Question

Plant breeding technique has helped sugar industry in North India. Explain how.

Answer 1

Saccharum barberi was originally grown by the farmers of north India. This breed had low sugar content and yield. Saccharum officinarum, which used to be grown in south India, had high sugar content and thicker stem. However, it could not be grown in north India. Hybridisation of these two species brought the desirable qualities of the both in a single variety, which could be grown in north India. This breeding experiment helped in the growth of the sugar industry in north India.