivar foi o de blocos ao acaso em esquema fatorial 3x4 (posição do colmo x tamanho do propágulo (material vegetativo) com 4 repetições. Foram realizadas avaliações de emergência diária, e a partir de tais avaliações ...

Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria Enhance Survival, Growth, and Nutritional Content of Sugarcane Propagated through Pre-Sprouted Seedlings under Water Deficit

“…In the absence of inoculation, PSS survival of 82.4% corroborates with the results found by Almeida Neto et al [67]. Although no other studies evaluate PSS survival in the field under the use of microorganisms, studies reported the PGPB action in improving rooting and nutritional aspects [37,[68][69][70][71].…”

Metabolite profiles of energy cane and sugarcane reveal different strategies during the axillary bud outgrowth

“…Traditionally, the planting of the crop is carried out by the distribution of culm segments (setts) with 3-4 buds in furrows or through the system of pre-sprouted seedlings (PSS) -culm cutting around the node containing one axillary bud 7 . The regulation of axillary bud outgrowth is crucial for cultures that use vegetative propagation.…”