Sugar cane was once a wild grass that grew
in New Guinea and was used by local people for roofing their houses and fencing
their gardens. Gradually a different variety evolved which contained sucrose
(蔗糖) and was chewed on for its sweet taste. Over time, sugar cane became a
highly valuable commercial plant, grown throughout the world. {{U}}
{{U}} 1 {{/U}} {{/U}} Sugar became a vital
ingredient in all kinds of things, from confectionery (糖果点心) to medicine, and,
as the demand for sugar grew, the industry became larger and more profitable.
{{U}} {{U}} 2 {{/U}} {{/U}} Many crops withered
(枯萎) and died, despite growers' attempts to save them, and there were fears that
the health of the plant would continue to deteriorate. In the
1960s, scientists working in Barbodos looked for ways to make the commercial
species stronger and more able to resist disease. They experimented with
breeding programmes, mixing genes from the more delicate, commercial type.
{{U}} {{U}} 3 {{/U}} {{/U}}This sugar cane is not yet ready to
be sold commercially, but when this happens, it is expected to be incredible
profitable for the industry. {{U}} {{U}} 4
{{/U}} {{/U}}Brazil, which produces one quarter of the world's sugar, has
coordinated an international project under Professor Paulo Arrudo of the
Universidade Estaudual de Campinas in Sao Paulo. Teams of experts have worked
with him to discover more about which parts of the genetic structure of the
plant are important for the production of sugar and its overall
health. Despite all the research, however, we still do not
fully understand how the genes in sugar cane. {{U}} {{U}} 5
{{/U}} {{/U}}This gene is particularly exciting because it makes the plant
resistant to rust, a disease which probably originated in India, but is now
capable of infecting sugar cane across the world. Scientist believe they will
eventually be able to grow a plant which cannot be destroyed by rust.
A. Since the 1980s, scientists have been analysing the mysterious of the
sugar canes genetic code. B. Unfortunately, however, the plant
started to become weaker and more prone to disease. C. The
majority of the world's sugar now comes from this particular commercial
species. D. One major gene has been identified by Dr.
Angellique D'Hont and her team in Montpeller, France. E.
Eventually, a commercial plant was developed which was 5 percent sweeter than
before, but also much stronger and less likely to die from disease.
F. Sugar cane is now much more vigorous and the supply of sugar is
therefore more guaranteed.