Physico-Chemical Changes In Sugarcane (Saccharum Officinarum Var. Yellow Cane) And The Extracted Juice During Development, Maturation And Postharvest Treatments Upon Storage

A study was conducted to determine the physico-chemical changes between different portions (top, middle, and bottom) of sugarcane at different maturity stages (between 3 and 10 months from planting). The variety used was Saccharum officinarum var. Yellow cane. The parameters analysed were weight, diameter, yield, total colour of juice, total soluble solids (TSS), pH, titratable acidity, sugar content (sucrose, glucose, fructose), tannin, chlorophyll and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity. The weight, diameter, total soluble solids (TSS) and sucrose content increased significantly (P<O.01 ) for sugarcane from all portions (top, middle and bottom) until the end of maturity stage. On the other hand, titratable acidity (TA) values, pH, juice yield, glucose, fructose contents, tannin, chlorophyll and PPO decreased significantly (P<O.0 1 ) during maturity. Significant differences were also detected in all the parameters between the different portions during maturity. Results obtained indicated that there were significant decreases (P<0.01) in tannin and chlorophyll contents during maturity

Physico-chemical changes in sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum var yellow cane) and the extracted juice at different portions of the stem during development and maturation

A study was conducted to determine the physicochemical differences between portions (top, middle, and bottom) of sugarcane at different maturation stages (between 3 and 10 months from planting). The variety used was Saccharum officinarum var. Yellow cane. The parameters analysed were weight, diameter, yield, total soluble solids (TSS), pH, titratable acidity, sugar content (sucrose, glucose, fructose). The weight, diameter, total soluble solids (TSS) and sucrose content increased significantly (P<0.01) in all portions (top, middle and bottom) up to the end of maturity. On the other hand, titratable acidity (TA), pH, juice yield, glucose and fructose contents decreased significantly (P<0.01) during maturation. However, significant differences were also detected in weight, diameter, TSS, sugar content, pH, TA and juice yield between the different portions during maturation. Sucrose content, juice yield and TSS were found to be the most suitable indicators of maturity, while TA, glucose and fructose contents were found to be poor maturity indicators. A suitable harvesting stage was found to be between 7 and 8 months after planting. Copyright © 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd