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Transcriptional regulation of the high-affinity K+ (HAK) transporter gene is an important mechanism of plant response to low potassium stress. Cloning and analysis of the promoter of potassium transporter gene is not only helpful to its expression pattern and regulation mechanism but also important to improve the potassium absorption efficiency in sugarcane. The potassium transporter gene ScHAK10 is highly expressed and induced by low potassium stress in sugarcane, but the functions of its promoter is still unclear. In the present article, the 1918 bp promoter region of the ScHAK10 gene (pScHAK10) was cloned by genomic walking technique. Computational analysis affirmed the existence of abiotic stress-responsive cis and core cis-elements, such as TATA box, CAAT box, phytohormone responsive, stress response and light response motifs. GUS histochemical staining of transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings showed that the leaf, corolla, and root tip were deeply stained. The 5′-terminal deletion of the promoter was cloned, and the lengths of 1918 bp (full), 1623 bp (Q1), 1332 bp (Q2), 957 bp (Q3), 576 bp (Q4), and 357 bp (Q5) were cloned into the GUS reporter vector for A. thaliana transient transformation. The transgenic plants generated through a single event exhibited a promising expression of the GUS reporter protein, which was treated with salt, low potassium, IAA and cold stress conditions. The results showed that the promoter activity correlates with the promoter fragment's length, and the long promoter fragment exhibits higher training. The Q5 was the least active and could not drive GUS expression. Under abiotic stress, the expression of GUS enzyme activity varies among different promoter fragments. Under low potassium and high salt stress, Q3 and Q4 showed the highest promoter activity. The Q1 and Q4 led the highest promoter activity during IAA and cold stress. These findings help to understand the molecular mechanism of ScHAK10 expression regulation and could be an excellent tool for future crop improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Plant cellulose synthase is one of the important glycosyltransferases, which catalyzes the synthesis of the paracrystalline of H-bonded-β-(1,4)-glucose chains. This study isolated the cellulose synthase 3 (Ces3) sequence from sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) leaves. SoCes3 (GenBank accession No. MG324347) has a full-length cDNA sequence of 3625 bp. It contains an open reading frame (3225 bp), encoding 1074 amino acids with a molecular weight of about 120.89 kDa and isoelectric point of 6.26. SoCes3 protein showed high activity with other plant cellulose synthases. The recombinant protein contains plant cellulose synthase (Ces) protein conservative domains. In subcellular localization experiments, the fusion protein of SoCes3 with green fluorescent protein (GFP) was specifically localized in the cell membrane. The gene expression of SoCes3 was found in the leaf, leaf sheath, and internodes of the sugarcane stem. The highest expression level was found in the internode, especially with the highest expression level in the 5th internode and lowest in the leaves, and the gene expression level of SoCes3 was upregulated by PP333 and not in gibberellic acid-treated plants. It was conducted in tobacco plants to understand the biotechnological potential of SoCes3. The contents of cellulose and lignin were increased in SoCes3-overexpressing tobacco. Transcriptomic analysis showed that the transgenic tobacco induced different genes associated with different biological regulatory processes. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) mediated plant hormone signal transduction, starch and sucrose metabolism signaling pathways were widely induced and mostly upregulated. The transcription levels in SoCes3-overexpressing transgenic lines were higher than wild-type. Graphical Abstract

Plant cellulose synthase is one of the important glycosyltransferases, which catalyzes the synthesis of the paracrystalline of H-bonded-β-(1,4)-glucose chains. This study isolated the cellulose synthase 3 (Ces3) sequence from sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) leaves. SoCes3 (GenBank accession No. MG324347) has a full-length cDNA sequence of 3625 bp. It contains an open reading frame (3225 bp), encoding 1074 amino acids with a molecular weight of about 120.89 kDa and isoelectric point of 6.26. SoCes3 protein showed high activity with other plant cellulose synthases. The recombinant protein contains plant cellulose synthase (Ces) protein conservative domains. In subcellular localization experiments, the fusion protein of SoCes3 with green fluorescent protein (GFP) was specifically localized in the cell membrane. The gene expression of SoCes3 was found in the leaf, leaf sheath, and internodes of the sugarcane stem. The highest expression level was found in the internode, especially with the highest expression level in the 5th internode and lowest in the leaves, and the gene expression level of SoCes3 was upregulated by PP333 and not in gibberellic acid-treated plants. It was conducted in tobacco plants to understand the biotechnological potential of SoCes3. The contents of cellulose and lignin were increased in SoCes3-overexpressing tobacco. Transcriptomic analysis showed that the transgenic tobacco induced different genes associated with different biological regulatory processes. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) mediated plant hormone signal transduction, starch and sucrose metabolism signaling pathways were widely induced and mostly upregulated. The transcription levels in SoCes3-overexpressing transgenic lines were higher than wild-type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies on the development of the root system can provide important information about responses to different management strategies, such as the use of lower quality water, also evaluating the interaction between plants and the physical properties of the soil. This study tested the hypothesis that irrigation with treated sewage effluent (TSE) supplies the water needs of sugarcane plants, increasing root growth and improving the physical properties of the soil. We evaluated the effects of subsurface dripping with TSE or surface reservoir water (SRW) on the root development of first ratoon cane (Saccharum officinarum L.) and the physical properties of dystrophic red latosol. Irrigation treatments were applied at 20 and 40 cm and soil properties were evaluated at soil depth layers of 0–20, 20–40, 40–60, and 60–80 cm. We verified that under irrigation with TSE and SRW, shallower soil layers present better porosity, soil aggregation, and aggregate stability conditions, parameters that improve the root system development and plant growth. On the other hand, deeper soil layers have lower macroporosity and higher total clay volume, indicating the possibility of compaction and greater limitations for sugarcane root growth. These results are important for understanding soil quality and provide significant information for agricultural management and for the implementation of sustainable soil conservation practices. This study shows the efficiency of TSE as an alternative water source for sugarcane crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of microbial inoculants has become an effective alternative for increasing crop yields, reducing production costs, and improving environmental sustainability. Farmers are very interested in microbial inoculants involved in the solubilization of non-labile phosphorus due to the increasing demand for phosphate fertilizers and the scarcity of natural sources of this nutrient. Thus, the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa), in partnership with the Simbiose Company (Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil), has developed a commercial phosphate-solubilizing inoculant combining the Bacillus subtilis CNPMS2084 and Bacillus megaterium CNPMS119 strains. The present work evaluated the effect of different doses of this Bacillus strain inoculant in combination with phosphate fertilization on sugarcane crops in three experimental fields for two successive production seasons (plant cane and first ratoon). Vegetation indices (VIs) were calculated with the help of aerial images collected regularly during the phenological phases of vegetative growth and ripening and used in association with weather and yield data to develop a predictive model for the effect of the bioinoculant on the sugarcane crop. The results showed that the doses of 500 and 750 mL/ha of Bacillus strain inoculant applied in the planting furrow and during ratoon management were the most effective to increase tons of cane per hectare (TCH) and tons of sucrose per hectare (TSH) compared to treatments without inoculant application. These results agree with the forecast generated by the statistical model developed to predict the impact of the bioinoculant on the increase in sugarcane biomass. Afterward, the fitness of the model to estimate the effect of the Bacillus strain inoculant on the sugarcane yield was demonstrated when field data from commercial areas of sugarcane treated with the bioinoculant were compared to data from control fields without application, confirming the positive effect of the commercial Bacillus strain inoculant for sugarcane crops as well as the model's effectiveness in handling and predicting yield from data obtained from commercial areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing demand for food production has led to an increase in agricultural areas, including many with low and irregular rainfall, stressing the importance of studies aimed at mitigating the harmful effects of water stress. From this perspective, the objective of this study was to evaluate calcium pyruvate as an attenuator of water deficit on chlorophyll a fluorescence of five sugarcane genotypes. The experiment was conducted in a plant nursery where three management strategies (E1—full irrigation, E2—water deficit with the application of 30 mM calcium pyruvate, and E3—water deficit without the application of calcium pyruvate) and five sugarcane genotypes (RB863129, RB92579, RB962962, RB021754, and RB041443) were tested, distributed in randomized blocks, in a 3 × 5 factorial design with three replications. There is dissimilarity in the fluorescence parameters and photosynthetic pigments of the RB863129 genotype in relation to those of the RB041443, RB96262, RB021754, and RB92579 genotypes. Foliar application of calcium pyruvate alleviates the effects of water deficit on the fluorescence parameters of chlorophyll a and photosynthetic pigments in sugarcane, without interaction with the genotypes. However, subsequent validation tests will be necessary to test and validate the adoption of this technology under field conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT The aim of the study was to characterize the bioactive compounds present in sugarcane syrup, analyze the color, to evaluate the antioxidant activity as well as the stability of the bioactive compounds during a 60-day storage under freezing conditions. The experiment was conducted with five sugarcane varieties grown in Canguçu-RS. The content of carotenoids, total phenolic compounds, flavonoids, vitamin C and chlorophylls was determined, and also the antioxidant activity and color were also evaluated. The content of carotenoids (1.82-6.67µg.g), total phenolic compounds (191.06-226.54 mg EAG.L-1), flavonoids (70.73-189.57mg EQ.g-1), vitamin C (0.10-0.35 mg ascorbic acid .100g-1), total chlorophylls (36.13-37.67 g.kg-1), and percentage of antioxidant activity (50.92-68.76%) varied by cultivar. The content of chlorophyll b was higher than the content of chlorophyll a in all cultivars. The color analysis showed that the samples had a strong tendency to green and yellow color. The content of carotenoids increased during 60 days of storage, while the content of phenolic compounds and chlorophylls decreased. The percentage of antioxidant activity decreased after 30 days of storage. It can be concluded that the sugarcane grown in Canguçu-RS had a high content of bioactive compounds, adequate color and high antioxidant activity when compared to the literature.

