Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Background and aim: Developing genotypes with enhanced performance under phosphorus (P) deficiency can be described as an approach to improving production sustainability. This study investigated the physiological responses of sugarcane varieties to varying P availability and the plant traits contributing to P efficiency (shoot dry matter production under low P availability).Methods: Sugarcane varieties IACSP94-2101, IACSP95-5000, RB86-7515, IAC91-1099, IACSP94-2094 and IAC87-3396 were grown under low (25 mg P kg−1 soil) and high (400 mg P kg−1 soil) P supply, and the leaf gas exchange, photochemical activity, plant growth and P uptake were evaluated.Results: The sugarcane varieties responded distinctly to a low P supply, as indicated by differences in root and shoot growth, leaf area, net CO2 assimilation, photosynthetic P utilization efficiency, leaf P concentration and P uptake. The following ranking was obtained for P efficiency: IACSP94-2094 = IACSP95-5000 > IAC87-3396 = RB86-7515 = IACSP94-2101 = IAC91-1099.Conclusion: Greater leaf area, net CO2 assimilation and P acquisition efficiency were combined in the more P-efficient varieties but not in the less efficient ones. 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