Sugarcane

Saccharum spp.

1. Identification and origin

Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) is a group of species of the Poaceae family, originating from South-East Asia and Melanesia. The varieties currently cultivated result from complex hybrids, mainly between Saccharum officinarum L., Saccharum spontaneum L. and Saccharum barberi Jeswiet. It is one of the oldest and most widespread tropical crops.

2. Economic importance

It is the main raw material for sugar production worldwide and a significant source of fuel ethanol, molasses, animal feed and energy (biomass). Countries such as Brazil, India, China and Thailand lead global production. The crop has a strong economic and social impact in tropical and subtropical regions.

3. Botanical characterisation

A robust perennial herbaceous plant, with erect stalks that can reach 3–6 m in height. The stalks are rich in sucrose and have well-defined nodes and internodes. The leaves are long, linear and cutting. The inflorescence is a plumose panicle, produced mainly under short-day conditions. Propagation is predominantly vegetative, through stalk segments with 2 to 3 shoots.

4. Soil and climate requirements

It requires a warm and humid climate, with ideal temperatures between 20–32 °C. It needs high solar radiation and well-distributed rainfall, although it tolerates moderate periods of drought. It prefers deep, well-drained soils, with good fertility and a pH between 5.5 and 7.0. It is sensitive to prolonged waterlogging and compacted soils.

5. Main pests

• Sugarcane borer (Diatraea saccharalis): galleries in the stalks and reduction of sucrose content.
• Root spittlebug (Mahanarva fimbriolata): root damage and plant decline.
• Termites (Isoptera): perforations and lodging of stalks.
• Mites (Tetranychidae): chlorosis and loss of vigour.

6. Main diseases

• Orange rust (Puccinia melanocephala): leaf pustules and reduction of productivity.
• Brown rust (Puccinia kuehnii): leaf lesions and defoliation.
• Leaf scald (Xanthomonas albilineans): chlorotic stripes and death of tillers.
• Smut (Sporisorium scitamineum): formation of black whip-like structures and loss of vigour.
• Root rots (Fusarium spp., Colletotrichum spp.): decline and death of stools.

7. General crop management

Management includes the selection of adapted and resistant varieties, planting with healthy vegetative material, weed control in the early stages, balanced fertilisation and maintenance of good drainage. Harvesting should be carried out at the optimal point of maturation to maximise sucrose content. Continuous monitoring is essential for the control of borer and foliar diseases.

Bibliographic references

• EPPO Global Database – Saccharum spp..
• CABI Crop Compendium – Saccharum officinarum.
• Irvine, J. E. (1999). Saccharum species as horticultural classes. Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 98, 186–194.
• Singh, N., et al. (2013). Sugarcane diseases and their management. In: Rao, G. P. (Ed.), Sugarcane: Production, Management and Agro–Industrial Uses.
• Solomon, S. (2016). Sugarcane Production and Development.