ABSTRACT Several studies on the kinetics of sugarcane’s fiber digestion have been published, but, to date, no study has evaluated the influence of sugarcane rind on the digestion of fresh sugarcane by ruminants. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of sugarcane components (rind and pith) on chemical composition, in vitro digestibility, metabolizable energy, and sugarcane quality. A randomized block design was used in a split-plot scheme with five sugarcane genotypes [plot] (RB068027, RB058046, RB987917, RB867515, and RB855536) and three sugarcane components [sub-plot] (rind, pith, and whole cane), Each treatment consisted of four replicates. The chemical composition, in vitro gas production, in vitro digestibility, metabolizable energy, and sugarcane quality were evaluated. No interaction between components and genotypes was observed for the variables analyzed herein. Although the rind had a higher crude protein content, it showed a large amount of insoluble crude protein. The rind had higher fibrous fractions, comprising 87.33 % of the indigestible fraction of the neutral detergent fiber (NDF). The sugarcane rind showed ~ 71.20 % more lignin than the pith tissue. Further, the rind decreased by 6.5 % in vitro dry matter digestibility compared to the whole sugarcane. The in vitro NDF digestibility of the rind was 18.38 % lower than the whole sugarcane. The RB068027 genotype showed the lowest sugarcane quality. Despite the higher content of potentially digestible neutral detergent fiber (pdNDF) in the rind, its high lignin content influences the quality of the final fibrous fractions of sugarcane and negatively impacts the nutritional value. The genotypes do not differ nutritionally, but RB855536 presented higher biomass and energy yields.

Diseases caused by fungi associated with adverse weather conditions are one of the main causes of decreases in sugarcane production. This study aimed to develop a protocol for a fast identification of Phaeocytostroma sacchari, which is the causal agent of bark rot in sugarcane. The reference sequences of three DNA regions of P. sacchari, namely internal transcribed spacer, ribosomal large subunit and translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF1-α), were analyzed with specific primers design. The specific primers generated that aligned in their entirety with P. sacchari were selected and synthesized. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays were performed to confirm the primer specificity, using P. sacchari isolates and 10 species of other genera. Two sets of primers that amplify the TEF-1α region (PsF1/Psf1 and PsF2/PsR2) showed a high specificity and sensitivity in detecting P. sacchari using conventional PCR, what will allow large-scale surveys of this pathogen in sugarcane crops.

The induction of colchicine mutations is one method of breeding. PT Gunung Madu Plantations, for example, has induced mutations of commercial sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) varieties, however, investigations on the impact of colchicine on stomatal characters have received less attention. Therefore, this study aimed to analyse the stomata character of 21 sugarcane mutants of the GMP3 variety at PT Gunung Madu Plantations, Lampung, Indonesia with a focused look at stomata aperture width, stomata length and width, number of stomata, stomatal density, and stomata index. The collected data were analysed using cluster and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) through MVSP software. This study showed that all GMP3 mutants had Graminae-type stomata. In terms of stomata length and width, the average size of the GMP3 variety mutant was greater than that of the control. The diversity of stomata characters is fairly high due to differences in stomata size between GMP3 and control mutants. With a similarity index of 0.20, the phenetic analysis of 21 mutants of the GMP3 variety revealed that the relationship between mutants and controls was getting further. A six-character principal component analysis revealed that axis I's total variation accounted for 40.54 percent of the variation and had an eigenvalue of 2.43, whereas axis II's contribution to the variation was 19.02 percent and had an eigenvalue of 1.14. The findings indicate that stomata are excellent taxonomic evidence for identifying and analysing sugarcane varieties induced by colchicine-induced breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies on the development of the root system can provide important information about responses to different management strategies, such as the use of lower quality water, also evaluating the interaction between plants and the physical properties of the soil. This study tested the hypothesis that irrigation with treated sewage effluent (TSE) supplies the water needs of sugarcane plants, increasing root growth and improving the physical properties of the soil. We evaluated the effects of subsurface dripping with TSE or surface reservoir water (SRW) on the root development of first ratoon cane (Saccharum officinarum L.) and the physical properties of dystrophic red latosol. Irrigation treatments were applied at 20 and 40 cm and soil properties were evaluated at soil depth layers of 0–20, 20–40, 40–60, and 60–80 cm. We verified that under irrigation with TSE and SRW, shallower soil layers present better porosity, soil aggregation, and aggregate stability conditions, parameters that improve the root system development and plant growth. On the other hand, deeper soil layers have lower macroporosity and higher total clay volume, indicating the possibility of compaction and greater limitations for sugarcane root growth. These results are important for understanding soil quality and provide significant information for agricultural management and for the implementation of sustainable soil conservation practices. This study shows the efficiency of TSE as an alternative water source for sugarcane crops.

Currently, Brazil is the leading producer of sugarcane in the world, with self-sufficiency in the use of ethanol as a biofuel, as well as being one of the largest suppliers of sugar to the world. This study aimed to develop a predictive model for sugarcane production based on data extracted from aerial imagery obtained from drones or satellites, allowing the precise tracking of plant development in the field. A model based on a semiparametric approach associated with the inverse Gaussian distribution applied to vegetation indices (VIs), such as the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Visible Atmospherically Resistant Index (VARI), was developed with data from drone images obtained from two field experiments with randomized replications and four sugarcane varieties. These experiments were performed under conditions identical to those applied by sugarcane farmers. Further, the model validation was carried out by scaling up the analyses with data extracted from Sentinel-2 images of several commercial sugarcane fields. Very often, in countries such as Brazil, sugarcane crops occupy extensive areas. Consequently, the development of tools capable of being operated remotely automatically benefits the management of this crop in the field by avoiding laborious and time-consuming sampling and by promoting the reduction of operation costs. The results of the model application in both sources of data, i.e., data from field experiments as well as the data from commercial fields, showed a suitable level of overlap between the data of predicted yield using VIs generated from drone and satellite images with the data of verified yield obtained by measuring the production of experiments and commercial fields, indicating that the model is reliable for forecasting productivity months before the harvest time.

Suitable methodologies and modern research facilities such as gas chromatography (GC) coupled with atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) were used to characterize sugarcane molasses in order to foresee its reuse potential, as it has long been considered as a neglected by-product of the sugar industry in Côte d’Ivoire. The results showed that molasses dry matters (DM) contain about 75% of simple sugars essentially made up of sucrose (62.50%), glucose (14.38%) and fructose (14.39%). Proteins and nitrogen represent 5.45% and 0.87% of the DM respectively. The ashes representing 16.61% of DM were full of potassium (K⁺) with a rate of 45,209 ± 34.94 mg/kg. Lesser contents in magnesium (Mg²⁺: 2,109 mg/kg), calcium (Ca²⁺: 2,050 mg/kg), sodium (Na⁺: 551 mg/kg), phosphorus (PO³⁻: 260 mg/kg), iron (Fe²⁺: 166 mg/kg), manganese (Mn²⁺: 23 mg/ kg), zinc (Zn²⁺: 6 mg/kg) and copper (Cu²⁺: 4 mg/kg) were also quantified. These interesting contents in crude proteins, nitrogen and various essential minerals make molasses, an important by-product of the sugar industry, as it can be reused as a fertilizer in agriculture and as an ingredient in the preparation of certain foods for new-borns and pregnant women. The high content of simple carbohydrates makes molasses an ideal raw material for the production of bioethanol, a high value added and environmentally friendly product of global relevant interest.

