Biochemical, physiological and growth changes in response to in vitro salinity in sugarcane

Abiotic stresses in plants have aroused great research interest, unceasingly seeking for more productive cultivars under unfavorable cultivation conditions. Water deficiency and soil salinity are the most studied aspects, due to their strong impact on the growth and productivity of plants. The objective of this study was to evaluate accessions of different sugarcane species (Saccharum spp., S. robustum, S. officinarum) regarding tolerance to in vitro salinity, from changes in physiological, anatomical, biochemical and biometric parameters, to assist in breeding programs. To this end, shoots were used, grown on Murashige and Skoog medium, supplemented with 2% of sucrose and 4 g.L-1 Phytagel, in the presence of five concentrations 0, 50, 100, 150, 200 mM NaCl. Shoots length, roots length, shoots number, roots number, fresh weight, dry weight, proline content in leaves, total chlorophyll content, and morphological changes to the leaf tissue were analyzed. The in vitro growth of accessions Saccharum robustum, Saccharum spp. and Saccharum officinarum are affected by salinity induced by NaCl. The proline accumulation and chlorophyll decrease are intensified in Saccharum spp., in addition to changes in cell's anatomy, characterized as more sensitive to salt.