Sesbania virgata (Cav.) Pers. is a bush, pioneer and occurs naturally in Brazil. It belongs to the Fabaceae family and it is indicated for recovery of degraded areas because of its rusticity and capacity to tolerate flooding. The present research was carried out to investigate the ability of S. virgata plants to adapt to flooding conditions. Plants containing six expanded leaves were placed in masonry tanks and were subjected to the following conditions: control (well watered), soil-waterlogging (water to the setup level of 1 cm above the soil surface – roots and parts of the stems flooded) and complete submergence (whole plant flooded). The evaluations were conducted on the day of the stress induction and after 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49 and 56 days of the treatment. After 15 days of return to normoxic environment, plant survival was assessed. Growth (height, dry mass of shoots and roots), vigour, carbohydrate content and the activity of enzymes involved in anaerobic metabolism (lactate dehydrogenase, pyruvate decarboxylase and alcohol dehydrogenase) were also evaluated. Our results suggested that sesbania plants are tolerant to flooding, because they can survive being submerged for 56 days. The reasons for this tolerance include the accumulation and use of carbohydrates in the leaves and roots, maintenance of growth and the activation of anaerobic metabolism, particularly in steps catalysed by the enzymes pyruvate decarboxylase and alcohol dehydrogenase.

Water deficit is a major environmental constraint on crop productivity and performance and nitric oxide (NO) is an important signaling molecule associated with many biochemical and physiological processes in plants under stressful conditions. This study aims to test the hypothesis that leaf spraying ofS‐nitrosoglutathione (GSNO), anNOdonor, improves the antioxidant defense in both roots and leaves of sugarcane plants under water deficit, with positive consequences for photosynthesis. In addition, the roles of key photosynthetic enzymes ribulose‐1,5‐bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) in maintainingCO₂assimilation ofGSNO‐sprayed plants under water deficit were evaluated. Sugarcane plants were sprayed with water orGSNO100 μMand subjected to water deficit, by adding polyethylene glycol (PEG‐8000) to the nutrient solution. Sugarcane plants supplied withGSNOpresented increases in the activity of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase in leaves and catalase in roots, indicating higher antioxidant capacity under water deficit. Such adjustments induced byGSNOwere sufficient to prevent oxidative damage in both organs and were associated with better leaf water status. As a consequence,GSNOspraying alleviated the negative impact of water deficit on stomatal conductance and photosynthetic rates, with plants also showing increases in Rubisco activity under water deficit.

Exogenous supply of nitric oxide (NO) increases drought tolerance in sugarcane plants. However, little is known about the role of NO produced by plants under water deficit. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that drought-tolerance in sugarcane is associated with NO production and metabolism, with the more drought-tolerant genotype presenting higher NO accumulation in plant tissues. The sugarcane genotypes IACSP95-5000 (drought-tolerant) and IACSP97-7065 (drought-sensitive) were submitted to water deficit by adding polyethylene glycol (PEG-8000) in nutrient solution to reduce the osmotic potential to -0.4 MPa. To evaluate short-time responses to water deficit, leaf and root samples were taken after 24 h under water deficit. The drought-tolerant genotype presented higher root extracellular NO content, which was accompanied by higher root nitrate reductase (NR) activity as compared to the drought-sensitive genotype under water deficit. In addition, the drought-tolerant genotype had higher leaf intracellular NO content than the drought-sensitive one. IACSP95-5000 exhibited decreases in root S-nitrosoglutathione reductase (GSNOR) activity under water deficit, suggesting that S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) is less degraded and that the drought-tolerant genotype has a higher natural reservoir of NO than the drought-sensitive one. Those differences in intracellular and extracellular NO contents and enzymatic activities were associated with higher leaf hydration in the drought-tolerant genotype as compared to the sensitive one under water deficit.