Sugarcane straw is a byproduct and possible source of phenolic compounds that can be used as a value-added ingredient. Hence, the intent of this study was to extract phenolic compounds from sugarcane straw and purify them to improve their potential biological capacity (e.g. antioxidant capacity). The amberlite microporous resin XAD-2 was used to evaluate the enrichment of polyphenols via adsorption and desorption mechanisms. The purified extract was analyzed by LC-ESI-QqTOF-HRMS resulting in the identification of 54 secondary metabolites, mainly belonging to three major classes namely hydroxybenzoic acids, hydroxycinnamic acids, and flavones. The main compounds were chlorogenic acid, neochlorogenic acid and 3-0-feruloylquinic acid. A small number of monosaccharides were detected in the extract such as glucose, cellobiose, and xylose + arabinose. The purified extract also exhibited a higher antioxidant capacity, measured by ABTS and DPPH methods, when compared with the non-purified one. The purification of the sugarcane straw extract allowed us to obtain an extract rich in phenolic compounds that display improved antioxidant capacity, showing promising potential for food and cosmetic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Sugarcane is one of the largest agricultural commodities when considering the export volume and the number of jobs generated. Sugarcane production in the Brazilian Northeast region is generally low due to several factors, including the irregular rainfall distribution, which highlights the importance of studies aimed at mitigating the deleterious effects of water stress. In this scenario, this study aimed to evaluate calcium pyruvate as a water deficit attenuator on the agro-industrial quality of sugarcane in the second cycle of cultivation. The experiment was conducted out under greenhouse conditions of the Federal University of Campina Grande, where five sugarcane commercial genotypes tested (G1- RB863129, G2- RB92579, G3- RB962962, G4- RB021754, and G5- RB041443) and three irrigation management strategies (E1- full irrigation, E2- water deficit with application of 30 mM of calcium pyruvate, and E3- water deficit without calcium pyruvate application), distributed in randomized blocks in 5 × 3 factorial arrangement with three replications. The RB021754 genotype under water deficit and without foliar application of calcium pyruvate increased the fiber content (13.2%) and the sugarcane moist cake weight (143.5 g). The effects of water deficit in sugarcane genotypes are attenuated by the exogenous application of 30 mM of calcium pyruvate, with benefits on the polarized sucrose content, apparent sucrose content of the juice, soluble solids content, purity, corrected cane POL, total recoverable sugars, and stem mass in relation to plants under water deficit without calcium pyruvate application.

Abstract Background C:N:P homeostasis in plants guarantees optimal levels of these nutrients in plant metabolism. H However, one of the causes to the effects of deficit irrigation is the loss of C:N:P homeostasis in leaves and stems that causes reduction in the growth of sugarcane. Being able to measure the impact of water deficit on C:N:P homeostasis in plants from the stoichiometric ratios of the concentrations of these nutrients in leaves and stems. This loss causes a decrease in nutritional efficiency, but can be mitigated with the use of silicon. Silicon favors the homeostasis of these nutrients and crop productivity. The magnitude of this benefit depends on the absorption of Si by the plant and Si availability in the soil, which varies with the type of soil used. Thus, this study aims to evaluate whether the application of Si via fertigation is efficient in increasing the absorption of Si and whether it is capable of modifying the homeostatic balance of C:N:P of the plant, causing an increase in nutritional efficiency and consequently in the production of biomass in leaves and stems of sugarcane ratoon cultivated with deficient and adequate irrigations in different tropical soils. Results Water deficit caused biological losses in concentrations and accumulation of C, N, and P, and reduced the nutrient use efficiency and biomass production of sugarcane plants cultivated in three tropical soils due to disturbances in the stoichiometric homeostasis of C:N:P. The application of Si increased the concentration and accumulation of Si, C, N, and P and their use efficiency and reduced the biological damage caused by water deficit due to the modification of homeostatic balance of C:N:P by ensuring sustainability of the production of sugarcane biomass in tropical soils. However, the intensity of attenuation of such deleterious effects stood out in plants cultivated in Eutrophic Red Oxisols. Si contributed biologically by improving the performance of sugarcane ratoon with an adequate irrigation due to the optimization of stoichiometric ratios of C:N:P; increased the accumulation and the use efficiency of C, N, and P, and promoted production gains in biomass of sugarcane in three tropical soils. Conclusion Our study shows that fertigation with Si can mitigate the deleterious effects of deficient irrigation or potentiate the beneficial effects using an adequate irrigation system due to the induction of a new stoichiometric homeostasis of C:N:P, which in turn improves the nutritional efficiency of sugarcane cultivated in tropical soils.

The growing demand for food production has led to an increase in agricultural areas, including many with low and irregular rainfall, stressing the importance of studies aimed at mitigating the harmful effects of water stress. From this perspective, the objective of this study was to evaluate calcium pyruvate as an attenuator of water deficit on chlorophyll a fluorescence of five sugarcane genotypes. The experiment was conducted in a plant nursery where three management strategies (E1—full irrigation, E2—water deficit with the application of 30 mM calcium pyruvate, and E3—water deficit without the application of calcium pyruvate) and five sugarcane genotypes (RB863129, RB92579, RB962962, RB021754, and RB041443) were tested, distributed in randomized blocks, in a 3 × 5 factorial design with three replications. There is dissimilarity in the fluorescence parameters and photosynthetic pigments of the RB863129 genotype in relation to those of the RB041443, RB96262, RB021754, and RB92579 genotypes. Foliar application of calcium pyruvate alleviates the effects of water deficit on the fluorescence parameters of chlorophyll a and photosynthetic pigments in sugarcane, without interaction with the genotypes. However, subsequent validation tests will be necessary to test and validate the adoption of this technology under field conditions.

