8/6/2019 Phil8943 Response to Drought
1/2
SRA -LGAREC
U P D A T E SPublished by the SRA-La Granja Agricultural
Research and Extension Center La Granja, La Carlota City
Negros Occidental, Philippines?&?0973-222-810
Vol. 3 No. 6 July 1999
RESPONSE OF PHIL 8943 TO
DROUGHT
Moisture stress has always beenassociated with poor yield
especially when
prolonged. In 1971, Samuels stated that great
reduction in yield of plant growth is morepronounced in water
deficit conditions. Intimes of water shortage, the first
distress
symptom of a cane plant is the curling up offoliage during the
heat of the day. Later, it
becomes flaccid and limp. With extendeddrought, the plant
finally dies (King, 1965).
However, the cane plant has the capacity torevive if water is
applied even after severely
wilted for an extended period.
Variety is the dominant factor governing
the drought resistance of sugarcane.Sugarcane varieties however,
differ in their
resistance to water stress. Using varietiestolerant to drought
is a most practical means
of minimizing the effects of prolongedmoisture stress.
At the Sugar Regulatory AdministrationResearch Station, new
varieties developed are
routinely subjected to drought resistance tests.Results of these
studies serve as a guide to
sugarcane farmers on what variety to plant totide over drought
conditions.
A greenhouse study to determine theresponse of Phil 8943 to
different levels of
water stress was conducted from June 1997 toJune 1998. The
variety was subjected to 12,
24 and 36 days of water stress at 1, 3, 5 and 7months after
planting (MAP).
Results of the study showed that plantheight and number of
tillers of Phil 8943 were
not affected by water stress regimes at thedifferent months
after planting. Leaf length
gave comparable results up to harvest whileleaf width was
significantly affected at 7
MAP. The number of leaves and leaf areawere similarly affected
at 5 and 7 MAP. The
number of dry leaves was the only parameterthat gave significant
differences from 1 up to
7 MAP. It was generally lowest in numberwith regular watering,
significantly increasingas water stress increased.
Only the number of stalks at 5 MAP wasaffected by the water
stress regimes at
harvest. The effect of the different waterstress regimes on leaf
width, number of leaves
and leaf area appeared to fade at harvestThis suggests that Phil
8943 recovered from
the adverse effects of water stressFurthermore, leaf length,
plant height
refractometer brix, biomass and stalkdiameter were not also
affected by water
stress. Phil 8943 exhibits most of thecharacteristics of a
drought tolerant variety.
The inclusion of Phil 8943 amongsugarcane varieties in the farm
will help
minimize loss due to adverse climaticconditions, such as El Nio,
that may occur in
an area.
SOURCE:Terminal report entitled " Response of Phil 8949 to
Drought" by Purita F. Gipanago, presented at the
Sugar Regulatory Administration pre-In-House Review
May 6-7, 1999, La Granja, La Carlota City
