Sugar sorghum is an agricultural plant capable of generating a high content of water–soluble sugars in the juice of the stem(18–22%). Due to its biological characteristics, the cultivation of this crop opens up wide possibilities for use in variousbranches of the agro–industrial complex of arid regions of the world: it is an alternative source of raw materials in thepreparation of rich and concentrated feeds used both in the food industry and as a renewable energy source. This articlepresents the results of the selection of starting material for the breeding of new F1 hybrids and varieties with a high content ofboth monosaccharides and disaccharides in the stem juice. The analysis of sugar content involved varieties, hybrids, and lines(93 in total) bred at the Institute of RosNIISK "Rossorgo". The study identifies samples with different ratios of mono– anddisaccharides from 8,9:86,6% to 97,0:2,8%, respectively. To increase the sucrose content in the stem juice, it is proposed toinvolve the "Kapital" variety and the lines L–75, L–21, L–5, L–4 in the breeding process, in which the ratio of disaccharides is17.74–19.18%, and monosaccharides – 1.89–3.38%. With the goal of conducting breeding in the trajectory of a high content ofmonosaccharides, the Chaika variety should be used, which is characterized by 13.76% of monosaccharides and aninsignificant amount of disaccharides – 0.36% in acutely arid conditions of the year.

This article presents the results of selection work on the creation of the source material of sorghum saccuratum for use incrossings to increase the productivity and quality of the vegetative mass of hybrids in arid regions of Russia. The testconducted in 2020–2021 allowed for identifying three varieties (Flagman, Larets, Kapital) and six breeding lines (L–28/14, L–75, L–35, L–34, L–28 and L–5–1). It should be noted that these lines differ from the varieties with a higher biomassproductivity of 33.28–40.58 t/ha, and the content of crude protein and fat at the standard level is 6.60–8.69% and 1.16–1.90%,respectively. Bioenergetic assessment of the biomass of sorghum saccuratum crops showed that the identified lines were alsosuperior to the zoned varieties in collecting dry matter by 0.67–4.69 tons, gross energy output – by 12.29–83.43 GJ per 1hectare.

Sorghum forage is an important alternative to high-quality forage in regions where climatic and soil conditions are less desirable for corn production for silage and producing comparable nutritive value is challenging. The objective of this experiment was to assess the effects of season (spring vs. summer), sorghum variety type (forage sorghum vs. sorghum-sudangrass), and trait [brown midrib (BMR) vs. non-BMR] on dry matter (DM) yield, nutrient composition, and predicted intake and milk yield of whole-plant sorghum forage grown in Florida from 2008 to 2019. Whole-plant sorghum forage was harvested at a targeted 32% of DM, and each year, spring (April) and summer (July) trials were established. A total of 300 forage sorghum and 137 sorghum-sudangrass hybrids were tested for a total of 437 hybrids, of which 199 hybrids contained the BMR trait and 238 were non-BMR. An interaction between season and sorghum variety type was observed for DM yield. Dry matter yield was greater for the spring season than the summer season, with sorghum-sudangrass outperforming forage sorghum only during the spring season. In addition, BMR hybrids had a lower DM yield than non-BMR hybrids, regardless of season and variety type. An interaction between season and trait was observed for predicted neutral detergent fiber digestibility after 30 h of incubation in rumen fluid (NDFD₃₀ₕ). Predicted NDFD₃₀ₕ was greater for BMR sorghum in comparison to non-BMR sorghum, but BMR sorghum had slightly greater predicted NDFD₃₀ₕ when grown in the spring than summer, whereas no seasonal differences were found for predicted NDFD₃₀ₕ across non-BMR sorghum. An interaction between season, variety type, and trait was observed for predicted dry matter intake at 45 (DMI₄₅), 55 (DMI₅₅), and 65 (DMI₆₅) kg of milk/d. Predicted DMI₄₅ and DMI₅₅ were greater for spring BMR forage sorghum than for spring and summer non-BMR sorghum-sudangrass and were greater for spring BMR forage sorghum than for summer BMR sorghum-sudangrass. Predicted DMI₆₅ was greater for BMR forage sorghum in comparison to all non-BMR hybrids in the spring. Additionally, spring BMR forage sorghum was greater than summer sorghum-sudangrass regardless of trait. An interaction between season and sorghum variety type was observed for milk yield per megagram of forage. Milk yield per megagram of forage was greatest for spring forage sorghum. Sorghum variety type and trait selection are crucial to minimize differences in forage nutritive value of sorghum forage between seasons and improve the performance of high-producing dairy cows.

