雞西甜(tian)菜是一種兩(liang)年生(sheng)草本植(zhi)物,莖(jing)有1-2米(mi)高,葉(xie)長(chang)5-20厘(li)米(mi),葉(xie)形(xing)(xing)多變異(yi),有長(chang)圓形(xing)(xing),心臟形(xing)(xing)或舌形(xing)(xing),葉(xie)面有皺紋或平滑;花(hua)小(xiao),綠色,每朵直徑僅3-5毫(hao)米(mi),5瓣,風媒(mei)。果實球狀褐色,通常數個(ge)聯生(sheng)成球果;主根為肉質塊根,有圓錐形(xing)(xing),也有紡錘形(xing)(xing)和楔形(xing)(xing),皮有紅色、紫色、白色、淺黃色等(deng)不同的品種,喜涼(liang)爽(shuang)氣候(hou),根中含糖分,可以生(sheng)產砂(sha)糖,但在高溫和潮濕地區生(sheng)長(chang)的甜(tian)菜含糖量低。
雞西甜(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)菜(cai)(cai)產地主要位(wei)于(yu)黑龍(long)江省雞西市密光鎮。中(zhong)國(guo)大面積(ji)引(yin)種(zhong)糖用(yong)甜(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)菜(cai)(cai)始(shi)于(yu)1906年,先在(zai)東北(bei)(bei)(bei)試種(zhong),1908年建立第一座機(ji)制甜(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)菜(cai)(cai)糖廠(chang)后漸向其(qi)他地區(qu)(qu)推(tui)廣。主產區(qu)(qu)在(zai)北(bei)(bei)(bei)緯40°以北(bei)(bei)(bei),包括東北(bei)(bei)(bei)、華(hua)北(bei)(bei)(bei)、西北(bei)(bei)(bei)三個產區(qu)(qu),其(qi)中(zhong)東北(bei)(bei)(bei)種(zhong)植最多(duo),約占(zhan)中(zhong)國(guo)甜(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)菜(cai)(cai)總面積(ji)的65%。這(zhe)些地區(qu)(qu)都是春(chun)播甜(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)菜(cai)(cai)區(qu)(qu),無霜期短、積(ji)溫較少、日照較長、晝夜溫差較大,甜(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)菜(cai)(cai)的單(dan)產和(he)含糖率高、病害(hai)輕(qing)。