Maria Letícia G. Melloni¹, Maria Natália G. Melloni¹, Maximiliano S. Scarpari², Júlio César Garcia², Marcos G. A. Landell¹, Luciana R. Pinto^1*

Show more
¹ Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Jaboticabal, Brazil.
² Sugarcane Research Center, Instituto Agronômico de Campinas (IAC), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.
Show less

Abstract: Flowering is essential in any breeding programme, particularly in genetic introgression programmes in which flowering synchronism is required. In this work, 16 sugarcane genotypes were evaluated using three different flowering-inductive photoperiod treatments (30 s, 45 s, and 1 min of a daily photoperiod decrease from 12 h 55 of light). Each genotype was planted in 43 L pots (equal proportion of soil, sand, and substrate) with three tillers per pot. Plants with 4 to 6 internodes were placed in a photoperiod facility with three controlled chambers, each chamber containing all 16 genotypes (one treatment per chamber). The temperature range (21°C to 32°C) and humidity were the same for all of the treatments. The flower induction started in September 2010 and ended in April 2011. The plant elongation and flag leaf and inflorescence emergence were recorded and the pollen viability was evaluated by using the iodine staining method. The photoperiod facility provided suitable conditions for flowering, as the plants in the three treatments successfully flowered. The genotypes in the three treatments behaved differently in relation to the date of panicle emergence, with the treatment of 45 s showing better results. The results here presented contribute to synchronise flowering for desired sugarcane crosses, particularly those from introgression programmes between commercial cultivars and species from the Saccharum complex.

Keywords: Artificial Induction, Leaf Flag, Photoperiod Facilities, Physiologic Flowering, Pollen

Cite this paper: Melloni, M. , Melloni, M. , Scarpari, M. , Garcia, J. , Landell, M. and Pinto, L. (2015) Flowering of Sugarcane Genotypes under Different Artificial Photoperiod Conditions. American Journal of Plant Sciences, 6, 456-463. doi: 10.4236/ajps.2015.63051.

References

[1]   Clements, H.F. and Awada, M. (1967) Experiments on the Artificial Induction of Flowering in Sugarcane. International Society of Sugar Cane Technologists, 12, 795-812.

[2]   Humbert, R.P. (1974) El cultivo de la caña de azucar. 6th Edition, Editorial Continental, México DF.

[3]   Srivastava, R.P., Singh, S.E., Singh, P. and Singh, S.B. (2006) Artificial Induction of Flowering in Sugarcane under Sub-Tropical Conditions—A Successful Approach. Sugartech, 8, 184-186.

[4]   Taiz, L. and Zeiger, E. (2010) Plant Physiology. 6th Edition, Sinauer Associates, Sunderland.

[5]   Berding, N. (1981) Improved Flowering and Pollen Fertility in Sugarcane under Increased Night Temperature. Crop Science, 21, 863-867.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2135/cropsci1981.0011183X002100060016x

[6]   Berding, N., Pendrigh, R.S. and Dunne, V. (2007) Can Flowering in Sugarcane Be Optimized by Use of Differential Declinations for the Initiation and Developmental Phases? Proceedings of International Society of Sugarcane Technologists, Durban, 699-711.

[7]   Pereira, A.R. (1985) Previsão do florescimento em cana-de-açúcar. Comunicação da Pesquisa Agropecuária, 3, 15-16.

[8]   Berding, N. (1995) Improving Flowering through Breeding: Progress and Prospects. International Society of Sugar Cane Technologists, 17, 162-171.

[9]   Moore, P.H. and Nuss, K.J. (1987) Flowering and Flower Synchronization. In: Heinz, D.J., Ed., Sugarcane Improvement through Breeding, Elsevier, Amsterdam, 273-311.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-444-42769-4.50012-6

[10]   Scarpari, M.S., Garcia, J.C., Xavier, M.A., Landell, M.G.A., Mendonca, J.R. and Melloni, M.L.G. (2011) Building and Automation of the First Photoperiod Facility Made in Brazil for Sugarcane Breeding. Proceedings of the 10th Germplasm and Breeding 7th Molecular Biology Workshop, Maceió, 39-39.

[11]   Machado Jr., G.P. (1987) Melhoramento da cana-de-açúcar. In: Paranhos, S.B., Ed., Cana-de-açúcar: Cultivo e utilização, Fundação Cargill , Campinas, 165-186.

[12]   Berding, N., Pendrigh, R.S. and Dunne, V. (2010) Pursuing Higher Efficacy for Managed Photoperiodic Initiation of Sugarcane Flowering in the Tropics. Proceedings of Australia Society of Sugar Cane Technologists, Bundaberg, 234-250.

[13]   Berding, N. and Hurney, A.P. (2005) Flowering and Lodging, Physiological-Based Traits Affecting Cane and Sugar Yield. What Do We Know of Their Control Mechanisms and How Do We Manage Them? Field Crops Research, 92, 261-275.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2005.01.015

[14]   Melloni, M.L.G., Scarpari, M.S., Pinto, L.R., Perecin, D., Xavier, M.A. and Landell, M.G.A. (2014) Selfing Rate Estimation in Sugarcane under Unfavorable Natural Conditions of Crossing by Using Microsatellite Markers. Genetics and Molecular Research, 13, 2278-2289.
http://dx.doi.org/10.4238/2014.March.31.8

[15]   Moore, P.H. (1987) Physiology and Control of Flowering. Proceedings of Copersucar International Sugarcane Breeding Workshop, Piracicaba, 101-127.