Saccharum

Saccharum subsp. var.
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Sugarcane is any of six to thirty-seven species (depending on taxonomic system) of tall perennial grasses of the genus Saccharum (family Poaceae, tribe Andropogoneae). Native to warm temperate to tropical regions of Asia, they have stout, jointed, fibrous stalks that are rich in sugar, and measure two to six meters (six to nineteen feet) tall. All sugar cane species interbreed, and the major commercial cultivars are complex hybrids.

Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture

Saccharum (saccharon, old Greek name for sugar). Gramineae. The sugar-cane group, little grown for ornament, although making bold specimens. Tall grasses with stout culm and ample panicles, the branches many-jointed: spikelets small, slender, 1-fld., surrounded by long silky hairs.—Species 12, in tropical regions, mostly of the Old World. Differs from Erianthus in having awnless spikelets. The most important species is the sugar-cane, which is extensively cult. in tropical and subtropical countries for the production of sugar. Prop. by cuttings of the st. Native country unknown, but probably E. Asia. Cult. from time immemorial by cuttings, for which reason many varieties have lost the power to flower or at least to produce fertile seed. Rum is produced from the fermented molasses. The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.

Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture

syn. Erianthus (Greek, erion, wool, and anthos, a flower). Gramineae. Plume-grabs. Tall reed-like ornamental perennials with large woolly plume-like inflorescence. Spikelets in pairs, one sessile, the other pedicellate, as in Andropogon, arranged in spikes, and these in a large terminal panicle, clothed with long hairs, especially around the base, the fertile lemma awned.—Species about 18, warmer regions of both hemispheres. The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.

Cultivation

Sugar cane field on Madeira

Sugarcane cultivation requires a tropical or temperate climate, with a minimum of 60 cm in of annual moisture. It is one of the most efficient photosynthesizers in the plant kingdom.

Harvesters by cutting the cane just above ground-level using cane knives or machetes.

Once cut, sugarcane begins to lose its sugar content.

Propagation

Although sugarcanes produce seeds, modern stem cutting has become the most common reproduction method. Each cutting must contain at least one bud. Once planted, a stand can be harvested several times; after each harvest, the cane sends up new stalks, called ratoons. Successive harvests give decreasing yields, eventually justifying replanting. Two to ten harvests may be possible between plantings.

Pests and diseases

The cane grub can substantially reduce crop yield by eating roots; it can be controlled with Confidor or Lorsban. Other important pests are the larvae of some butterfly/moth species, including the turnip moth, the sugarcane borer (Diatraea saccharalis), the Mexican rice borer (Eoreuma loftini); leaf-cutting ants, termites, spittlebugs (especially Mahanarva fimbriolata and Deois flavopicta), and the beetle Migdolus fryanus. The planthopper insect Eumetopina flavipes acts as a phytoplasma vector, which causes the sugarcane disease ramu stunt.

Numerous pathogens infect sugarcane. See the list of sugarcane diseases. Grassy Shoot Disease (SCGS) caused by Phytoplasma, Whiptail disease caused by smut (Ustilago scitaminea), Pokkah Boeng caused by Fusarium moniliforme, Red Rot disease caused by Colletotrichum falcatum are important and widely found diseases of sugarcane. Among viruses, Sugarcane mosaic virus, Maize streak virus, Sugarcane Yellow Leaf Virus are found seldom.

Species

37 species^RH including:

• Saccharum arundinaceum
• Saccharum bengalense
• Saccharum edule
• Saccharum officinarum
• Saccharum procerum
• Saccharum ravennae
• Saccharum robustum
• Saccharum sinense
• Saccharum spontaneum

Gallery

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References

• Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture, by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963

External links

• w:Saccharum. Some of the material on this page may be from Wikipedia, under the Creative Commons license.
• Saccharum QR Code (Size 50, 100, 200, 500)