To decrease dependency of fossil fuels and avoid direct competition with food crops, massive research efforts are investigating next-generation cellulose biofuel crops such as switchgrass (Panicum virgatum). A low-input, sustainable switchgrass production could be achieved by reducing traditional management practices though applying plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), of which our understanding is still rather limited. To elucidate physiological mechanisms behind PGPR's beneficial effects, we inoculated switchgrass seedlings with Burkholderia phytofirmans strain PsJN. Two experiments were conducted to determine the initial and long-term responses of switchgrass to PsJN inoculation by tracking growth and leaf physiology. In a third experiments, we tested the effects of PsJN on growth and leaf-level physiology of switchgrass under a moderate pre-drought conditioning and a successive severe drought stress. PsJN inoculation increased biomass and promoted elongation of shoots within 17 days following inoculation. The enhanced root growth in PsJN inoculated plants lagged behind the shoot response, resulting in greater allocation to aboveground growth (p=0.0041). Lower specific root length (p=0.0158) and higher specific leaf weight (p=0.0029) were also observed in PsJN inoculated seedlings, indicating advanced development. Photosynthetic rates (Ps) were higher in PsJN inoculated seedlings after 17 days (54%, p=0.0016), which were related to higher stomatal conductance, greater water use efficiency, and lower non-stomatal limitation of Ps. These rapid changes in leaf physiology are at least partially responsible for switchgrass growth enhancement from PsJN treatment. The early growth enhancement in PsJN inoculated switchgrass linearly decreased with plant age. PsJN inoculation increased Ps of upper canopy leaves by 13.6% but reduced Ps of lower canopy leaves by 8.2%. Accelerated leaf senescence and early flowering were observed in PsJN-inoculated switchgrass, which might contribute to slightly lower aboveground biomass at final harvesting. Drought preconditioning increased Ps of PsJN-inoculated switchgrass during a later severe drought; whereas, control switchgrass only benefited from drought preconditioning when leaf water potential dropped below -1 MPa. This study verified early growth enhancement and accelerated development of switchgrass due to PsJN inoculation. Rapid improvement in leaf physiology is related to enhanced productivity. PsJN inoculation also improve drought tolerance of switchgrass. / Ph. D.

O setor sucroalcooleiro encontra-se em plena expansão no país, incluindo áreas consideradas marginais, principalmente no que diz respeito à disponibilidade hídrica. O estabelecimento da cultura no campo é fundamental para o sucesso da atividade agrícola, uma vez que define parte do potencial de produção, sendo que o déficit hídrico nessa fase pode afetar significativamente o stand de plantas. Dessa forma, o presente trabalho teve por objetivo quantificar os níveis de déficit hídrico que comprometem o desenvolvimento inicial da cana-de-açúcar, para diferentes profundidades de solo (níveis de disponibilidade hídrica). O experimento foi conduzido na área de pesquisa do Departamento de Engenharia de Biossistemas na Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ/USP) em ambiente protegido (casa de vegetação). O solo utilizado foi classificado como Latossolo Vermelho Amarelo, textura franco arenosa, denominado Série Sertãozinho. Foram utilizadas caixas de cimento amianto com capacidade de 100 litros, preenchidas com diferentes camadas de pedra brita nº 02, e solo, simulando profundidades de 10, 20, 30 e 40 cm. Os níveis de déficit hídrico foram representados pela evapotranspiração de referência acumulada de 0, 40, 80, 120, 160, 200, 240 e 280 mm, desde o plantio até o retorno da irrigação, estando a umidade inicial do solo na capacidade de campo. O sistema de irrigação