Question

Explain how the plant breeding techniques has helped the sugar industry in north india?

Answer 1

• The sugarcane variety grown in North India was Saccharum barberi which had poor sugar content and yield.
• Whereas, the sugarcane variety grown in South India Saccharum officinarum had thicker stems and higher sugar content but cannot grow well in the climatic conditions of North India.
• These two species were crossed or hybridised to bring the desirable characters into one species.
• Thus, the hybrid variety produced desirable quantities of high yield, thick stems sugarcanes with high sugar content and also had the ability to grow in North India.