Biopolymer and Biostimulant Coatings for Sugarcane Single-Budded Sett: Biotech to Modulate Early Growth and Metabolic Resilience
摘要
Biopolymers and polymeric materials are extensively employed in agriculture as water retainers, soil conditioners, and bioremediation agents. Strategic advancements in materials science have facilitated the application of these biotechnologies to seeds and vegetative propagules, enabling their use as physical barriers against biotic and abiotic stresses, as well as tools for the controlled release of bioactive compounds. Both applications contribute to enhanced plant resilience and crop sustainable. In this context, the present study aims to evaluate the feasibility of using biodegradable coatings incorporated with biostimulants for the treatment of sugarcane single-budded sett. Biopolymers were synthesized from polysaccharide (sodium alginate) associated, or not, with synthetic clay (Laponite); furthermore, incorporated with tryptophol, in the following treatments: T1—Control; T2—10 µmol of tryptophol; T3—Alginate (3%); T4—Alginate (3%) + tryptophol; T5—Laponite; T6—Laponite + tryptophol; T7—Hybrid biopolymer; T8—Hybrid biopolymer + tryptophol. Morphological analyses were carried out to characterize the biopolymers, and after bioassays in the laboratory and the field. The sugarcane stalks were selected and then sectioned, obtaining the single-budded sett (4 cm), with presence of one bud each. During bioassays, the plant morpho-physiology was evaluated. Physical analyses show that polymeric materials have a homogeneous morphology, and bioassays prove that tryptophol and hybrid polymer + tryptophol induced greater growth of the aerial part, while the hybrid polymer promoted root development in sugarcane. Tryptophol and alginate biopolymer treatments proved to be effective in activating enzymes that control H2O2 in plant tissues. In the field, it was found that tryptophol incorporated into the hybrid polymer increases the soluble solids content in sugarcane plants. The use of biopolymers for sugarcane single-budded sett coating refers to promising biotechnology for sugarcane crops.