Abstract
Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.hybrids) yield and sustainability are constantly challenged by water deficit. High water use efficiency (WUE) and osmotic adjustment (OA) are considered strategies to drought tolerance, and potassium (K+) may be an inducer of these mechanisms. Thus, we tested the hypothesis if accumulation of K+ in leaves attenuates the effects of water deficit in sugarcane plants. The soil [K+] was increased allowing K+ accumulation in sugarcane leaves before exposing the plants to water deficit. The effect of [K+] on OA capacity, WUE, gas exchange and biomass accumulation was evaluated. Sugarcane plants (variety RB928064) were grown in pots in the greenhouse. The study design was randomized block with a 2 × 2 factorial scheme, regarding two [K+] (one recommended dose [131.4 mg KCl dm−3] and one twice recommended dose [262.8 mg KCl dm−3]) and two water conditions (well irrigated and water deficit), with n = 5. The analyses were done during the water deficit and rehydration periods. Pressure–volume (PV) curves were also performed to estimate the osmotic potentials at full (ψs100) and null (ψs0) turgor, OA, and the modulus of cell wall elasticity (ε). The plants with extra K+ maintained higher RWC and WUE, associated with lower ψs100 and ψs0, favoring higher OA and ε under drought. These combined traits allowed the maintenance of cell turgor and, may be associated with better resistance to water deficit in sugarcane plants, as observed by the greater biomass accumulation in plants containing higher leaf [K+].
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Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES/BR) (Finance Code 001), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) and Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG).
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Appendix
Vapor pressure deficit (VPD) and leaf temperature during the water deficit and rehydration periods in sugarcane. As there were no differences among the [K+] and water treatments, the lines indicate the mean of all plants. (DAT) days after treat. (*) days after rehydration
Pressure–volume curves [ratio of inverse water potential (1/ψ) and relative water content (RWC) of sugarcane plants subjected to two concentrations of K+ [lower [K+]; higher [K+]] and two water conditions [Ref and WD]. Ref (reference); WD (water deficit)
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da Silva, A.A., Linhares, P.C.A., de Andrade, L.I.F. et al. Potassium Supplementation Promotes Osmotic Adjustment and Increases Water Use Efficiency in Sugarcane Under Water Deficit. Sugar Tech 23, 1075–1084 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12355-021-00997-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12355-021-00997-1