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Sugarcane is a woody perennial grass plant of the genus Saccharum officinarum (botanical name of sugar cane) in the family Poaceae. These are 2–6 m (6–20 ft) tall grass plants with jointed and fibrous stalks which are rich in sucrose.
- Sugarcane or Saccharum officinarum comprises about 70 percent of the world's sugar.
- It is a large, strong-growing species of grass that is formerly derived from Sanskrit as the crop originated in Southeast Asia.
- Brazil, India, China and Cuba are major sugarcane producing countries.
- Canes are used for production of ethyl alcohol (ethanol).
- The products such as rum, molasses, and bagasse that you use in your daily life are derived from the saccharum officinarum.
- Reeds of sugarcane are used for the creation of pens, mats, screens, and thatch..
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Key Terms: Botanical Name of Sugarcane, Species, Plant Kingdom, Botanical name, Biological classification, Flowering Plant, Biological Classification of Sugarcane, Uses of Sugarcane
Botanical Name of Sugarcane
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Botanical name of sugarcane is Saccharum officinarum. It primarily originated in New Guinea and was then cultivated throughout the world.
- It is a tropical and subtropical crop that is grown primarily in hot and humid environments.
- At the time of cultivation, sugarcane requires approximately 2,000 to 2,300 mm (80 to 90 inches) of water for growth.
- This species is cultivated in soils, like red volcanic and river alluvial soils.
- The stems of the sugarcane attain a height of 3 to 4 meters and possess a diameter of about 5 centimetres.
- Different species of sugarcane include Sachharum officinarum, Saccharum sinense, Saccharum spontenum, Saccharum Barberi, Saccharum robustun, Saccharum ravennae, Saccharum procerum and Saccharum edule.
- The maximum amount of sugar is obtained from the Saccharum officinarum species of sugarcane.
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Biological Classification of Sugarcane
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The biological classification of sugarcane are as follows:
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Sub kingdom: Tracheobionta
- Family: Poaceae
- Order: Poales
- Class: Liliopsida
Uses of Sugarcane
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There are different uses for sugarcane, which are as follows:
- Sugarcane is used in the production of ethanol, bio-plastics, and fertilizers
- It is used for farm seeds and livestock.
- White sugar extraction is done with the help of a cane.
- The sugarcane juice is used as a refreshing cocktail during summer.
- It is used to treat inflammation and indigestion.
- In ayurvedic medicine, the stem of sugarcane is used to treat skin disease, bronchitis, cough, anemia, heart condition, jaundice, and low blood pressure.
- You can use it if you want to accelerate recovery and treat wounds.
- Sucrose is used as a raw material in human food industries or fermented for ethanol processing.
- The juice of the plant is used to make molasses and sugar which is a remedy for weakness, bowel disorder, leprosy, diarrhea, and anemia.
- Molasses is another byproduct of sugarcane that is obtained from industrial ethyl alcohol and is used for food for livestock.
- Bagasse is used for the production of fiberboard, wallboard, cardboarding, and paper.
Sugarcane
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Things to Remember
- The byproducts of sugarcane – bagasse are used in making paper.
- Sugarcane juice extract helps in jaundice recovery.
- It is used as livestock fodder.
- Sugarcane is one of the most complex plants due to interspecific hybridization and polyploidization.
- You all are familiar with sugarcane juice extracted by hand or small mills, with a touch of lemon and ice to make a popular summer drink.
Previous Year Questions
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Sample Questions
Ques. What kind of soil is suitable for sugarcane cultivation? (2 marks)
Ans. Many types of soils such as the river alluvial soil and the red volcanic soil supports the cultivation of sugarcane. The ideal type of soil for the growth of sugarcane is the combination of clay, silt, and sand. Stirring the subsoil which is also known as subsoiling is done after the field is plowed and left undisturbed for some time. Well-drained soil is necessary for the cultivation of the crop.
Ques. How many chromosomes are there in sugarcane? (3 marks)
Ans. Within the nuclei of both plants and animals are structures called chromosomes, which are composed of DNA and proteins. Plants typically have 24 chromosomes total—12 paternal and 12 maternal.
- Plants have more chromosomes because plants are genetically more flexible than animals.
