ABSTRACT
Sugarcane (Saccharum ssp.) is the main crop for the supply of sugar and ethanol production in tropical and subtropical areas. Annual sugar production in these areas has averaged almost 160 million tons over the last few years, which represents around 80 per cent of world production. Ethanol production in this area is approximately 85 billion litres, corresponding to 35 per cent of world production. Brazil is the main producer of sugarcane as a raw material. It accounts for more than one third of world production, with 670 million tons of cane, followed by India with 285 million tons (FAO, 2011). In 2009, the global sugarcane production was 1,661 million tons in total (FAO, 2011).
