Physio- Biochemical and Molecular Changes Associated with Waterlogging Stress in Sugarcane: A Review

The term waterlogging refers to a condition of short/ long term water stagnation due to reduced capacity of the drainage system. In India, physical degradation of soil due to waterlogging has been estimated to be 8.5 million ha. It usually occurs due to rise in water table in almost all the canal irrigated areas with poor drainage system. Effects of waterlogging are augmented by secondary salinization and it aggravated the incidence of certain pests and diseases. In sugarcane, waterlogging is one of the major abiotic stresses affecting cane and sugar productivity. In many parts of the India, like eastern UP, northern Bihar and deltaic region of Tamil Nadu, sugarcane suffers from waterlogging during elongation phase because of heavy monsoon rains and poor drainage facilities. Higher water table during grand growth phase adversely affects cane weight and shoot population which occurs due to shift in respiratory metabolism from aerobic to anaerobic condition. Waterlogging not only reduced root growth, leaf emergence rate but also caused destruction of root function, hormone balance and nutrient availability. Sugarcane crop affected with waterlogging stress showed aerial rooting, cane lodging and decreased cane and sugar yield. Under water-logging condition, some morphological, anatomical, physiological and biochemical changes take place in plant for the sake of adaptation/survival. Present paper is an overview of physiological, morphological, anatomical, biochemical and molecular changes associated with waterlogging tolerance in sugarcane.