utilizado foi por gotejamento e o manejo da irrigação com base em tensiometria. O delineamento experimental em blocos ao acaso (DBC) no esquema fatorial 4 x 8, totalizou 32 tratamentos, sendo a parcela experimental representada por uma caixa contendo, inicialmente, seis gemas de cana-de-açúcar. Observou-se que a umidade do solo na capacidade de campo na ocasião do plantio é suficiente para promover a brotação e emergência das mudas, independente do nível de déficit hídrico imposto posteriormente. Para profundidades de solo de 10 e 20 cm, nível de déficit hídrico de 160 mm de ET0ac provocou a morte total das plantas, enquanto que para profundidades de 30 e 40 cm, isto ocorreu com nível de 200 mm de ET0ac. Nível de déficit hídrico de 40 mm de ET0ac já é suficiente para reduzir, de forma significativa, o desenvolvimento da planta, independente da profundidade de solo. Entretanto, em condições desfavoráveis de plantio (a 10 e a 20 cm), o efeito negativo do déficit hídrico sobre o desenvolvimento da planta é ainda maior. Além deste efeito, a imposição do déficit hídrico também causou mudança no padrão de crescimento da planta, sendo expresso pela maior relação raiz - parte aérea. A eficiência no uso da água na fase inicial da cultura foi reduzida significativamente com o déficit hídrico e a redução da profundidade do solo explorada pelo sistema radicular, apresentando valores entre 0,16 e 3,21 g L-1. / Sugar and ethanol industry is booming in Brazil, including marginal areas, especially those related to water availability. The establishment of the crop in the field is fundamental to the success of this intensive agriculture, since it defines the baseline of the potential production. Water deficit at this stage can significantly affect plant stand. This study aimed to quantify water deficit levels that undertake the initial development of cane sugar, for different soil depths (levels of water availability). The experiment was conducted in the research area of the Biosystems Engineering Department at the School of Agriculture \"Luiz de Queiroz\" (ESALQ / USP) under greenhouse conditions. The soil was classified as Red-Yellow Latosol, sandy loam, called Sertãozinho Series. It was used cement boxes with a capacity of 100 liters, filled with different layers of nº 02 gravel, and soil, simulating porous media depths of 10, 20, 30 and 40 cm. The levels of water deficit were represented by the reference evapotranspiration accumulated (ET0ac) of 0, 40, 80, 120, 160, 200, 240 and 280 mm from planting until the return of irrigation, with the initial soil moisture at field capacity. Drip irrigation system and tensiometers were used to control soil moisture. The experiment was carried out under randomized block design (RBD) in a factorial scheme of 4 x 8, totalizing 32 treatments, being the experimental unit represented by a box containing six gems of sugar cane initially. Maintaining soil moisture at field capacity at planting time is sufficient to promote sprouting and emergence of seedlings, regardless of water deficit level following. For soil depths of 10 and 20 cm, water deficit level of 160 mm ET0ac caused total death of the plants, while soil depths between 30 and 40 cm, this occurred with a higher level of 200 mm ET0ac . Water deficit level of 40 mm ET0ac is enough to reduce significantly the aerial development of sugar cane plants, regardless of soil depth. However, under unfavorable planting conditions (10 and 20 cm soil preparation), the negative effect of drought on plant development is pronounced. In addition to this effect, the imposition of water deficit also caused changes in the plant growth rate that was expressed by a higher relationship root - aboveground biomass. Water use efficiency in the initial phase of sugar cane crop was significantly reduced with water deficit and the reduction of soil depth explored by the root system, with values ranging from 0,16 to 3,21 g dry mass L-1 of water.

