Sugarcane
Sugar is a perennial grass belonging to the genues saccharum,
tribe Andropogoneae,and family poaceae(Gramineae).It's one of the most Photosynthetiacally
-efficiant c4 plant.Inter-breeding among species has led to the establisment of
the sugarcane industry in areas most unlikely for production.sugarcane today is
cultivated in 127 countries in both thesubtropics and tropics.
Of the six species of sugarcane generally recognized.two are considered wiled and four are domesticated:
Saccharum :
officinarum
Used primarily for sugar production.They are moderatelytall, of various colours,thick stalks,low in fibre,and high in sucrose content.There are over four hun dred clones of s. officinarum. This specie is highly adaptable, resistant to diseases,cold,drought, and other difficult growing condition.
Saccharum:
Spontaneum
For this reason,this specie is widely used to interbreed with s.officinarum.However,s.spntaneum is thin stalked, high in fiber and low in sucrose content.
Saccharum :
sinense
This specie has been used for sugar production in areas ofIndia,China,Japan,Philippines and Hawaii. stalks aregenerally thin,but resistant to disease,drought and flooding.
Saccharum:
Barbari
This specie is native of India .Typically had narrow leaves, is short cane, and is considered hardy.has been used for sugar production
Saccharum:
robustum
This specie was discoverd in New Guinea.Stems are large in dimeter,tall and vigorus.Susceptible to similar diseases as s. officinarum.
Saccharum edule:
This specie is thought to be in intergeneric hybried edule of Miscanthus floridus and s.robustum.It has the appearance of cauliflower,and can be eaten. s.edule is considered sterile.
Saccharum is thought to have evolved in the Burma-china-India area of outhern asia.Typical of Southern Asia are s.spontaneum,s.sinense and s.barberi',relatively juicy form of the latter two were used at the beginning of sugarcane cultivation and pro cessing in India and China.as cane spread to other areas,s.robostum developed in the islands of Southeast Indinesia,and evolved into s.officinarum in the new Guinea area.Each of the five species,other than s.edule,generally produces fertile flowers and can be intercrossed.Commercial sugarcane cultivators are mostly tri-specie hybride involving s.officinarum,s.spontaneum,and either s.barberi or s.sinense.