Currently, Brazil is the leading producer of sugarcane in the world, with self-sufficiency in the use of ethanol as a biofuel, as well as being one of the largest suppliers of sugar to the world. This study aimed to develop a predictive model for sugarcane production based on data extracted from aerial imagery obtained from drones or satellites, allowing the precise tracking of plant development in the field. A model based on a semiparametric approach associated with the inverse Gaussian distribution applied to vegetation indices (VIs), such as the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Visible Atmospherically Resistant Index (VARI), was developed with data from drone images obtained from two field experiments with randomized replications and four sugarcane varieties. These experiments were performed under conditions identical to those applied by sugarcane farmers. Further, the model validation was carried out by scaling up the analyses with data extracted from Sentinel-2 images of several commercial sugarcane fields. Very often, in countries such as Brazil, sugarcane crops occupy extensive areas. Consequently, the development of tools capable of being operated remotely automatically benefits the management of this crop in the field by avoiding laborious and time-consuming sampling and by promoting the reduction of operation costs. The results of the model application in both sources of data, i.e., data from field experiments as well as the data from commercial fields, showed a suitable level of overlap between the data of predicted yield using VIs generated from drone and satellite images with the data of verified yield obtained by measuring the production of experiments and commercial fields, indicating that the model is reliable for forecasting productivity months before the harvest time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kokuto-shochu is a traditional Japanese spirit prepared from kokuto, obtained by evaporating water from sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) juice. To clarify the effects of sugarcane cultivars on the sensory quality of kokuto-shochu, we investigated the flavor characteristics and composition of volatiles in kokuto-shochu prepared from kokuto using three different sugarcane cultivars, NiF8, Ni15, and RK97-14. Furthermore, experiments were conducted by using the cultivars collected between 2018 and 2020 to observe annual variations in their properties. The amino acid content of the three kokuto varieties did not differ significantly, but the amino acid content of NiF8 was two to five times higher than that of RK97-14, which was the same for all samples collected in the selected years. The browning degrees of kokuto were also higher in NiF8, and they were positively correlated to the amino acid contents of kokuto. The kokuto-like aroma of shochu made from Ni15 was stronger than that of shochu made from RK97-14. The concentration of ethyl lactate in shochu made from Ni15 was higher, however, the concentration of guaiacol was the lowest in the three cultivars' products. Shochu made from NiF8 had the highest levels of Maillard reaction products (MRPs; pyrazines and furans), β-damascenone, and guaiacol amounts. In contrast, shochu made from RK97-14 tended to have a fruity flavor, and lower MRP levels than those made from NiF8. Thus, it was shown that sugarcane cultivars affect the sensory characteristics and volatiles in kokuto-shochu. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: C:N:P homeostasis in plants guarantees optimal levels of these nutrients in plant metabolism. H However, one of the causes to the effects of deficit irrigation is the loss of C:N:P homeostasis in leaves and stems that causes reduction in the growth of sugarcane. Being able to measure the impact of water deficit on C:N:P homeostasis in plants from the stoichiometric ratios of the concentrations of these nutrients in leaves and stems. This loss causes a decrease in nutritional efficiency, but can be mitigated with the use of silicon. Silicon favors the homeostasis of these nutrients and crop productivity. The magnitude of this benefit depends on the absorption of Si by the plant and Si availability in the soil, which varies with the type of soil used. Thus, this study aims to evaluate whether the application of Si via fertigation is efficient in increasing the absorption of Si and whether it is capable of modifying the homeostatic balance of C:N:P of the plant, causing an increase in nutritional efficiency and consequently in the production of biomass in leaves and stems of sugarcane ratoon cultivated with deficient and adequate irrigations in different tropical soils. Results: Water deficit caused biological losses in concentrations and accumulation of C, N, and P, and reduced the nutrient use efficiency and biomass production of sugarcane plants cultivated in three tropical soils due to disturbances in the stoichiometric homeostasis of C:N:P. The application of Si increased the concentration and accumulation of Si, C, N, and P and their use efficiency and reduced the biological damage caused by water deficit due to the modification of homeostatic balance of C:N:P by ensuring sustainability of the production of sugarcane biomass in tropical soils. However, the intensity of attenuation of such deleterious effects stood out in plants cultivated in Eutrophic Red Oxisols. Si contributed biologically by improving the performance of sugarcane ratoon with an adequate irrigation due to the optimization of stoichiometric ratios of C:N:P; increased the accumulation and the use efficiency of C, N, and P, and promoted production gains in biomass of sugarcane in three tropical soils. Conclusion: Our study shows that fertigation with Si can mitigate the deleterious effects of deficient irrigation or potentiate the beneficial effects using an adequate irrigation system due to the induction of a new stoichiometric homeostasis of C:N:P, which in turn improves the nutritional efficiency of sugarcane cultivated in tropical soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Sugarcane cultivation stands out in Brazilian agribusiness, covering more than eight million hectares for the production of sugar, ethanol, and by-products. Fertilization is one of the limiting factors in sugarcane yield, for which filter cake is a viable solution to meet plant nutritional needs. This study aimed to assess the effect of enriched filter cake on gas exchange and yield in RB041443 sugarcane, cultivated in soils of the coastal tablelands of Paraíba, Brazil. The experiment was conducted in the Monte Alegre S/A sugarcane mill, in the municipality of Mamanguape, using a randomized blocks experimental design, with 12 treatments (T1- cake, T2- cake + MAP, T3- cake + gypsum, T4 - cake + phosphate, T5- cake + bagasse, T6- cake + MAP + gypsum, T7- cake + MAP + phosphate, T8- cake + MAP + bagasse, T9- cake + gypsum + phosphate, T10- cake + gypsum + bagasse, T11- cake + phosphate + bagasse, and T12- control (only MAP)), and 4 replications, totaling 48 plots. A significant effect (5% probability) was also observed for the variables number of leaves and tons of stem per hectare (TSH). T1- cake, T4- cake + phosphate, T6- cake + MAP + gypsum and T10- cake + gypsum + bagasse, had the best results for TSH, with yields greater than 140 t ha-1. Regarding stomatal conductance, the highest values were obtained in T6 and T8, which, together with T11, had the highest gs values. Concerning the internal carbon concentration, T1, T2, T6, and T8 stood out. T6 also had a significant effect on transpiration. From this study, it was concluded that the use of enriched filter cake as a base fertilizer in sugarcane culture contributes to increasing the yield of the RB041443 variety, generating positive responses for plant gas exchange, being T1 and T10 indicated to increase the production in the sugar-energy sector.

Sugarcane is a glycophyte whose growth and yield can be negatively affected by salt stress. As the arable lands with potential saline soils expand annually, the increase of salt-tolerance in sugarcane cultivars is highly desired. We, herein, employed in vitro and in vivo conditions in order to screen sugarcane plants for salt tolerance at the cellular and at the whole plant levels. Calli of sugarcane cv. Khon Kaen 3 (KK3) were selected after culturing in selective media containing various NaCl concentrations, and regenerated plants were then reselected after culturing in selective media containing higher NaCl concentrations. The surviving plants were finally selected after an exposure to 254 mM NaCl under greenhouse conditions. A total of 11 sugarcane plants survived the selection process. Four plants that exhibited tolerance to the four different salt concentrations applied during the aforementioned screening process were then selected for the undertaking of further molecular, biochemical, and physiological studies. The construction of a dendrogram has revealed that the most salt-tolerant plant was characterized by the lowest genetic similarity to the original cultivar. The relative expression levels of six genes (i.e., SoDREB, SoNHX1, SoSOS1, SoHKT, SoBADH, and SoMIPS) were found to be significantly higher in the salt-tolerance clones than those measured in the original plant. The measured proline levels, the glycine betaine content, the relative water content, the SPAD unit, the contents of chlorophyll a and b, as well as the K+/Na+ ratios of the salt-tolerant clones were also found to be significantly higher than those of the original plant.When the salt-tolerant clones were grown in a low saline soil, they exhibited a higher Brix percentage than that of the original cultivar.

Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.), a globally cultivated carbohydrate producing crop of industrial importance is being challenged by soil salinity due to its glycophytic nature. Water stress coupled with cellular and metabolic alterations resulting from excess sodium (Na+) ion accumulation is irreversibly damaging during early crop developmental stages that often results in complete crop failure. This study therefore aimed to explore the potential of salicylic acid as a sett priming material to mitigate the negative effects of salt stress on sugarcane during germination and early growth stages. Five doses of salicylic acid (0 [hydropriming] [control], 0.5 mM, 1 mM, 1.5 mM and 2 mM) were tested against three levels of salinity (0.5 dS m−1 [control], 4 dS m−1, and 8 dS m−1) within a polyhouse environment. Results revealed 11.2%, 18.5%, 25.4%, and 38.6%, average increase in final germination, germination energy, seedling length and seedling vigor index respectively with a subsequent reduction of 21% mean germination time. Investigations during early seedling growth revealed 21.6%, 17.5%, 27.0%, 39.9%, 10.7%, 11.5%, 17.5%, 47.9%, 35.3% and 20.5% overall increase in plant height, total leaf area, shoot dry matter, root dry matter, leaf greenness, relative water content, membrane stability index, proline content, total antioxidant activity and potassium (K+) ion accumulation respectively with a subsequent reduction of 24.9% Na+ ion accumulation and 35.8% Na+/K+ ratio due to salicylic acid priming. Germination, seedling growth and recovery of physiochemical traits were highly satisfactory in primed setts than non-primed ones even under 8 dS m−1 salinity level. This study should provide useful information for strategizing salinity management approaches for better productivity of sugarcane.