Agronomic and physiological traits associated with drought adaptation were assessed within the Seri/Babax recombinant inbred line population, derived from parents similar in height and maturity but divergent in their sensitivity to drought. Field trials under different water regimes were conducted over three years in Mexico and under rainfed conditions in Australia. Under drought, canopy temperature (CT) was the single-most drought-adaptive trait contributing to a higher performance (R2= 0.71, p<0.0001), highly heritable (h2= 0.65, p<0.0001) and consistently associated with yield phenotypically (r= -0.75, p<0.0001) and genetically [R(g)= -0.95, p<0.0001]. CT epitomises a mechanism of dehydration avoidance expressed throughout the growing season and across latitudes, which can be utilised as a selection criteria to identify high-yielding wheat genotypes or as an important predictor of yield performance under drought. Early response under drought, suggested by a high association of CT with estimates of biomass at booting (r= -0.44, p<0.0001), leaf chlorophyll (r= -0.22,p<0.0001) and plant height (r= -0.64, p<0.0001), contrast with the small relationships with anthesis and maturity (averaged, r= -0.10, p<0.0001), and with osmotic potential (r= -0.20, p<0.0001). Results suggest that the ability to extract water from the soil under increasing soil water deficit is a major attribute of drought adaptation. Ample genetic variation and significant transgressive segregation under drought suggested a polygenic governance feasible of dissection via molecular markers of CT and associated physiological and agronomic traits. Bulked segregant analysis of selected secondary traits was utilised as an alternative to complete genome mapping, due to a low polymorphism (27%) within the cross and limited chromosomic linkage of loci. The assessment of the extremes of expression in a genotypic subset with a composite molecular database of 127 markers (PCR-based and AFLPs) allowed evaluation of the three hexaploid wheat genomes and coverage of all chromosomic groups, except 3D. One-way analysis of variance indicated significant associations of loci explaining phenotypic variance under drought and rainfed conditions, of 20-70% in Mexico and 20-45% in Australia (F>5.00, p<0.05). Significant loci were established in both latitudes for all physiological and agronomic traits assessed via BSA, with CT being the trait with the most numerous associations (in Mexico, 34 loci; in Australia, 24). Results demonstrate an efficient development of molecular markers associated to physiological traits under specific soil water conditions in Mexico and Australia, and suggest further genomic and transcriptomic studies be conducted for unravelling the complex relationship between drought adaptation and performance under drought. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1284279 / Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, 2007

Agronomic and physiological traits associated with drought adaptation were assessed within the Seri/Babax recombinant inbred line population, derived from parents similar in height and maturity but divergent in their sensitivity to drought. Field trials under different water regimes were conducted over three years in Mexico and under rainfed conditions in Australia. Under drought, canopy temperature (CT) was the single-most drought-adaptive trait contributing to a higher performance (R2= 0.71, p<0.0001), highly heritable (h2= 0.65, p<0.0001) and consistently associated with yield phenotypically (r= -0.75, p<0.0001) and genetically [R(g)= -0.95, p<0.0001]. CT epitomises a mechanism of dehydration avoidance expressed throughout the growing season and across latitudes, which can be utilised as a selection criteria to identify high-yielding wheat genotypes or as an important predictor of yield performance under drought. Early response under drought, suggested by a high association of CT with estimates of biomass at booting (r= -0.44, p<0.0001), leaf chlorophyll (r= -0.22,p<0.0001) and plant height (r= -0.64, p<0.0001), contrast with the small relationships with anthesis and maturity (averaged, r= -0.10, p<0.0001), and with osmotic potential (r= -0.20, p<0.0001). Results suggest that the ability to extract water from the soil under increasing soil water deficit is a major attribute of drought adaptation. Ample genetic variation and significant transgressive segregation under drought suggested a polygenic governance feasible of dissection via molecular markers of CT and associated physiological and agronomic traits. Bulked segregant analysis of selected secondary traits was utilised as an alternative to complete genome mapping, due to a low polymorphism (27%) within the cross and limited chromosomic linkage of loci. The assessment of the extremes of expression in a genotypic subset with a composite molecular database of 127 markers (PCR-based and AFLPs) allowed evaluation of the three hexaploid wheat genomes and coverage of all chromosomic groups, except 3D. One-way analysis of variance indicated significant associations of loci explaining phenotypic variance under drought and rainfed conditions, of 20-70% in Mexico and 20-45% in Australia (F>5.00, p<0.05). Significant loci were established in both latitudes for all physiological and agronomic traits assessed via BSA, with CT being the trait with the most numerous associations (in Mexico, 34 loci; in Australia, 24). Results demonstrate an efficient development of molecular markers associated to physiological traits under specific soil water conditions in Mexico and Australia, and suggest further genomic and transcriptomic studies be conducted for unravelling the complex relationship between drought adaptation and performance under drought. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1284279 / Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, 2007

