Water logging is a widespread phenomenon that
drastically reduces the growth and survival of sugarcane,
which leads to 15–45 % reduction in cane yield. The extent of
injury due to water logging depends upon the genotypes,
environmental conditions, stage of development and the
duration of stress. Improved understanding of the physiological
responses of sugarcane to these conditions could help to
develop strategies to sustain high yields under waterlogging
situation. Response of sugarcane for growth, physiology,
biochemical, yield and quality were studied under short term
and long term waterlogging conditions in several sugarcane
growing countries. Studies indicate that, water logging stress
inhibits the leaf and stem expansion, tiller production and
causes changes in orientation of shoot extension. Aerial roots
that develop by the influence of flood, not only help in
maintaining root activity under flooding conditions by supplying
necessary oxygen, but also contribute for the higher dry
matter accumulation. A higher ethylene concentration under
flooding increases the sensitivity of adventitious root-forming
tissues and plays a principal role in aerenchyma formation.
Waterlogging stress during formative phase caused 13.00,
21.63, 26.52 and 42.5 % reductions in plant height, tiller
production, leaf area and total biomass respectively. Anaerobic
polypeptides (ANPs) recently reported have shown to be
involved in the pathways which mobilize sucrose or starch for
ethanol fermentation, which is necessary to maintain energy
production under anaerobic conditions. Up regulation of
most of the candidate genes viz., Aldehyde dehydrogenase
(ALDH5F1), ACC oxidase, submergence induced proteins
(ANP’s) and G-box binding factor-1 in tolerant varieties