Evidence of photosynthetic acclimation to self-shading in sugarcane canopies

Increasing the efficiency of photosynthesis in sugarcane canopies is key for improving crop yield. Herein, we evaluated photosynthetic performance along canopy ten cultivars and three Saccharum species. Canopy morphological traits were evaluated, leaf gas exchange was measured first (sun-exposed, +1) fourth (shaded, +4) fully expanded leaves under low- high-light conditions. Similar capacity found +1 +4 high light genotypes with a area index fraction sky blocked by foliage (> 85%). Interestingly, such characteristics cause low availability to +4, suggesting acclimation these self-shading some genotypes. We highlight IACCTC06-8126 CTC4 as those higher capacity, presenting area, rates sun-exposed leaves, responsiveness shaded increasing availability.