Plant regulators and invertase activity in sugarcane at the beginning of the harvest season

Invertases play an essential role in partitioning photosynthates between storage and growth. The objective of this study was to evaluate the activity of acid and neutral invertases and the role they play in controlling the accumulation of sucrose in sugarcane as a result of the application of plant regulators in the beginning of the cropping season.A randomized block experimental design was adopted, with five replicates.The treatments consisted in the application of three plant regulators of the class of growth inhibitors (Sulfomethuron-methyl - 20g ha-1, Glyphosate - 0.4L ha-1, and Compounds from organic carboxylic radicals + Glyphosate - 1L ha-1 + 0.15L ha-1), in addition to a control (natural ripening).The acid and neutral invertase levels are affected in different ways and intensities, due to the active principle used as ripening agent and to the weather conditions.In sugarcane variety RB85-5453, with the conditions described in this experiment, it is suggested high levels of soluble acid invertase in relation to levels of neutral invertase; however, the first was characterized by high sucrose content in the stalks.Inverse correlation could be established for sugarcane variety RB85-5453 between soluble acid invertase levels and effective sucrose accumulation in the stalks

Reguladores vegetais e atividade de invertases em cana-de-açúcar em meio de safra

O objetivo neste trabalho foi a avaliação da atividade das invertases ácida e neutra e a função que essas exercem no controle do acúmulo de sacarose em cana-de-açúcar, variedade SP80-3280, decorrente da aplicação de reguladores vegetais no meio de safra, em Igaraçu do Tietê (SP). O experimento foi conduzido em cana soca, em safras consecutivas (2004 e 2005). O delineamento experimental utilizado foi em blocos casualizados, com cinco repetições. Os tratamentos foram constituídos da aplicação de quatro reguladores vegetais da classe dos retardadores do crescimento (Etefon, Etil-trinexapac, KNO3 e KNO3 + Boro) e uma testemunha (maturação natural), comercialmente encontrados como Ethrel, Moddus, Krista Kana e Krista Kana Plus, respectivamente, adotando-se a dosagem do produto comercial: 2L ha-1, 0,8L ha-1, 3kg ha-1 e 3kg ha-1, respectivamente, sem a adição de adjuvantes. Os reguladores vegetais promovem alterações de intensidades distintas e significativas nos níveis enzimáticos das invertases ácida e neutra. A eficiência agronômica dos maturadores foi afetada de forma significativa pelo clima e pela época de aplicação. Os tratamentos com maturadores, principalmente em 2004, cujas condições climáticas foram desfavoráveis à maturação natural, favoreceram o processo de maturação da cana-de-açúcar, implicando em melhorias da qualidade tecnológica dos colmos.The objective of this research was to evaluate the activity of acid and neutral invertases in controling the storage of sucrose in sugarcane variety SP80-3280 due to plant regulators application in the middle of the cropping season in Igaraçu do Tietê (SP), Brazil. The experiment was carried out in ratoon cane (crop 2004 and 2005) in a randomized block design with five replications. The treatments consisted of four plant regulators application of the class of growth retainers (Ethephon, Ethyl.trinexapac, Potassium nitrate and Potassium nitrate + Boron) and a control (natural ripening), whose commercial products (c.p.) were Ethrel, Moddus, Krista Kana and Krista Kana Plus, with dosage of 2L c.p. ha-1, 0.8L c.p. ha-1, 3kg c.p. ha-1 and 3c.p. kg ha-1, respectively, without adjuvants application. The growth regulators provide alterations of different and significant intensity in soluble acid invertase and neutral invertase levels enzymes. The agricultural efficiency of maturators was affected significatively by the weather and time of application. The treatments with maturators, were affected most in 2004, when wheater conditions were unfavourable to natural ripening, were favour the ripening sugarcane process implicating in improvement technological quality of stems.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq