Translocation of sulphur in chlorotic and non-chlorotic plants of sugarcane ratoon

Investigations were carried out on the first ratoon of sugarcane (cv. CoLk 8102) exhibiting chlorosis under subtropical condition to study the role of sulphur, if any, towards ratoon chlorosis. The distribution of sulphur differed significantly in chlorotic and non-chlorotic plants. The sulphur content in the root of chlorotic plants was twice that of non-chlorotic plants suggesting more accumulation in the roots of chlorotic than in non-chlorotic plants. The stalks of chlorotic plant recorded lower sulphur content than that of nonchlorotic plants, while, the leaf sheath and leaf lamina of non-chlorotic plants registered nearly two to four times higher sulphur content, respectively, than that of chlorotic plants. Thus, there is progressive higher accumulation of sulphur in the above-ground parts of non-chlorotic plants as compared to chlorotic ones. Translocation of sulphur from root to stalk was more than two times higher in non-chlorotic than the chlorotic plants suggesting that translocation of sulphur from root to stalk was restricted in chlorotic than non-chlorotic plants. Comparative translocations in chlorotic and non-chlorotic plants suggested that transport of sulphur from stalk to leaf sheath and from leaf sheath to leaf lamina were also decreased in chlorotic than non-chlorotic plants.