In this study, the response of 89 sugarcane
clones covering a broad genetic base including cultivars,
parents in commercial breeding programmes, and clones derived
from recent introgression of wild species S. spontaneum and
Erianthus arundinaceus, was examined. The objective was to
characterize genetic variation in sugarcane in response to water
stress, to provide a basis for subsequent research on physiological
mechanisms causing observed genetic variation, and to develop efficient methods to select clones with higher yields
under water limitation.