O setor sucroalcooleiro encontra-se em plena expansão no país, incluindo áreas consideradas marginais, principalmente no que diz respeito à disponibilidade hídrica. O estabelecimento da cultura no campo é fundamental para o sucesso da atividade agrícola, uma vez que define parte do potencial de produção, sendo que o déficit hídrico nessa fase pode afetar significativamente o stand de plantas. Dessa forma, o presente trabalho teve por objetivo quantificar os níveis de déficit hídrico que comprometem o desenvolvimento inicial da cana-de-açúcar, para diferentes profundidades de solo (níveis de disponibilidade hídrica). O experimento foi conduzido na área de pesquisa do Departamento de Engenharia de Biossistemas na Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ/USP) em ambiente protegido (casa de vegetação). O solo utilizado foi classificado como Latossolo Vermelho Amarelo, textura franco arenosa, denominado Série Sertãozinho. Foram utilizadas caixas de cimento amianto com capacidade de 100 litros, preenchidas com diferentes camadas de pedra brita nº 02, e solo, simulando profundidades de 10, 20, 30 e 40 cm. Os níveis de déficit hídrico foram representados pela evapotranspiração de referência acumulada de 0, 40, 80, 120, 160, 200, 240 e 280 mm, desde o plantio até o retorno da irrigação, estando a umidade inicial do solo na capacidade de campo. O sistema de irrigação utilizado foi por gotejamento e o manejo da irrigação com base em tensiometria. O delineamento experimental em blocos ao acaso (DBC) no esquema fatorial 4 x 8, totalizou 32 tratamentos, sendo a parcela experimental representada por uma caixa contendo, inicialmente, seis gemas de cana-de-açúcar. Observou-se que a umidade do solo na capacidade de campo na ocasião do plantio é suficiente para promover a brotação e emergência das mudas, independente do nível de déficit hídrico imposto posteriormente. Para profundidades de solo de 10 e 20 cm, nível de déficit hídrico de 160 mm de ET0ac provocou a morte total das plantas, enquanto que para profundidades de 30 e 40 cm, isto ocorreu com nível de 200 mm de ET0ac. Nível de déficit hídrico de 40 mm de ET0ac já é suficiente para reduzir, de forma significativa, o desenvolvimento da planta, independente da profundidade de solo. Entretanto, em condições desfavoráveis de plantio (a 10 e a 20 cm), o efeito negativo do déficit hídrico sobre o desenvolvimento da planta é ainda maior. Além deste efeito, a imposição do déficit hídrico também causou mudança no padrão de crescimento da planta, sendo expresso pela maior relação raiz - parte aérea. A eficiência no uso da água na fase inicial da cultura foi reduzida significativamente com o déficit hídrico e a redução da profundidade do solo explorada pelo sistema radicular, apresentando valores entre 0,16 e 3,21 g L-1. / Sugar and ethanol industry is booming in Brazil, including marginal areas, especially those related to water availability. The establishment of the crop in the field is fundamental to the success of this intensive agriculture, since it defines the baseline of the potential production. Water deficit at this stage can significantly affect plant stand. This study aimed to quantify water deficit levels that undertake the initial development of cane sugar, for different soil depths (levels of water availability). The experiment was conducted in the research area of the Biosystems Engineering Department at the School of Agriculture \"Luiz de Queiroz\" (ESALQ / USP) under greenhouse conditions. The soil was classified as Red-Yellow Latosol, sandy loam, called Sertãozinho Series. It was used cement boxes with a capacity of 100 liters, filled with different layers of nº 02 gravel, and soil, simulating porous media depths of 10, 20, 30 and 40 cm. The levels of water deficit were represented by the reference evapotranspiration accumulated (ET0ac) of 0, 40, 80, 120, 160, 200, 240 and 280 mm from planting until the return of irrigation, with the initial soil moisture at field capacity. Drip irrigation system and tensiometers were used to control soil moisture. The experiment was carried out under randomized block design (RBD) in a factorial scheme of 4 x 8, totalizing 32 treatments, being the experimental unit represented by a box containing six gems of sugar cane initially. Maintaining soil moisture at field capacity at planting time is sufficient to promote sprouting and emergence of seedlings, regardless of water deficit level following. For soil depths of 10 and 20 cm, water deficit level of 160 mm ET0ac caused total death of the plants, while soil depths between 30 and 40 cm, this occurred with a higher level of 200 mm ET0ac . Water deficit level of 40 mm ET0ac is enough to reduce significantly the aerial development of sugar cane plants, regardless of soil depth. However, under unfavorable planting conditions (10 and 20 cm soil preparation), the negative effect of drought on plant development is pronounced. In addition to this effect, the imposition of water deficit also caused changes in the plant growth rate that was expressed by a higher relationship root - aboveground biomass. Water use efficiency in the initial phase of sugar cane crop was significantly reduced with water deficit and the reduction of soil depth explored by the root system, with values ranging from 0,16 to 3,21 g dry mass L-1 of water.

