Author(s): SIMEONE, M. L. F.; MAGALHAES, P. C.; CARNEIRO, N. P.; GOMES JÚNIOR, C. C.; AVILA, R. G.; SOUZA, T. C. de; OLIVEIRA, A. C. de

Summary: Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.)] is one of the most drought tolerant cereal and many studies have been done to understand the mechanisms involved in this process. In this work, we evaluated in the greenhouse the effects of different levels of water stress on the ecophysiological characteristics and accumulation of soluble sugars in two contrasting sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] inbred lines for drought tolerance: 9910032 (tolerant) and 9618158 (sensitive). Water stress was imposed in both genotypes at pre-flowering growth stage for two different time exposure: mild (6 days of drought); severe (12 days). Recovery treatments for each drought treatment were also done at six days after the stress. Sensitive and tolerant genotypes showed lower stomatal conductance and leaf water potential for all types of stress when compared to irrigated treatments. An increase in total soluble sugar content was observed in leafs of the two sorghum genotypes however higher in the tolerant line. Overall, the genotype 9910032 presented higher photosynthetic rate and grain yield in relation to the sensitive genotype 9615818, in the same water condition. These results indicated that sugar content is modified under water deficit conditions indicating that if might be involved in plant protection.

Publication year: 2021

Types of publication: Book sections

Unit: Embrapa Maize & Sorghum

Keywords: Açúcares solúveis, Caracterização ecofisiológica, Deficiência Hídrica, Déficit hídrico, Evapotranspiração, Grão, Rendimento, Resistência a Seca, Sorgo, Taxa fotossintética