Emergence, growth and nutrient composition of sugarcane sprouts under NaCl salinity

The changes induced by 80 and 120 mM NaCl during emergence and growth of sprouts in salt-tolerant (CPF-213) and sensitive (L-I 16) genotypes of sugarcane were determined. The rate and percentage of emergence of sprouts, length and dry mass of shoot and root, and number of nodal roots decreased under salinity. Concentrations of Na and Cl increased and those of K, Ca, N and P decreased with a rise in substrate salinity. A greater salinity tolerance ability of CPF-213 than L-116 was attributable to greater root mass and higher nutrient concentrations in the sprouts of the former genotype.