- The chromosome number of sugarcane is 110-120 chromosomes.
- Saccharum spontaneum (2n = 40–128) has a basic chromosomal number of 8.
- While Saccharum officinarum (2n = 80) has a basic chromosome number of 10.
- The chromosome number sometimes varies and is considered 40 in haploid conditions.
Ques. What are the products that we get from sugarcane? (4 marks)
Ans. There are several uses of sugarcane. The products that we get from sugarcane are:
- Animal fodder (bagasse, molasses, green top), Sucrose, jaggery, syrups, fuels, and chemicals. rum, molasses, bagasse.
- It is a rich source of fiber.
- Other less commercial byproducts of sugarcane are trash, boiler ash, green leaves and tops, effluents generated by the sugar industry.
- Main products that are manufactured on a commercial scale are citric acid, lactic acid, ethyl alcohol, oxalic acid, cattle feed, monosodium glutamate, bakers yeast, lysine, acetone-butanol-alcohol, and torula yeast.
Ques. Answer the following: (A) What is the scientific name of black sugarcane?
(B) What is the botanical name of red rot of sugarcane?
(C) What is the botanical name of mango? (2 marks)
Ans. (A) The scientific name of black sugarcane is Saccharum sinense Roxb.
(B) The scientific name of red rot sugarcane is Glomerella tucumanensis.
(C) The scientific name of mango is Mangifera indica.
Ques. Answer the following: (A) What is the scientific name of yellow leaf disease in sugarcane?
(B) What is the chemical formula of cane sugar?
(C) Is sugarcane a fruit or vegetable? (2 marks)
Ans. (A) The scientific name of yellow leaf disease sugarcane is M.Sacchari.
(B) The chemical formula of cane sugar is C12H22O11
(C) Sugarcane does not belong to the category of fruit or vegetable. However, it is a type of perennial belonging to the genus Saccharum in the Poaceae family.
Ques. What is the taxonomy of sugarcane? (2 marks)
Ans. The taxonomy of sugarcane are as follows:
- Phylum: Tracheophyta
- Class: Liliopsida
- Order: Poales
- Family: Poaceae
Ques. How is the breeding of sugarcane performed? (3 marks)
Ans. The main objective of breeding sugarcane is to create new hybrids which are tolerant to diseases and pests of insects and improve the production of sugar per unit.
- It is also used to improve the yield of greater sugar levels.
- The first step of breeding involves getting new seeds of sugarcane.
- The process is initiated by sexually exchanging selected parents and then picking them from the new seeds.
- In this process, male and female parents are chosen from two flower cans.
Ques. How is sugarcane classified in India? (2 marks)
Ans. The classification of sugarcane in India are as follows:
- Thin and hard North Indian sugarcane S. Barberi and Chinese S. Sinensis.
- Thick and juicy noble cane S. Officinarum.
Ques. Why is sugarcane yellow in colour? (3 marks)
Ans. Sugarcane is yellow for a variety of reasons, including insect attack, drought stress, disease, phytotoxicity (or herbicide damage), nutrient deficiency, or natural maturing. Leaves of the plants located in the lower canopy are more yellow, which results in areas of brown-black necrotic spots. Due to this, the tips of the leaf and margins begin to die, with older leaves senescing earlier.
Ques. What are medicinal uses of sugarcane? (3 marks)
Ans. A sugar cane was also used medicinally. From nicotine to dyspepsia, a wide range of medical conditions have been treated in South Asia, where they are also externally applied to alleviate inflammation.
- Both roots and stems have been utilized in Ayurvedic medicine to treat conditions pertaining to the skin and urinary tract, such as bronchitis, heart problems, developing milk problems, coughing, and anemia.
- Its application for low blood pressure and jaundice has been suggested in certain transcripts. Traditionally, the paste was applied to wounds to aid in healing.
Ques. What are the four stages of production in sugarcane? (2 marks)
Ans. The four stages of production in sugarcane are as follows:
- The first stage of production includes germination and establishment.
- Second is the tillering phase.
- Third is the stem elongation or grand growth phase.
- Lastly ripening or maturing is the fourth stage of production of sugarcane.
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