Sugarcane

Sugarcane is a perennial crop grown widely in tropical and subtropical regions of the world to provide food (sucrose), bio-ethanol and electricity. This chapter summarises the state of physiological knowledge of the development and growth processes of the sugarcane crop. The control of these processes by environmental, genetic, and agronomic factors is discussed, with the emphasis on the role of capture and efficiency in the use of radiation and water in achieving high yields. Opportunities for using crop physiological knowledge in breeding and agronomy to achieve higher crop productivity, more efficient use of resources, and reduced environmental impacts, are explored. Recent advances in increasing early growth vigour and resource capture through agronomic practices and crop improvement are assessed. The role of leaf-level traits such as stomatal conductance and transpiration efficiency in determining crop yields in different environments is discussed, and the feasibility of high throughput phenotyping for these traits to support breeding is assessed. The physiology of sucrose accumulation is summarised, and opportunities and limitations for increasing sucrose yields are discussed. Climate change studies pertaining to sugarcane across the world are summarised, and the likely impacts on resource capture and efficiency of use analysed. Research gaps that need attention to overcome current and future limitations and challenges are identified and discussed.