Exercise 1 Sugarcane Plant: Parts and its Functions. Sherwin L. Macazo Date of submission: September 2, 2015 SUTC 154: Field & Factory Operations and Processes vat Instructor Jovita L. Movillon, Ph. D.I Introduction ‘The sugarcane plant is one of the main source of sucrose, a sugar of economic value (Wachman, 2015}. Asa producer of sugarcane at 2% during 2007, the Philippines is one of the main sugarcane- producing country (Cheavegatti-Gianotto, et al, 2011). Becoming accustomed to what are the essential parts of the plant may help one to understand different kind of treatments that could have been helpful for the increase of its economic value ‘The present sugarcane plant varieties being cultivated by the farmers are not of pure breed, rather are hybrids derived from crossings of different breed that are aimed for the increase in sugarcane efficiency such as yield (Cheavegatti-Gianotto, et al, 2011), Not only as source of sugar, the plant per se may be served as food given the right part has been identified as consumable by human and that the byproducts of such may also provide another benefit, ie Fuel for plantations. Different parts of the plant serve different purposes; each may serve well depending on the present need. The knowledge on the parts of the plant and its designed function will greatly help in the strategy for good economy that the plant could provide Atthe end of the report, the following objectives had been achieved: 1 the parts of the sugarcane plant has been identified; 2. the functions of each part has been described an« fen importance; and 3. different practices on the treatment on each part has been explained ll. Review of Related Literatures Sugarcane is one representative of the grass family, gramineae, from which it of giant class (Wachman, 2015; Gramineae, nd,). The plant can grow from eight to twenty feet tall, and an average of two inches thick (Wachman, 2015; Cheavegatti-Gianotto, et al, 2011)‘The scientific name of "saccharum officinarum " for the sugarcane plants are inappropriate. The sugarcane plants currently cultivated are hybrids of different known varieties of the plant, hence the nomenclature of each hybrid is necessary for the differentiation of each kind. The saccharum officinarum, or the native sugarcane plant, is very rarely used for commercial purposes due to the present high demands for sugar which the class could not provide; however, it still serves as the foundation for the succeeding varieties of the plant since it isthe variety which has the ability to store sucrose in its stalks (Cheavegatti-Gianotto, et al, 2011). Generous number of varieties of hybrids of previously known classifications of the plant are being studied for different goals such as increased yield, or resistance to diseases (Cheavegatti-Gianotto, et al, 2011) For its reproduction, many varieties of the plant do not produce fertile seeds (Wachman, 2015; Microsoft, 1994); the propagation of the plant is therefore carried artificially by cuttingthe stalk with two or more nodes buds, the composition is called seed cane, or setts (Miller, Gilbert, & Odero, 2012). The shoot for the new plant is formed from the bud which is a miniature stalk that contains growingroot and leaf (Miller, Gilbert, & Odero, 2012) ‘The characteristic of varieties of sugarcane plant called tillering is of great aid for the increase in yield. Tilleringis the development of secondary shoots from the setts. It also has the benefit of weed control hence less ab or for the maintenance of the plant (Miller, Gilbert, & Odero, 2012} I Methodology As in brazil, the significance of the sugarcane plant has been increased since the early 16th century. (Cheavegatti-Gianotto, et al, 2011), hence the existence of books about the sugarcane plant has been developing at such an early time. Also, the need forthe development of the plant is well necessary for the changing conditions of the environment. Different studies were beingperformed for the improvement of methods of cultivating and planting each of the specific hybrid of the plant given the right environment. Several books and internet sources were gathered and analyzed for the identification of the parts of sugarcane plant, as well as the designated function for each part'V. Results and Discussions There are three main parts of the sugarcane plant, namely: (1) stalk, (2) leaf and (3) root system (Miller, Gilbert, & Odero, 2012). A certain part of the stalk isthe source of juice of high concentrations of sucrose, the sugar of interest that is not obtainable at such amount in some other plants (Cheavegatti- Gianotto, et al, 2011; Barnes, 1974). The stalk has the economic value that is represented by the sugar that may be extracted from it, however it does not necessarily imply that other parts of the plant has no value. The other parts, the leaf and the root system, has definite value on its own, ie the leafis the site for photosynthesis (Wachman, 2015] where the sugar is produced before itis stored in the stalk. The stalk has