The sugarcane processing industry generates a large amount of straw, which has a negative environmental impact, and high costs are associated with their elimination, wasting their potential bioactive value attributed to their richness in polyphenols. In this study, an ethanolic extract produced from sugarcane straw was screened for its phenolic compounds content, and the potential use of this extract in the development of a food ingredient was further evaluated. Fifty different secondary metabolites belonging to the hydroxybenzoic acids, hydroxycinnamic acids, and flavonoids were identified by liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization–ultrahigh-resolution—quadrupole time of flight–mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-UHR-QqTOF-MS). The predominant phenolic compounds found were 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde, chlorogenic acid, and 5-O-feruloylquinic acid. The obtained extracts showed strong potential as food preservatives by exhibiting (a) antioxidant activity using both 2.2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) diammonium salt radical cation (ABTS) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) methods; and (b) antimicrobial capacity, with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 50 mg/mL for Staphylococcus aureus, 74% inhibition for Bacillus cereus, and 44% for Salmonella enterica; and (c) the capacity to inhibit a food browning enzyme, tyrosinase (28–73% for 1–8 mg/ mL). Moreover, the extracts showed antidiabetic potential by inhibiting the enzymes α-glucosidase (15–38% for 1.25–5.00 mg/mL) and dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) (62–114% for 0.31–5.00 mg/mL). The extract (0.625 mg/mL) also exhibited the capacity to reduce proinflammatory mediators (i.e., interleukins 6 and 8, and tumor necrosis factor alpha) when Caco-2 cells were stimulated with interleukin 1 beta. Thus, sugarcane straw extract, which is rich in phenolic compounds, showed high potential to be used in the development of food-preservative ingredients owing to its antioxidant and antimicrobial potential, and to be explored as a food supplement in diabetes prevention and as coadjuvant to reduce intestinal inflammation by reducing proinflammatory mediators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The process of cell death in sugarcane suspension culture (Saccharum officinarum L.) after exposure to a subzero temperature of –8°С and features of the mitochondria functioning during this period were studied. It was revealed that the cause of cell death after the end of the stress factor action was the development of oxidative stress and damage to individual components of mitochondrial ETC: subunit II of cytochrome c oxidase and α- and β-subunits of ATP synthase. Under these conditions, the activity of the alternative pathway (AP) of respiration remained at the control level much longer and decreased more slowly than the activity of the cytochrome pathway. The collapse of respiration occurred 6 h after exposure to subzero temperature after the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria. At the same time, the contribution of AP to the respiration of whole cells and isolated mitochondria in the S. officinarum suspension culture increased to 70%. Thus, the functioning of AP contributed to the maintenance of respiratory metabolism in S. officinarum cells after stress treatment and contributed to the survival of almost 20% of cells in culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water deficit limits the establishment of sugarcane that uses Pre-sprouted seedlings (PSS). Silicon (Si) can mitigate the effects of water deficiency, but it is not known if the Si applied through fertigation is efficient to mitigate damage caused by water deficit at 60 days after transplantation of PSS to the field, nor what physiological and biochemical mechanisms are involved. For this purpose, the objective of this study was to evaluate whether Si applied through fertigation in the PSS production phase of Saccharum officinarum L. (sugarcane) and S. spontaneum L. (energy cane) is efficient in mitigating the effects caused by severe water deficit at 60 days after transplantation. Another objective was to determine the physiological and biochemical mechanisms involved. Two experiments were developed using PSS from sugarcane and energy cane. The treatments consisted of a 2 × 2 factorial scheme, with absence (−Si) and presence of Si (+Si) applied through fertigation (2.5 mmol L−1); combined with water regime: 70% (without deficit) and 30% (severe water deficit) of soil water holding capacity, arranged in randomized blocks with six repetitions. Severe water deficit at 60 days after transplanting decreased the water content and the water potential of the plants, inducing oxidative stress and impairing photosynthetic efficiency, with a consequent decrease in plant growth. Fertigation was shown to be efficient to supply Si in the PSS of sugarcane and energy cane. The residual effect of Si attenuated the damage caused by water deficit at 60 days after transplanting in both species; the mechanisms involved were related to the antioxidant defense system with increased activity of enzymes catalase, superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, and proline content. In addition, water status remained stable and, consequently, there was increased plant growth. This study showed that the strategy based on Si supply enables the use of PSS in sugarcane and energy cane, increasing the viability and sustainability of this production system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immobilisation of lead (Pb) and toxic elements in contaminated soils is of importance due to their persistence in the environment. Herein, we investigated the effects of sugarcane filter cake biochar (SFCB) and sugarcane bagasse ash (SBA) on the extractability of Pb and some toxic and potentially toxic elements (As, Cd, Cu, and Zn) in polluted mine soil samples from Lower Klity Creek, Thailand. The soil was equilibrated with the SFCB and SBA at the respective rates of 0, 1, and 5% (w/w) for 120 days at field capacity. The results revealed that both SFCB and SBA materials significantly (P < 0.05) decreased Pb extractability in the studied soil, and it stabilised after 56 days of incubation. At 120 days, the SFCB and SBA application at the rates of 5% SFCB, 5% SBA, 1% SFCB, and 1% SBA decreased the extractable Pb contents by 50.35, 40.81, 29.42, and 19.27%, respectively, compared to unamended soil. The SFCB and SBA materials also improved soil chemical properties by increasing the soil pH, available phosphorus, and extractable sulfur. At 5%, SFCB decreased As extractability and increased organic carbon in the studied soil. The Zn availability in the studied soil was also improved by SFCB and SBA addition. This study highlights the potential use of biochar and ash from the sugarcane industry to stabilise Pb and As in contaminated soils.

Los productos derivados de la caña de azúcar (Saccharum officinarum L) conforman una de las agroindustrias rurales de mayor tradición en Colombia. Con el fin de establecer los principales indicadores y protocolos que permitan la caracterización bromatológica, fitoquímica y antioxidante de productos derivados de S. officinarum, se realizó un rastreo bibliográfico a través de la base documental del Icontec y Scopus, en el periodo comprendido entre enero de 1990 y febrero de 2021. Lo anterior, bajo lineamientos que permitieran establecer un panorama mundial sobre las tendencias de investigación y desarrollo, análisis de productos finales e identificación de los principales protocolos normalizados y no normalizados. Fue así como se lograron identificar las principales NTC (Normas Técnicas Colombianas) y los protocolos más empleados para la cuantificación de los indicadores fisicoquímicos y de algunos metabolitos de interés, confirmando y estableciendo sus efectos positivos para la salud animal y humana, como potenciador inmunológico, antitóxico, citoprotector, anticariógeno y antioxidante. Adicionalmente, se logró determinar que los metales pesados (plomo, mercurio, cadmio, arsénico), furfural, 5-hidroximetilfurfural y acrilamida son los principales contaminantes sobre los cuales se debe establecer una estrategia de mitigación. Con esto, se hace evidente la necesidad de generar una política nacional que posibilite cuantificar los indicadores fisicoquímicos exigidos, el contenido de compuestos bioactivos y la presencia de contaminantes peligrosos en los productos derivados de la caña de azúcar, con el fin de dar cumplimiento a la normativa legal para la distribución y comercialización de productos azucarados en el mercado nacional e internacional y, por qué no, iniciar su diversificación.

A cana-de-açúcar, importante cultura agrícola a nível mundial, é uma espécie de gramínea com boa adaptação a diferentes climas, e matéria-prima base para diversos produtos, com destaque para o etanol e açúcar. No estado da Paraíba, alguns municípios são historicamente ligados ao cultivo e beneficiamento dessa cultura, como, por exemplo, Alagoa Nova, no Brejo Paraibano. Nesse sentido, esse estudo objetivou avaliar a dinâmica produtiva dessa cultura da cana-de-açúcar nesse município, no período de 2000 – 2020. Utilizou-se como fonte de dados o banco de informações da Pesquisa Agrícola Municipal do Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE). Por meio do Sistema de Recuperação Automática (SIDRA), foram extraídos os dados relativos à área plantada, área colhida, quantidade produzida, rendimento médio e valor da produção dessa cultura em Alagoa Nova. Os resultados evidenciaram elevada variabilidade temporal na produção de cana-de-açúcar em Alagoa Nova, com uma tendência de aumento e recuperação da área plantada e colhida com essa cultura. Ainda, observou-se um aumento temporal do valor da produção. Todavia, baixas produtividades foram observadas durante todo o período amostral. Visto a importância da cana-de-açúcar para o segmento agrícola de Alagoa Nova, ações de incentivo à melhoria dos índices produtivos dessa cultura devem ser incentivadas, buscando-se assim, incrementar essa atividade localmente.