A cana-de-açúcar (Saccharum spp.) é uma cultura de grande importância social, econômica e ambiental para o Brasil, ocupa 7,1 milhões de hectares, com produção de aproximadamente 570 milhões de toneladas. A disponibilidade hídrica é a principal causa da redução da produtividade, sendo o início do desenvolvimento o período mais sensível a déficit hídrico. São necessárias mais pesquisas para entender claramente os mecanismos de resposta da cultura ao déficit hídrico. Assim, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o desenvolvimento vegetativo e resistência à seca de duas variedades da cultura de cana-de-açúcar (RB867515 e SP81-3250) durante a fase inicial de desenvolvimento quando submetidas a diferentes níveis de estresse hídrico para quatro profundidades de solo. O experimento foi realizado na área de pesquisa do Departamento de Engenharia de Biossistemas na Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ/USP) em ambiente protegido (casa de vegetação), o solo utilizado foi classificado como Latossolo Vermelho Amarelo, textura franco arenosa, denominado Série Sertãozinho. Utilizaram-se caixas dágua de 100 litros preenchidas com diferentes camadas de pedra brita nº 02, e solo, compondo camadas de 40, 30, 20 e 10 cm. Os níveis de déficit hídrico (N) foram aplicados interrompendo-se as irrigações por diferentes períodos, sendo que a evapotranspiração de referência acumulada (EToAc) foi de 0, 21, 38 e 58 mm até o tratamento ser novamente irrigado para N1, N2, N3 e N4 respectivamente. O sistema de irrigação utilizado foi por gotejamento e o manejo realizado com base em dados de umidade do solo obtidos a partir de leituras de tensiômetros. O delineamento foi em blocos ao acaso (DBC) em esquema fatorial 2 x 4 x 4 com os tratamentos dispostos em faixas, totalizando 32 tratamentos, sendo a parcela experimental representada por uma caixa contendo quatro touceiras de cana-de-açúcar. Observou-se que as plantas cultivadas em solo com profundidade de 10 cm apresentaram redução significativa na extensão máxima do colmo primário, massa de folhas do colmo primário, massa de folhas e bainha+colmo dos perfilhos, mesmo não tendo restrição hídrica. Para solos rasos, a variedade SP81-3250 foi mais sensível ao déficit hídrico, com grande redução na massa seca de folhas e bainha+colmo dos perfilhos. O desenvolvimento das plantas em solos de 30 e 40 cm de profundidade não apresentou diferença de sensibilidade ao déficit hídrico entre as variedades. Uma vez que o nível de água disponível do solo seja esgotado, a tolerância à seca das variedades estudadas é relativamente baixa. Balanços hídricos com valores menores que -13 mm causam queda significativa na população final de plantas, independentemente da variedade, sendo que, a partir de um valor acumulado de -35 mm, nenhuma planta sobreviveu. / Sugar cane (Saccharum spp.) is an important crop from social, economic and environmental points of view for Brazil. It occupies 7,1 million hectares, producing approximately 570 million tons per year. Total available water in the soil (TWA) is the main cause of low productivity of certain areas, and the early development period it is one of most sensitive to water deficit. More research is needed to clearly understand mechanisms of crop response to drought, so this study aimed to evaluate plant growth and drought resistance of two varieties