Species of sugarcane

• Sugarcane is known by the scientific name Saccharum officinarum L
• The Saccharum genus comprises six species: S. spontaneum , S. robustum, Saccharum officinarum, S. edule, S. sinense and S. barberi
• Saccharum officinarum, S. sinensis and S. barberi are the three main cultivated species of sugarcane
• spontaneum and S. robustum are the wild species which are used for breeding and research study only
• edule is cultivated as vegetable
• sinensis and S. barberi are thought to be ancient intergeneric hybrid

a. Saccharum officinarum (2n=80)

• It is an octapolyploid (having eight copies of each chromosome)
• It is also called “noble cane”, most common species
• These are stout, soft, thick as well as thin and have luxuriant growth habit
• These canes are thin and juicy & are good for chewing purpose
• They have higher percentage of sucrose than Desi (local) varieties, low fiber and produce high tonnage
• These are resistant to smut, but are susceptible to red-rod and mosaic diseases
• The clones are high susceptible to moisture stress, low temperature, saline, alkaline and water logged condition
• At present they are grown for chewing purpose
• These are less suitable for factories where bagasse (fibre after extraction from cane) is used for fuel purpose

b. Saccharum sinense (2n =111 to 120)

• This is also known as “Chinese cane”
• This species are indigenous to north-eastern India or south east China
• They are characterized by long and narrow leaves & long and thin stalks
• Internodes of these canes are long and more or less zig-zag and nodes are prominent
• Sugar content is low to medium and early maturity
• Stems have high fiber content and yield poor quality juice than S. officinarum
• The clones are susceptible to moisture stress condition and red rot disease but resistant to mosaic disease

c. Saccharum barberi (2n =80 to 124)

• This species derives its name from S/C scientist Dr. C.A. Barber of India
• It is known as “Indian species”
• This species is also indigenous to north-eastern India
• Canes are characterized by short and thin stalk, narrow leaves
• It has low to medium sucrose content & early maturity
• These canes are hardy, drought and frost resistant to some extent
• The clones are highly tolerant to high and low temperature, saline, alkaline and water-logged condition
• Useful for factories which use begasse as fuel due to high fibre content

d. Saccharum robustum (2n=60 or 80)

• This species are indigenous to New Guinea
• It is a wild species & grows along river banks
• It is believed to be ancestral species of Saccharum officinarum
• The stalks are long, thick and is vigorous growing perennial (upto 10 m)
• It is rich in fibre and poor in sugar content
• It not suitable for agricultural production
• It is famous for its hardiness
• It is used for fencing

e. Saccharum spontaneum (2n=40-128)

• It is also known as wild cane occurring from east asia to north africa
• The cane is very thin and short, the leaves are narrow and hard
• It is highly polymorphic, disease resistant, vigorous species
• This species is useful for evolving hybrid varieties particularly to obtain disease and stress resistant types
• It has high fibre with low sugar content (2-10%)
• It is distinguished from cultivated saccharum by thinner canes & narrow inflorescence

f. Saccharum edule

• It is morphologically similar to Saccharum robustum but it’s inflorescence is compacted
• It is cultivated as vegetable in island of pacific & Papua New Guinea
• Compacted inflorescence eaten as vegetable Species