Sugarcane reproduces by stem cutting.

Sugarcane, scientifically known as Saccharum officinarum, is a perennial grass that is widely cultivated for its sweet juice. It is an important crop worldwide, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions.

Reproduction in Sugarcane:
Sugarcane has a unique method of reproduction, as it does not produce seeds like most flowering plants. Instead, sugarcane reproduces vegetatively through stem cuttings. This means that new plants are grown from sections of the stem rather than from seeds.

Process of Sugarcane Reproduction:
1. Selection of Healthy Stalks: To reproduce sugarcane, healthy and disease-free stalks are selected from mature plants.

2. Cutting of Stalks: The selected stalks are cut into smaller sections, usually around 2-3 nodes long. Each section contains one or more nodes, which are the points on the stem where leaves and buds emerge.

3. Preparation of Cuttings: The cuttings are then treated with suitable growth hormones or fungicides to promote rooting and prevent the growth of pathogens.

4. Planting the Cuttings: The prepared cuttings are planted in furrows or nursery beds that are well-prepared with fertile soil. The cuttings are placed horizontally or at a slight angle, with the buds facing upward.

5. Rooting and Shoot Development: Over time, the cuttings develop roots from the nodes and shoots emerge from the buds. These shoots grow into new sugarcane plants.

Advantages of Stem Cutting Propagation:
- Stem cutting propagation allows for the rapid multiplication of sugarcane plants, as each cutting has the potential to develop into a new plant.
- It ensures the genetic uniformity of the resulting plants, as they are clones of the parent plant.
- This method is particularly useful for sugarcane cultivation because the seeds of sugarcane are typically sterile and do not produce viable offspring.

In conclusion, sugarcane reproduces through stem cutting, where healthy stalks are cut into sections and planted to develop new plants. This method ensures the propagation of disease-free and genetically uniform sugarcane plants, contributing to the global production of sugar and other sugarcane-derived products.