Sugar Cane

Description

Sugar cane (Saccharum officinarum) is a monocotyledonous plant belonging to the family Poaceae, specifically the subfamily Panicoideae. It has a grassy appearance typical of its family and is characterized by:

* Stalks with a diameter of 20 to 45 mm and reaching a height of 3 to 6 meters
* Rhizomes present in the plant
* Bubble-shaped inflorescences that reach 40 to 60 cm in length
* Small fruits, approximately 1.5 mm long

The sugar cane has a variable number of chromosomes, ranging from 2n = 80 to other values such as 30, 40, 48, 50, 54, 60, 64, 68, 72, 88, 96, 108, or 120.

History

### Beginnings

The history of sugar cane use dates back to around the 5th century BC in East Asia. This region is also considered the origin of the plant.

### Domestication and Cultivation

Over time, four cane species have been domesticated, primarily Saccharum officinarum. Modern cultivars are complex hybrids derived from crosses between Saccharum officinarum and Saccharum spontaneum, with contributions from other related genera such as Miscanthus, Narenga, Erianthus, Saccharum robustum, and Saccharum sinense.

Production

Sugar cane is the primary source of sugar production, accounting for 70-80% of global production in the 17th century. It remains one of the world's leading crops, with an annual production volume exceeding 1.9 billion tonnes (fresh matter), or approximately 570 million tonnes (dry matter).