of the crop of sugar cane (RB867515 and SP81- 3250) during the initial phase of development, under different water stress levels for different soil depths. The experiment was conducted at the Biosystems Engineering Department at the School of Agriculture \"Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ/USP) under greenhouse conditions; the soil used was classified as Typic Yellow, sandy loam, called Series Sertãozinho. Fiber cement containers were used, filled with 100 liters of different gravel layers and soil, forming layers 40, 30, 20 and 10 cm of soil. The levels of water deficit (N) were applied interrupting the irrigation for different periods of cumulative reference evapotranspiration (EToAc): 0, 21, 38 and 58 mm, before reirrigated treatment for N1, N2, N3 and N4 respectively. Irrigation management was carried out based on a drip irrigation system and tensiometer readings. The design was a randomized block design (RBD) in factorial 2 x 4 x 4 with treatments arranged in bands, totalizing 32 treatments (containers), presenting four clumps of sugar cane per recipient. It was observed that plants growing in 10 cm soil depths showed a significant reduction to the fullest extent of the primary stem, leaf mass of primary stem, leaf mass and stem sheath of tillers, although not differing under water restriction. For shallow soils the variety SP81-3250 was more sensitive to drought, with a large reduction in dry weight of leaves and stalks + sheath of the tillers. The development of plants in soils 30 and 40 cm soil depths showed no difference in sensitivity to water deficit among varieties. The percentage of plants alive correlated very well with the value of climatic water balance, and the treatments with climatic water balance more negative than -13 mm had a significant reduction in final plant population, without difference among varieties; after - 35 mm of water deficit, 100% of the plants died.

Carbon isotope discrimination (?13C) may be an appropriate measure for determination of the water use efficiency (WUE) of plants. This work confirms the negative correlation of ?13C and WUE in selected genotypes of barley and wheat. It also deals with the suitability of using the observed relationship in breeding of drought resistant crops.

The main goal of this thesis is to ascertain the influence of a water stress on regenerative and growth properties of grasses which were exposed to a water deficit and the influence on area composition of certain permanent grass vegetation. Assessment levels were based on container experiments. Each container contained selected class and subclass of a grass with different water regime demands. The aim of these experiments was to determine regenerative and growth abilities of chosen grasses which were exposed to water deficit and their ability to regenerate after drought during the grass branching phase. Another part of these experiments was to assess water regime impact on distribution of grasses in chosen areas. In the Czech Republic, grass vegetation is one of the basic food components for farm animals, mainly cattle, and it is an important landscaping element. It is also a component of forage industry which is a significant part of an agriculture output and the main goal in practice is to provide sufficient production of high quality,biologically valuable and healthy fodder.