Copyright of Revista Mexicana de Ciencias Agrícolas is the property of Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agricolas y Pecuarias and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The acid-based approach has been used to successfully isolate natural cellulose from sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) bagasse. This research was aimed at investigating the effects of different acids and concentrations on the physical characteristics and powder properties of sugarcane bagasse cellulose (SBC). From sugarcane bagasse, cellulose was isolated. The optimization parameters; acid types (nitric, sulfuric, or hydrochloride acid), concentrations (3, 4, and 5%, respectively), the ratio of acid to sugarcane bagasse, and the concentration of bleaching agent (hydrogen peroxide) were evaluated. The isolated celluloses were characterized using FTIR Spectroscopy and X-Ray Diffraction analysis. The physical properties and powder properties of SBC were determined. The results showed that the optimum condition for the isolation process was 4% HNO3 with a percentage yield of 44.200±0.004%. The optimum ratio of acid: sugarcane bagasse was obtained at 8 mL: 1 g, and bleached with 15% hydrogen peroxide. The colour and form of SBC obtained at optimum conditions were appropriate compared to the standard. The coefficient of the Pearson correlation test shows that acid type (- 0.246) and concentration (-0.087) correlated with the percentage yield. Bagasse (6.6%) and cellulose (6.27%) powders have moisture contents that meet the requirements of simplicia (10%). The FTIR spectra of SBC were similar to the standard. The bulk and tapped densities (0.071 and 0.077, respectively) of SBC were found to be significantly lower than the standards (0.227 and 0.250). The findings of this study reveal that different acid types and concentrations influence the characteristics of sugarcane bagasse cellulose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change has prolonged periods of water deficit in sugarcane and energy cane crops. This condition induces an imbalance of the carbon (C): nitrogen (N): phosphorus (P) stoichiometric homeostasis, impairing accumulated nutrients from being converted into biomass. Silicon (Si) supplementation can mitigate the damage caused by water deficit in plants by improving the C:N:P balance, increasing C, N, and P use efficiencies and the biomass conversion, and reducing climate change effects on crops. This study assesses the beneficial effects of Si applied through fertigation associated with foliar spraying on the alleviation of damage caused by severe water deficit in sugarcane and energy cane for intermediate and long periods. In addition, the effects in maintenance of nutritional homeostasis we assessed and C, N, and P use efficiencies on sugarcane and energy cane under those conditions were increased. Four experiments were conducted during the first growth cycle of each species. The effect of fertigation associated with Si foliar spraying was evaluated by applying Si only during the seedling formation phase in sugarcane and energy cane grown under severe water deficit for 60 days after transplanting (intermediate period). Then, the effect of Si applied during seedling formation and supplemented after transplanting was evaluated in sugarcane and energy cane grown under severe water deficit for 160 days after transplanting (long period). The Si supply decreased C contents, modified the C:N:P ratio, and increased C, N, and P use efficiencies in plants of both species under water deficit at the intermediate and long periods after transplanting. The effects of applying Si through fertigation associated with foliar spraying during seedling formation mitigated the damage caused by severe water deficit in the intermediate period, which was mainly observed in sugarcane. When supplemented with Si after transplanting, the mitigating effects occurred in both species under severe long period water deficit. Therefore, the Si supply through fertigation associated with foliar spraying is a viable alternative to provide Si to the plant. It also comes with beneficial effects that partially reverse the damage to nutritional homeostasis and increase nutritional efficiency in plants under severe water deficit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) is reported by traditional medicine as tonic, stimulating and beneficial in increasing resistance to fatigue. Previous preclinical studies in rats using aqueous extract of sugarcane leaves (AE) revealed pharmacological effects on the central nervous and cardiovascular systems involving the participation of dopaminergic pathways. This neurotransmission system is also related to motor, emotional and cognitive activities, which could, in part, justify the ethnopharmacological information. The present study aimed to investigate the motor, emotional and cognitive activities of rats submitted to AE treatment using behavioral tests in order to correlate the pharmacological effects with the therapeutic benefits postulated by traditional medicine. Additionally, the chemical profile of AE was evaluated by HPLC-UV/Vis, and the presence of shikimic acid, vitexin, and ferulic acid, as possible chemical markers, was investigated through comparisons of chemical parameters with the authentic patterns, and a UV–Vis scan of known spectra. Rats received water (1.5 mL/kg, p.o.) and AE (0.5, 10 and 500 mg/kg, p.o.) in the absence and presence of haloperidol (0.5 mg/kg, i.p.), 90 min before open field; rotarod; elevated plus maze and inhibitory avoidance tests for investigation of motor; emotional and cognitive responses. As a positive control was used apomorphine (0.25 mg/kg, s.c.). The chemical profile of AE was evaluated by HPLC-UV/Vis and the presence of shikimic acid, vitexin and ferulic acid, as possible chemical markers, was investigated through comparisons with the retention times, an increase of the integral of the peak area determined by co-injection of AE with the authentic patterns, and a UV–Vis scan of known spectra. In open field, it revealed that AE increased locomotion; reduced rearing but did not change freezing and grooming. Besides, AE increased motor performance in rotarod and reduced anxiety in elevated plus maze. A relation dose-response was observed in these tests where the lowest dose of AE was more effective in developing pharmacological responses. Previous administration of haloperidol inhibited the responses of AE. Inhibitory avoidance test revealed that AE did not modify fast-learning and associative memory. Sugarcane induced psychostimulant, anxiolytic-like effects, and improvement of motor performance in rats, with the involvement of dopaminergic pathways. The present study points to AE as a potential adaptogen but, in addition to behavioral assessments, metabolic and molecular aspects, that involve the participation of a variety of regulatory systems, will be investigated in futures studies. Phytochemical analyses showed that AE is a complex matrix and revealed shikimic acid, vitexin, and ferulic acid as potential chemical markers. [Display omitted] • Aqueous extract of sugarcane leaves (AE) improves the motor performance in rats. • AE induces anxiolytic-like effect in rats. • Sugarcane as a potential adaptogen. • Behavioral effects of AE are impaired by haloperidol, a potent D2 antagonist. • Shikimic acid, vitexin and ferulic acid as potential chemical markers of AE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change has prolonged periods of water deficit in sugarcane and energy cane crops. This condition induces an imbalance of the carbon (C): nitrogen (N): phosphorus (P) stoichiometric homeostasis, impairing accumulated nutrients from being converted into biomass. Silicon (Si) supplementation can mitigate the damage caused by water deficit in plants by improving the C:N:P balance, increasing C, N, and P use efficiencies and the biomass conversion, and reducing climate change effects on crops. This study assesses the beneficial effects of Si applied through fertigation associated with foliar spraying on the alleviation of damage caused by severe water deficit in sugarcane and energy cane for intermediate and long periods. In addition, the effects in maintenance of nutritional homeostasis we assessed and C, N, and P use efficiencies on sugarcane and energy cane under those conditions were increased. Four experiments were conducted during the first growth cycle of each species. The effect of fertigation associated with Si foliar spraying was evaluated by applying Si only during the seedling formation phase in sugarcane and energy cane grown under severe water deficit for 60 days after transplanting (intermediate period). Then, the effect of Si applied during seedling formation and supplemented after transplanting was evaluated in sugarcane and energy cane grown under severe water deficit for 160 days after transplanting (long period). The Si supply decreased C contents, modified the C:N:P ratio, and increased C, N, and P use efficiencies in plants of both species under water deficit at the intermediate and long periods after transplanting. The effects of applying Si through fertigation associated with foliar spraying during seedling formation mitigated the damage caused by severe water deficit in the intermediate period, which was mainly observed in sugarcane. When supplemented with Si after transplanting, the mitigating effects occurred in both species under severe long period water deficit. Therefore, the Si supply through fertigation associated with foliar spraying is a viable alternative to provide Si to the plant. It also comes with beneficial effects that partially reverse the damage to nutritional homeostasis and increase nutritional efficiency in plants under severe water deficit.

Agricultural productivity in irrigated areas depends on several factors, including the design and maintenance of irrigation systems. Excessive or insufficient applications of water affect plant growth and development, hence agricultural productivity. For this reason, the evaluation of the irrigation system is essential to avoid water loss during application. This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency and uniformity of a subsurface drip irrigation system in sugarcane crops in an area of the company Usina Coruripe, Alagoas, Brazil. For data collection, the flow rates were obtained in four points along the lateral line, in the first dripper, in the drippers located at 1/3 and 2/3 of the lateral line length, and in the last dripper of each operational unit of the irrigation project. In each row, four emitters were evaluated, totalizing 16 emitters, using a chronometer, collectors, and a measuring cylinder for data collection. In these emitters, the volume of water was collected for 3 minutes, with three repetitions. Christiansen's uniformity coefficient, distribution uniformity coefficient, statistical uniformity coefficient, Hart's uniformity coefficient, and application efficiency were estimated. The irrigation system was considered excellent for distribution uniformity. The application efficiency was classified as acceptable, with an average value of 88.9%. However, despite the application efficiency being classified as acceptable, periodic evaluations of the system are recommended.