segments called joints and are marked with divisions of alternating nodes and internodes. In the node is where leaf scar, axillary bud and a circumferential band of axillary root primordia are found (Barnes, 1974). The internode is frequently coated with wax that is similar to carnauba (Barnes, 1974) The process that involves the storage of the sucrose to the stalks called ripening. The amount of the said sugar varies depending on the location, at the part near the soil has highest amount that decreases through the stalk up to the top of the stalk where the leaves may be started to be observed. At the near peak of the maturity of the plant, the uniformity of the amount of sucrose alongthe stalk may be observed (Miller, Gilbert, & Odero, 2012) The recommended physical attributes of a type of cane is being comparatively longjoints and straight stalks that are to be assessed as combined with other commercial characters (Barnes, 1974) The leaves of sugarcane plant grow from the nodes. Each leaf is consisting of the sheath and the blade from which the age of the plant may be determined (Barnes, 1974) The growth of the plant dictates the extent to which the leaf-sheaths adhere to the stalk. The difference in adherence is a varietal characteristic of the plant (Barnes, 1974). This often dictates the ease of removal of trashes in the plant and thus called self-detrashing variety which is of beneficial in terms oflabor. On the other hand, having variety of which that is retentive of the trashes have the advantages of high yielding rich canes that outweighs having self-detrashing character (Barnes, 1974}. ‘There is trend of smaller length and diameter of the joints at the upper end of the stem. The part of which is the youngest internode is covered by the sheaths of the youngest leaves (Barnes, 1974) ‘The top of the stem has joints that are short, immature, and undeveloped, and contains the lower proportion of sucrose than the matured fully-grown stalks of the plant; however, these parts have comparatively high amounts of monosaccharides and non-sugars. Also, at these parts are usually the place of higher amounts of starch (Barnes, 1974}. The leaves also provide the ways for the control of the flow of water vapor and other gas into the plant. The release of water vapor is specifically called evapotranspiration. The leaf surface has stomata that has the ability to be opened or closed by specialized cells called guard cells. The stomata also provide the main defense of the plant from drought (Mller, Gilbert, & Odero, 2012) Up to the part of the stalk from which itis terminated, it represents the flowering portion of the plant. it an undesirable characteristic for a commercial cane to bear such phenomenon of flowering hence studies on its suppression is being conducted (Barnes, 1974), The flowering of the plant consumes its energy for reproduction instead of focusing for the production of sugar which is the main goal for the commercial type of sugarcane plant (Wachman, 2015). The root system of the plant has most of the infiuence to the observable development of the plant per se. As observed in some studies, even in poor soils, the plant may grow favorably due to the good root development (Barnes, 1974}. There are two main functions of the system, (1) the intake of water and nutrients from the soil and (2] to serve as anchor of the plant to the soil (Miller, Gilbert, & Odero, 2012) The roots are further classified depending on its definite physical appearance namely: (1) set roots; and (2} shoot roots (Miller, Gilbert, & Odero, 2012}. The set roots are defined by beingthin and highly branched (Miller, Gilbert, & Odero, 2012). The other, shoot roots, are defined by beingtthick, fleshy and less branched (Miller, Gilbert, & Odero, 2012)V. Summary and Conclusions ‘The main parts of the sugarcane plant are the stalk, the leaf, and the root system. Each of the parts serve different roles for the growth and development of the plant. The commercial value of definite parts of the plant differ from each other in many aspects, ie. the sugar that may be extracted from the fresh and mature stalk is more valuable from the sugar that has been extracted from any other parts of the plant VL Works cited Barnes, A C. (1974). The Sugar Cane. Aylesbury, Bucks: Leonard Hill Books. Cheavegatti-Gianotto, A, de Abreu, H., Arruda, P., Bespalhok Filho, J, Burnquist, W., Creste, S, & César Ulian, €. (2011). Sugarcane (Saccharum X officinarum): A Reference Study for the Regulation of Genetically Modified Cultivars in Brazil. Tropical Plant Biology, 4(1), 62-89. dot:10.1007/s12042- 011-9068-3 Gramineae. (n.d.) Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, (1913). Retrieved August 27 2015 from http://www thefreedictionary.com/Gramineae Miller, Gilbert, & Odero, 2012, 1D, Gilbert, R.A, & Odero, D. C. (2012). Sugarcane Botany: A Brief View. Florida: University of Florida IFAS Extension. Wachman, M. (2015, 8 24). Parts ofa Sugar Cane Plant. 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