A cana-de-açúcar (Saccharum spp.) é uma cultura de grande importância social, econômica e ambiental para o Brasil, ocupa 7,1 milhões de hectares, com produção de aproximadamente 570 milhões de toneladas. A disponibilidade hídrica é a principal causa da redução da produtividade, sendo o início do desenvolvimento o período mais sensível a déficit hídrico. São necessárias mais pesquisas para entender claramente os mecanismos de resposta da cultura ao déficit hídrico. Assim, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o desenvolvimento vegetativo e resistência à seca de duas variedades da cultura de cana-de-açúcar (RB867515 e SP81-3250) durante a fase inicial de desenvolvimento quando submetidas a diferentes níveis de estresse hídrico para quatro profundidades de solo. O experimento foi realizado na área de pesquisa do Departamento de Engenharia de Biossistemas na Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ/USP) em ambiente protegido (casa de vegetação), o solo utilizado foi classificado como Latossolo Vermelho Amarelo, textura franco arenosa, denominado Série Sertãozinho. Utilizaram-se caixas dágua de 100 litros preenchidas com diferentes camadas de pedra brita nº 02, e solo, compondo camadas de 40, 30, 20 e 10 cm. Os níveis de déficit hídrico (N) foram aplicados interrompendo-se as irrigações por diferentes períodos, sendo que a evapotranspiração de referência acumulada (EToAc) foi de 0, 21, 38 e 58 mm até o tratamento ser novamente irrigado para N1, N2, N3 e N4 respectivamente. O sistema de irrigação utilizado foi por gotejamento e o manejo realizado com base em dados de umidade do solo obtidos a partir de leituras de tensiômetros. O delineamento foi em blocos ao acaso (DBC) em esquema fatorial 2 x 4 x 4 com os tratamentos dispostos em faixas, totalizando 32 tratamentos, sendo a parcela experimental representada por uma caixa contendo quatro touceiras de cana-de-açúcar. Observou-se que as plantas cultivadas em solo com profundidade de 10 cm apresentaram redução significativa na extensão máxima do colmo primário, massa de folhas do colmo primário, massa de folhas e bainha+colmo dos perfilhos, mesmo não tendo restrição hídrica. Para solos rasos, a variedade SP81-3250 foi mais sensível ao déficit hídrico, com grande redução na massa seca de folhas e bainha+colmo dos perfilhos. O desenvolvimento das plantas em solos de 30 e 40 cm de profundidade não apresentou diferença de sensibilidade ao déficit hídrico entre as variedades. Uma vez que o nível de água disponível do solo seja esgotado, a tolerância à seca das variedades estudadas é relativamente baixa. Balanços hídricos com valores menores que -13 mm causam queda significativa na população final de plantas, independentemente da variedade, sendo que, a partir de um valor acumulado de -35 mm, nenhuma planta sobreviveu. / Sugar cane (Saccharum spp.) is an important crop from social, economic and environmental points of view for Brazil. It occupies 7,1 million hectares, producing approximately 570 million tons per year. Total available water in the soil (TWA) is the main cause of low productivity of certain areas, and the early development period it is one of most sensitive to water deficit. More research is needed to clearly understand mechanisms of crop response to drought, so this study aimed to evaluate plant growth and drought resistance of two varieties of the crop of sugar cane (RB867515 and SP81- 3250) during the initial phase of development, under different water stress levels for different soil depths. The experiment was conducted at the Biosystems Engineering Department at the School of Agriculture \"Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ/USP) under greenhouse conditions; the soil used was classified as Typic Yellow, sandy loam, called Series Sertãozinho. Fiber cement containers were used, filled with 100 liters of different gravel layers and soil, forming layers 40, 30, 20 and 10 cm of soil. The levels of water deficit (N) were applied interrupting the irrigation for different periods of cumulative reference evapotranspiration (EToAc): 0, 21, 38 and 58 mm, before reirrigated treatment for N1, N2, N3 and N4 respectively. Irrigation management was carried out based on a drip irrigation system and tensiometer readings. The design was a randomized block design (RBD) in factorial 2 x 4 x 4 with treatments arranged in bands, totalizing 32 treatments (containers), presenting four clumps of sugar cane per recipient. It was observed that plants growing in 10 cm soil depths showed a significant reduction to the fullest extent of the primary stem, leaf mass of primary stem, leaf mass and stem sheath of tillers, although not differing under water restriction. For shallow soils the variety SP81-3250 was more sensitive to drought, with a large reduction in dry weight of leaves and stalks + sheath of the tillers. The development of plants in soils 30 and 40 cm soil depths showed no difference in sensitivity to water deficit among varieties. The percentage of plants alive correlated very well with the value of climatic water balance, and the treatments with climatic water balance more negative than -13 mm had a significant reduction in final plant population, without difference among varieties; after - 35 mm of water deficit, 100% of the plants died.