Abstract
Sugarcane is a globally important sugar crop, and stalk sugar content is a primary determinant of its industrial value. While ethephon is a commonly used ripening agent known to enhance sugarcane sugar accumulation, systematic field studies evaluating its optimal application remain limited. This research addresses this gap by presenting a detailed investigation into the field application of ethephon to maximize sugar accumulation in sugarcane. Using the medium-to-late maturing sugarcane cultivar ‘ZZ9’, this study investigated the interactive effects of ethephon application concentration, timing, and harvest time on sugar accumulation. Employing a rigorous orthogonal experimental design and Response Surface Methodology (RSM), we systematically dissected the spatial (internode-dependent) and temporal (application and harvest timing-dependent) effects governing ethephon application efficacy. Foliar application of ethephon at varied concentrations significantly enhanced sugar content in sugarcane stalks, specifically affecting these immature internodes. Spatiotemporal application of ethephon revealed optimized results: applying 400 mg/L ethephon approximately 250 days after emergence, followed by harvesting 11 days later, increased stalk sugar content by 0.73% (a 4.4% improvement over the control). Further optimization using RSM established a robust regression model, which predicted that spraying 480 mg/L ethephon at 243 days after emergence, followed by harvesting 10 days post-application, would increase Brix by 0.817% in the 4 th internode, corresponding to a 12.16% relative enhancement compared to the control. Although ethephon application slightly reduced sugarcane yield and potentially accelerated leaf senescence, these effects were outweighed by the observed improvements in sugar enhancement under optimized conditions. This study successfully elucidated the optimal application parameters for ethephon to enhance sucrose accumulation in field-grown sugarcane. These findings provide a readily applicable protocol for growers aiming to improve sugar yields, offering valuable insight for enhancing cultivation efficiency and promoting sugar industry development. • Optimized ethephon application boosts 12.16% increase of sugarcane sugar. • First evidence: ethephon’s effect concentrated in young sugarcane internodes. • Model reveals optimal ethephon protocol: 480 mg/L at 243 days, harvest 10 days post. • Strategic ethephon use enhances sugar content without significant yield reduction. • New insights into ethephon application for improved sugarcane cultivation efficiency.
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Claims 6
Claim · model-written summary
Foliar ethephon significantly enhanced sugar content, particularly in immature sugarcane internodes.
- Taxon
- sugarcanee0
- Organ / stage
- immature internodese0
- Treatment
- Foliar application of ethephon at varied concentrationse0
- Outcome
- sugar content in sugarcane stalkse0
- Direction
- enhancede0
Not reportedComparator
Verbatim
e0“Foliar application of ethephon at varied concentrations significantly enhanced sugar content in sugarcane stalks, specifically affecting these immature internodes”
Claim · model-written summary
Applying 400 mg/L ethephon around 250 days after emergence and harvesting 11 days later increased stalk sugar content by 0.73%, 4.4% over control.
Verbatim
e0“applying 400 mg/L ethephon approximately 250 days after emergence, followed by harvesting 11 days later, increased stalk sugar content by 0.73% (a 4.4% improvement over the control)”
t0“sugarcane”
Claim · model-written summary
The RSM model predicted that 480 mg/L ethephon at 243 days and harvest 10 days later would raise fourth internode Brix by 0.817%, or 12.16% over control.
Verbatim
e0“predicted that spraying 480 mg/L ethephon at 243 days after emergence, followed by harvesting 10 days post-application, would increase Brix by 0.817% in the 4 th internode, corresponding to a 12.16% relative enhancement compared to the control”
t0“sugarcane”
Claim · model-written summary
Ethephon slightly reduced sugarcane yield.
- Taxon
- sugarcanee0
- Treatment
- ethephon applicatione0
- Outcome
- sugarcane yielde0
- Direction
- reducede0
- Qualifier
- slightlye0
Not reportedComparator
Verbatim
e0“ethephon application slightly reduced sugarcane yield”
Claim · model-written summary
Ethephon potentially accelerated sugarcane leaf senescence.
- Taxon
- sugarcanet0
- Treatment
- ethephon applicatione0
- Outcome
- leaf senescencee0
- Direction
- acceleratede0
- Qualifier
- potentiallye0
Not reportedComparator
Verbatim
e0“ethephon application slightly reduced sugarcane yield and potentially accelerated leaf senescence”
t0“sugarcane”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors recommend the optimized ethephon application protocol to growers to improve sugar yields.
Verbatim
e0“These findings provide a readily applicable protocol for growers aiming to improve sugar yields”
t0“sugarcane”
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