For young sugarcane plants of the cv. IAC91-5155, the osmoprotectors trehalose and free proline are indicators of the effects of water stress in the soil. There are modifications
in growth and in the allocation of biomass in cv. IAC91-5155 when under conditions of severe water stress. The univariate and the multivariate analysis of the biochemical and physiological response indicate relative tolerance to drought for the cv. IAC91-5155.