ABSTRACT
White mulberry (Morus alba) and sugarcane (Saccharum sp.) are two important species of plants grown in Cuba for their multiple uses. In commercial production, they are propagated by stakes or cuttings. Many areas where these two species are grown are prone to flooding,which can have damaging impacts in the early stages of plant growth. This research was conducted in order to evaluate the effect of low-potency biotechnological laser treatments on the shooting and initial growth of these two species, and under excessive water conditions in the substrate. In a completely random design, cuttings of both species with two different laser exposure times (10 and 20 seconds) were evaluated after 15 and 30 days. After 30 days, shoots that were exposed to a laser for 10 seconds were placed in flooded and non-flooded substrates. The results indicated that exposure of the shoots to the laser beams for 10 seconds gave the best results in terms of the number of buds sprouted, and in flooding conditions caused a greater elongation of the bud and increased the aerenchyma (spongy plant) tissue. This research holds potential for producing a physical method of seed priming on an industrial scale and should be explored further.
