Abstract

Altough the sugarcane crop had a huge world importance the planting system stil the same since the development, needing changes to increase the procution potential. So, the objective of this study was to assess the effect of sugarcane bud chip encapsulation on the initial growth of seedlings. To provide informations for a new planting system, using small stem pieces of sugarcane to produce the seedlings. Two experiments were conducted in a completely randomized design. In the first, bud chip encapsulation was assessed with six concentrations of sodium alginate (0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 g L^-1) cross-linked with 300 mM calcium chloride, with the encapsulated chips being kept in a greenhouse. In the second experiment, the capsules resulting from the different sodium alginate concentrations were tested for the dry mass adhered to the bud chip, moisture, swelling index, biodegradability, and solubility. Emergence greater than 70% was obtained at sodium alginate concentrations of 0, 10, and 20 g L^-1. The 30, 40, and 50 g L^-1 concentrations inhibited seedling emergence and initial growth; however, when the capsule was removed, the bud chips formed viable seedlings. Encapsulation inhibited emergence because the capsule acts as a physical barrier; however, encapsulation may be used for bud chip preservation. The study of new capsules and encapsulation methods may enable the ex vitro production of synthetic sugarcane seeds.

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