Variational formulas for curves of fixed degree

We consider a length functional for C^1 curves of fixed degree in graded manifolds equipped with a Riemannian metric. The first variation of this length functional can be computed only if the curve can be deformed in a suitable sense, and this condition is expressed via a differential equation along the curve. In the classical differential geometry setting, the analogous condition was considered by Bryant and Hsu in [Invent. Math., 114(2):435-461, 1993, J. Differential Geom., 36(3):551-589, 1992], who proved that it is equivalent to the surjectivity of a holonomy map. The purpose of this paper is to extend this deformation theory to curves of fixed degree providing several examples and applications. In particular, we give a useful sufficient condition to guarantee the possibility of deforming a curve.