Phenotypic Plasticity: The Best Approach for Stress Selection | Chapter 10 | Advances and Trends in Agricultural Sciences Vol. 1
The abiotic stresses are the main factors associated to low productivity, since they are related to the soil and the conditions of the environmental adversities. These are difficult to control factors and when severely affects production dramatically. The expand agricultural production to new crop areas in the tropical regions is an important strategy to supply the huge demand for food and renewable energy sources. However toxic aluminum (Al) present in tropical soils is a limiting factor for agricultural production. The objective of this study was to identify Al-tolerant and Al-sensitive sugarcane genotypes, based on phenotypic plasticity. Eleven sugarcane genotypes were evaluated under non-stress and Al-stress conditions. Genetic variability regarding Al tolerance was observed among the sugarcane genotypes by phenotypic plasticity. Al-stress caused a reduction in the primary root length and in the shoot dry weight, but an increase in the lateral root length. There was a difference...