Copyright of Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agricola e Ambiental - Agriambi is the property of Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agricola e Ambiental and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Plant growth regulators promote growth and development in sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) seedling in field. Therefore, it is essential to evaluate the effect on different cultivars avoiding unnecessary expenses. The aims of this work was to determine the effect of a commercial biostimulant on the growth of seedlings of two sugarcane cultivars in greenhouse. The experiment was a randomized complete block design, in factorial scheme (2 x 6), with 12 treatments, two commercial cultivars (CTC 04 and CTC 9002) and six biostimulant concentrations, distributed in four randomized blocks. After 30 days of planting, the biostimulant was applied directed to the two open leaves of the plant. The commercial biostimulant Stimulate®(cytokinin, auxin, and gibberellin) was used. The treatments were control (without application), 0.5 ml l-1, 1ml l-1, 2 ml l-1, 4 ml l-1, 8 ml l-1 of commercial product. The variables evaluated were plant height (cm), number of internodes, stem diameter, fresh and dry mass of shoot and root (g). The results demonstrated that at this level is possible to early detect some effect of the biostimulant Stimulate® on sugarcane plant growth. The variables as number of internodes, plant height and stem diameter decreased with high biostimulant concentration tested. It demonstrated the inhibitory effect or growth retardation of the vegetative part. However, biostimulant promoted the root growth with increment on fresh and dry root mass. The results in greenhouse point up the bases for doses adjustment, cost reduction and technical assistant to the farmers. It is recommended that further studies to ensure positive recommendation results in field.

The sugarcane processing industry generates a large amount of straw, which has a negative environmental impact, and high costs are associated with their elimination, wasting their potential bioactive value attributed to their richness in polyphenols. In this study, an ethanolic extract produced from sugarcane straw was screened for its phenolic compounds content, and the potential use of this extract in the development of a food ingredient was further evaluated. Fifty different secondary metabolites belonging to the hydroxybenzoic acids, hydroxycinnamic acids, and flavonoids were identified by liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization–ultrahigh-resolution—quadrupole time of flight–mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-UHR-QqTOF-MS). The predominant phenolic compounds found were 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde, chlorogenic acid, and 5-O-feruloylquinic acid. The obtained extracts showed strong potential as food preservatives by exhibiting (a) antioxidant activity using both 2.2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) diammonium salt radical cation (ABTS) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) methods; and (b) antimicrobial capacity, with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 50 mg/mL for Staphylococcus aureus, 74% inhibition for Bacillus cereus, and 44% for Salmonella enterica; and (c) the capacity to inhibit a food browning enzyme, tyrosinase (28–73% for 1–8 mg/ mL). Moreover, the extracts showed antidiabetic potential by inhibiting the enzymes α-glucosidase (15–38% for 1.25–5.00 mg/mL) and dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) (62–114% for 0.31–5.00 mg/mL). The extract (0.625 mg/mL) also exhibited the capacity to reduce proinflammatory mediators (i.e., interleukins 6 and 8, and tumor necrosis factor alpha) when Caco-2 cells were stimulated with interleukin 1 beta. Thus, sugarcane straw extract, which is rich in phenolic compounds, showed high potential to be used in the development of food-preservative ingredients owing to its antioxidant and antimicrobial potential, and to be explored as a food supplement in diabetes prevention and as coadjuvant to reduce intestinal inflammation by reducing proinflammatory mediators.

Immobilisation of lead (Pb) and toxic elements in contaminated soils is of importance due to their persistence in the environment. Herein, we investigated the effects of sugarcane filter cake biochar (SFCB) and sugarcane bagasse ash (SBA) on the extractability of Pb and some toxic and potentially toxic elements (As, Cd, Cu, and Zn) in polluted mine soil samples from Lower Klity Creek, Thailand. The soil was equilibrated with the SFCB and SBA at the respective rates of 0, 1, and 5% (w/w) for 120 days at field capacity. The results revealed that both SFCB and SBA materials significantly (P < 0.05) decreased Pb extractability in the studied soil, and it stabilised after 56 days of incubation. At 120 days, the SFCB and SBA application at the rates of 5% SFCB, 5% SBA, 1% SFCB, and 1% SBA decreased the extractable Pb contents by 50.35, 40.81, 29.42, and 19.27%, respectively, compared to unamended soil. The SFCB and SBA materials also improved soil chemical properties by increasing the soil pH, available phosphorus, and extractable sulfur. At 5%, SFCB decreased As extractability and increased organic carbon in the studied soil. The Zn availability in the studied soil was also improved by SFCB and SBA addition. This study highlights the potential use of biochar and ash from the sugarcane industry to stabilise Pb and As in contaminated soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

O crescimento das plantas de cana-de-açúcar é bastante reduzido devido à ocorrência de déficit hídrico, o que acaba afetando a produção. Diante disso, vem sendo utilizadas diferentes estratégias para atenuar condições de estresse, como a aplicação exógena de glicina betaína. Com este trabalho, objetivou-se avaliar a taxa de crescimento e a massa seca de cana-de-açúcar aplicada glicina betaína, e submetida a déficit hídrico e reidratação. O experimento foi realizado em casa de vegetação com seis tratamentos: G0I - plantas sem glicina betaína com irrigação adequada, G0E - plantas sem glicina betaína e estresse hídrico, G1I - plantas com uma aplicação de glicina betaína e irrigação adequada, G1E - plantas com uma aplicação de glicina betaína e estresse hídrico, G2I - plantas com duas aplicações de glicina betaína e irrigação adequada, G2E - plantas com duas aplicações de glicina betaína e estresse hídrico. Aos seis dias após o estresse as plantas foram reidratadas. As taxas relativas de crescimento das plantas de cana-de-açúcar reduziram com o estresse hídrico. No entanto, estas reduções foram minimizadas com a aplicação foliar de glicina betaína, principalmente, com a reidratação em que a taxa relativa de crescimento reduziu apenas 19 e 18,4%, respectivamente, em G1 e G2, enquanto em G0 a redução foi de 37,2%. A glicina betaína também minimizou as reduções na produção de massa seca total sob estresse hídrico, com reduções de 5,8 e 5,9% em G1 e G2, respectivamente, enquanto em G0 foi de 15,1%. A aplicação foliar de glicina betaína melhora a taxa relativa de crescimento de plantas de cana-de-açúcar sob estresse hídrico, sobretudo após a reidratação o que diminui os efeitos negativos do estresse sobre a produção de massa seca.

Introducción. En Colombia la agroindustria de la panela se destaca por sus aportes sociales, económicos y de seguridad alimentaria; sin embargo, demanda mejoras tecnológicas en el manejo de la fertilización de los cultivares de caña. Objetivo. Determinar el efecto de la fertilización foliar en etapa de vivero sobre parámetros de crecimiento de dos cultivares de caña de azúcar para elaboración de panela. Materiales y métodos. El experimento se llevó a cabo en 2018 en la sede Cimpa de la Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria (AGROSAVIA). Se estableció un diseño experimental completamente aleatorizado para evaluar en los cultivares CC 93-7510 y CC 93-7711 el crecimiento de plantas expuestas a tres tratamientos de fertilización foliar: (1) fuente nitrogenada, (2) fuente con macro y micronutrientes (completa), (3) mezcla de las fuentes, y el testigo absoluto. Se registraron variables alométricas en el tiempo (altura, diámetro, número de hojas y peso seco de raíz) e índices de crecimiento; con las primeras se construyeron modelos lineales mixtos generalizados y modelos Poisson, y con los índices un análisis de varianza uni y multivariado. Resultados. Los factores de evaluación (fertilización y tiempo) presentaron efectos significativos (p≤0,05) sobre las variables alométricas en los dos cultivares en comparación con el control (sin fertilización); mientras que los índices de crecimiento presentaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas por efecto de las fuentes de fertilización. Las plantas de caña CC 93-7510 fertilizadas con la mezcla de fuentes nitrogenadas y completa presentaron mayor altura y diámetro de los tallos, número de hojas y peso seco de raíces. Las plantas de caña CC 93-7711 fertilizadas con la fuente completa mostraron mayor diámetro del tallo y acumulación de peso seco de raíces. Conclusiones. La fertilización foliar en plantas de caña de ambos cultivares permitió un mayor desarrollo alométrico en menor tiempo.

Drought stress is an important concern worldwide which reduces crop yield and quality. To alleviate this problem, Trichoderma asperellum has been used as a plant growth-promoting fungus capable of inducing plant tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Here, we examined the effect of T. asperellum inoculation on sugarcane plant above and belowground development under drought stress and investigated the role of this fungus on inducing tolerance to drought at physiological and biochemical levels. The experiment was performed in pots under greenhouse conditions, with four treatments and four replicates. The treatments consisted of sugarcane plants inoculated or not with T. asperellum and grown under drought stress and adequate water availability. Drought-stressed sugarcane plants inoculated with T. asperellum changed the crop nutrition and chlorophyll and carotenoid concentrations, resulting in increased photosynthesis rate, stomatal conductance, and water use efficiency compared to the non-inoculated plants. In addition, the antioxidant metabolism also changed, increasing the superoxide dismutase and peroxidase enzyme activities, as well as the proline concentration and sugar portioning. These cascade effects enhanced the root and stalk development, demonstrating that T. asperellum inoculation is an important tool in alleviating the negative effects of drought stress in sugarcane. Future studies should be performed to elucidate if T. asperellum should be reapplied to the sugarcane ratoons.

The phenological growth cycles of sugarcane culture causes variations in the nutritional requirement. Due to these variations, leaf diagnosis can avoid limitations due to deficiency and excess of nutrients most demanded by sugarcane culture. The aim of this study was to establish the order of limitation of nutrients nitrogen (N), phosphor (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), súlfur (S), boron (B), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn) that limit sugar cane productivity by nutritional deficiency and excess cane-plant cycle (2013) and first stump (2014), using the Diagnosis and Recommendation System (DRIS) and the Nutritional Composition Diagnosis (CND) method. The database was created based on productivity and leaf nutrient content for sugarcane, considering the cane-plant (2013) and first stump (2014) cycle, making a total of 1.224 samples, composed of an average reference population of 172 t ha−1. A descriptive analysis of the data was carried out to establish the order of limitation of nutrients N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, B, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn. The DRIS and CND methodology in the cane-plant and first stump cycle. Nutritional deficiencies, excesses and balance were recognized by negative, positive and close to zero indices, respectively. The results indicated that the methods of the Comprehensive Diagnosis and Recommendation System (DRIS) and the Nutritional Composition Diagnosis (CND) method can be used to identify nutritional limitations that are responsible for nutritional imbalance and that can lead to low productivity of crops sugar cane. Being important future research in other cultures of economic interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought stress is an important concern worldwide which reduces crop yield and quality. To alleviate this problem, Trichoderma asperellum has been used as a plant growth-promoting fungus capable of inducing plant tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Here, we examined the effect of T. asperellum inoculation on sugarcane plant above and belowground development under drought stress and investigated the role of this fungus on inducing tolerance to drought at physiological and biochemical levels. The experiment was performed in pots under greenhouse conditions, with four treatments and four replicates. The treatments consisted of sugarcane plants inoculated or not with T. asperellum and grown under drought stress and adequate water availability. Drought-stressed sugarcane plants inoculated with T. asperellum changed the crop nutrition and chlorophyll and carotenoid concentrations, resulting in increased photosynthesis rate, stomatal conductance, and water use efficiency compared to the non-inoculated plants. In addition, the antioxidant metabolism also changed, increasing the superoxide dismutase and peroxidase enzyme activities, as well as the proline concentration and sugar portioning. These cascade effects enhanced the root and stalk development, demonstrating that T. asperellum inoculation is an important tool in alleviating the negative effects of drought stress in sugarcane. Future studies should be performed to elucidate if T. asperellum should be reapplied to the sugarcane ratoons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: This study was initiated to evaluate different responses of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) genotypes to sparingly soluble phosphorus (P) treatments and to identify useful plant traits contributing to P efficiency for the selection of efficient and responsive genotypes. Methods: Plant growth, root morphological parameters, photosynthetic parameters, and P efficiency were evaluated under soluble P [KH2PO4 (K‐P)] and sparingly soluble P [Ca3(PO4)2 (Ca‐P), AlPO4 (Al‐P), FePO4 · 4 H2O (Fe‐P), and sodium phytate C6H6O24P6Na12 (Org‐P)] treatments using sand cultures. Results: Sugarcane growth was inhibited under sparingly soluble P or low P treatments, by an average of 22.9% or 71.3% reduction in shoot and root biomass, respectively. Al‐P and Org‐P had higher bioavailability than Fe‐P and Ca‐P for the tested sugarcane genotypes, which showed lower rate decreases for biomass, root morphological and photosynthetic parameters under Al‐P and Org‐P treatment than those under Fe‐P and Ca‐P. In addition, the P content in shoot decreased by an average of 29.2% and 39.2% under Al‐P and Org‐P treatment, respectively, while 55.7% and 62.9% reduction was detected under Fe‐P and Ca‐P treatment, respectively, compared with K‐P treatment. BC2‐32 (hybrid progeny of sugarcane and E. arundinaceus) exhibiting greater P absorption efficiency than other two genotypes under P‐starvation treatments; and the root length, root surface areas, root volume, P accumulation, net photosynthetic rate, and shoot and root dry matter of BC2‐32 were greater than those of other genotypes under sparingly soluble P forms. Significantly correlations were found between root morphological parameters, photosynthetic parameters and P efficiency under sparingly soluble P and low‐P treatment, indicating that stronger root system and less sensitivity of photosynthesis may contribute greatly to activate and take up more P from sparingly soluble P sources. Conclusions: Therefore, BC2‐32 would be the ideal material for breeding good varieties and exhibited better growth behavior to P‐deficient soils, and root morphological parameters and photosynthetic rate would be the useful plant traits in combination to screen these sugarcane varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growth of sugarcane plants is greatly reduced due to the occurrence of drought stress, which ultimately affects production. Therefore, different strategies have been used to attenuate stress conditions, such as the exogenous application of glycine betaine. The objective of this work was to evaluate the growth rate and dry mass of sugarcane that received a glycine betaine application and was submitted to drought stress and rehydration. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse with six treatments: G0I - plants without glycine betaine with adequate irrigation, G0E - plants without glycine betaine and drought stress, G1I - plants with an application of glycine betaine and adequate irrigation, G1E - plants with an application of glycine betaine and drought stress, G2I - plants with two applications of glycine betaine and adequate irrigation, G2E - plants with two applications of glycine betaine and drought stress. Six days after the stress, the plants were rehydrated. The relative growth rates of sugarcane plants decreased with the drought stress. However, these reductions were partially minimized with the foliar application of glycine betaine, mainly with the rehydration, with the relative growth rate decreasing by only 19% and 18.4%, respectively, in G1 and G2, while the reduction was 37.2% in G0. Glycine betaine also minimized reductions in total dry mass production under drought stress, with decreases of 5.8% and 5.9% in G1 and G2, respectively, while it was 15.1% in G0. The leaf application of glycine betaine improves the relative growth rate of sugarcane plants under drought stress, especially after rehydration, which decreases the negative effects of stress on dry mass production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brazil is world leader in the production of sugarcane, crop that is grown in several regions of the country and responsible for the generation of sugar and ethanol. However, maintaining high productivity in the field requires that productive areas are increasingly equipped with innovative solutions that provide increased efficiency in crop management. The main focus of agricultural systematization is using georeferencing and geoprocessing to make more efficient the trafficability of agricultural machines and increase the productive area, reducing the costs with field operations and the risks of failures in cultures caused by trampling. The objective of this study was to evaluate the operational efficiency of autopilot on trafficability and reduction of trampling into a sugarcane harvesters cultivated area. Efficiency tests were carried out in an area cultivated with sugarcane divided between two treatments, using the autopilot with satellite navigation coupled in the harvester and in the other area, the harvester maintained the common working method (without use of automatic pilot). The data generated by the equipment were collected and the parameters of fuel consumption, operational time, production harvested and harvest losses were evaluated, compared and interpreted through multivariate statistical analysis. The results of this study indicated that the treatment using harvester with autopilot, there was significant field harvest efficiency (7.6 Mg h-1) and a reduction in fuel consumption (on average 10%) when compared to the harvester without autopilot.