Sugarcane: The Crop, the Plant, and Domestication

Sugarcane, a significant component of the economy of many countries in the tropics and subtropics, is a large, tropical grass that stores sucrose in its stem and serves as an important food and bioenergy crop. Current taxonomy divides sugarcane into six species, two of which are wild and always recognized (Saccharum spontaneum L. and Saccharum robustum Brandes and Jewiet ex Grassl). Cultivated sugarcanes of today are complex interspecific hybrids primarily between Saccharum officinarum, known as the noble cane, and S. spontaneum, with contributions from S. robustum, Saccharum sinense, Saccharum barberi, and related grass genera such as Miscanthus, Narenga, and Erianthus. Understanding the source and range of diversity of sugarcane species and cultivars can enable breeders in the development of new varieties improved for high productivity with low inputs and wide adaptation to varied environments.