Leaf‐tissue silicon content of sugarcane genotypes grown on everglades histosols¹

Florida Agricultural Experiment Station Journal Series No. R‐03166.

Abstract

On soils low in plant‐available silicon (Si), fertilization of sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) with calcium silicate slag increases plant Si content and sugar yield. However, Si fertilization is costly. Plants which are more efficient in accumulating available Si may have an economic advantage, and selection for genotypes with greater Si content may be warranted. The purpose of this study was to determine if there was genetic variability for plant‐tissue Si content in selected populations of commercial‐type sugarcane clones in the Canal Point (CP), Florida breeding program. A total of 52 sugarcane genotypes from the third and fourth stages of the sugarcane breeding program were evaluated for Si content in leaves. Clones were evaluated as plant cane in randomized complete‐block experiments at four sites which varied in plant‐available Si. Soils at three sites were organic Histosols; the fourth was a sand. The locations and the forty Stage HI clones varied significantly (P<0.01) in plant‐tissue Si. Stage P7 test sites also varied significantly, but the 12 clones, which were of a narrower genetic base, did not. In both tests, ‘CP 72–1210’, a very popular and high‐yielding commercial cultivar, had the greatest mean Si content. Results indicated that genotypic variability for Si content exists in elite, commercial‐type sugarcanes. A greater range of Si content might be found in a more diverse array of genotypes. A study to investigate the heritability and stability of plant tissue Si content should be feasible.

Notes

Florida Agricultural Experiment Station Journal Series No. R‐03166.