Sugarcane

The higher alcohols occur in minor quantities primarily as the wax ester (ester of a fatty alcohol and a fatty acid) in many oilseed and marine sources. Free alcohols octacosanol [557-61-9] C2gH gO, and triacontanol [28351-05-5] have been isolated in very small amounts from sugarcane and its... 

The commercial use of 2,4-D has decreased substantially and (ca 1993) it has general use for home lawns to control broadleaved weeds it also is used on a limited basis to control broadleaved weeds in commercial moncotyledonous crops, eg, sugarcane. 2,4-D is used on citms when the fmit is 1/3 to 1 inch in diameter to increase fmit size and to limit fmit drop on trees more than six years old. It should not be appHed to trees that are in fliU flush. A further use includes treatment of harvested lemons at 500 mg/L to improve storage properties and to delay yeUowing (23). It is used in certain parts of the world to increase latex flow in old mbber tree plantations. 

Sugarcane is cultivated ia tropical and semitropical regions, eg. Central and South America, Cuba, India, AustraUa, Africa, and the Ear East. Sugarbeets are grown ia more temperate climates such as North America, Europe, and the former Soviet Union. In some nations, eg, the United States, China, and Japan, sucrose is produced from both sources. 

Production and consumption statistics for sucrose are shown ia Table 1. World production of sucrose dufing 1993—1994 was - 110 million metric tons, of which - 64% was derived from sugarcane. The largest producer is the European Union (EU), followed closely by India and Bra2il. In 1993—1994, the United States ranked fourth in production. World raw sugar prices from 1990—1995 ranged from 20.20—32. l0/kg (10). 

Pests iaclude rats, a severe problem ia some areas, wild animals, nematodes, and a number of iasects. The most severe iasect pests are the various types of borers, ie, the sugarcane borer, Diatrea saccharalis (F.) and the eldana borer, Pldana saccharina which cause damage first by boring iato the cane stalk, then by providing entry poiats for other diseases, and finally by reduciag cane and juice quality. 

---