Physiological Characterization of Tripidium arundinaceum and Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) Germplasm for Salinity Stress Tolerance at the Formative Stage

Abstract

A total of sixteen accessions of Tripidium arundinaceum (Retz.) Welker, Voronts. & E.A. Kellogg (previously known as Erianthus arundinaceus (Retz.) Jeswiet) were evaluated for salinity tolerance at the bud germination stage by irrigating with 175 mM salinized Hoagland solution in perlite-sand hydroponics. Six accessions, IND99-907, IND01-1134, IND01-1136, IK76-48, and Bethuadahari, were germinated with healthy roots as compared to other accessions. These six accessions were further evaluated for morphological, physiological, and root anatomical parameters for different levels of salinity stress at the formative phase. Young leaf elongation was ceased after the fourth and twelfth day in Co 97010 and Co 86032, respectively, at 175 mM of salinity stress. The growth of young leaves in Co 97010 and Co 86032 was observed up to 25 mM of salinity stress only, whereas in T. arundinaceum accessions viz., IND99-907 and Bethuadahari, growth was recorded even at 175 mM. Lignification of cell walls, thickening of protoxylems, and vacuolization of cortex regions were observed in Co 97010, Co 86032, Bethuadahari, and IND01-1134 as compared to the normal anatomical structures in IND99-907. The accession IND99-907 recorded the lowest Na/K ratio, followed by IND99-1136 at 175 mM of salinity stress. The accession IND99-907 was identified as a salinity-tolerant genotype and suitable for utilization in the sugarcane crop improvement programmes.

Assembly and comparative genome analysis of four mitochondrial genomes from Saccharum complex species

“…Mitochondria are essential for cellular energy production and numerous biological processes, including growth, development, and adaptation to environmental stress, potentially affecting agronomic traits ( Mahadevaiah et al., 2023 ). However, the specific impact may vary depending on plant species and environmental conditions.…”

“…Sugarcane breeders have used species from closely related genera to improve sugarcane varieties. Tripidium , for example, has demonstrated considerable cold hardiness and biomass yields ( Mahadevaiah et al., 2023 ); N. porphyrocoma has excellent characteristics such as high tillering ability, drought tolerance, and mosaic disease resistance ( Liu et al., 2018 ). Wild-type clones of Tripidium arundinaceum and Saccharum spontaneum show the potential to provide resistance to smut and high biomass, fiber, and bioenergy ( Anna Durai and Karuppaiyan, 2023 ; Meena et al., 2024 ).…”

Evaluating the Influence of Commercial Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (Greenical VAMTM ) on Sugarcane Growth and Yield

“…Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) is a vital crop in tropical and subtropical regions, used for sugar production and ethanol production (1) . Specifically, in India, Saccharum officinarum, a subtropical species, is the main sugar-yielding crop, making it a crucial cash crop.…”