ABSTRACT: Sorghum forage is an important alternative to high-quality forage in regions where climatic and soil conditions are less desirable for corn production for silage and producing comparable nutritive value is challenging. The objective of this experiment was to assess the effects of season (spring vs. summer), sorghum variety type (forage sorghum vs. sorghum-sudangrass), and trait [brown midrib (BMR) vs. non-BMR] on dry matter (DM) yield, nutrient composition, and predicted intake and milk yield of whole-plant sorghum forage grown in Florida from 2008 to 2019. Whole-plant sorghum forage was harvested at a targeted 32% of DM, and each year, spring (April) and summer (July) trials were established. A total of 300 forage sorghum and 137 sorghum-sudangrass hybrids were tested for a total of 437 hybrids, of which 199 hybrids contained the BMR trait and 238 were non-BMR. An interaction between season and sorghum variety type was observed for DM yield. Dry matter yield was greater for the spring season than the summer season, with sorghum-sudangrass outperforming forage sorghum only during the spring season. In addition, BMR hybrids had a lower DM yield than non-BMR hybrids, regardless of season and variety type. An interaction between season and trait was observed for predicted neutral detergent fiber digestibility after 30 h of incubation in rumen fluid (NDFD30h). Predicted NDFD30h was greater for BMR sorghum in comparison to non-BMR sorghum, but BMR sorghum had slightly greater predicted NDFD30h when grown in the spring than summer, whereas no seasonal differences were found for predicted NDFD30h across non-BMR sorghum. An interaction between season, variety type, and trait was observed for predicted dry matter intake at 45 (DMI45), 55 (DMI55), and 65 (DMI65) kg of milk/d. Predicted DMI45 and DMI55 were greater for spring BMR forage sorghum than for spring and summer non-BMR sorghum-sudangrass and were greater for spring BMR forage sorghum than for summer BMR sorghum-sudangrass. Predicted DMI65 was greater for BMR forage sorghum in comparison to all non-BMR hybrids in the spring. Additionally, spring BMR forage sorghum was greater than summer sorghum-sudangrass regardless of trait. An interaction between season and sorghum variety type was observed for milk yield per megagram of forage. Milk yield per megagram of forage was greatest for spring forage sorghum. Sorghum variety type and trait selection are crucial to minimize differences in forage nutritive value of sorghum forage between seasons and improve the performance of high-producing dairy cows.

Domestication and diversification have had profound effects on crop genomes. Originating in Africa and subsequently spreading to different continents, sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) has experienced multiple onsets of domestication and intensive breeding selection for various end uses. However, how these processes have shaped sorghum genomes is not fully understood. In the present study, population genomics analyses were performed on a worldwide collection of 445 sorghum accessions, covering wild sorghum and four end-use subpopulations with diverse agronomic traits. Frequent genetic exchanges were found among various subpopulations, and strong selective sweeps affected 14.68% (∼107.5 Mb) of the sorghum genome, including 3649, 4287, and 3888 genes during sorghum domestication, improvement of grain sorghum, and improvement of sweet sorghum, respectively. Eight different models of haplotype changes in domestication genes from wild sorghum to landraces and improved sorghum were observed, and Sh1- and SbTB1-type genes were representative of two prominent models, one of soft selection or multiple origins and one of hard selection or an early single domestication event. We also demonstrated that the Dry gene, which regulates stem juiciness, was unconsciously selected during the improvement of grain sorghum. Taken together, these findings provide new genomic insights into sorghum domestication and breeding selection, and will facilitate further dissection of the domestication and molecular breeding of sorghum.

To determine the optimal row ratio configuration of waxy sorghum-soybean intercropping systems, a field experiment with seven treatments, including sole waxy sorghum (SW), sole soybean (SS), two rows of waxy sorghum alternated with one row of soybean (2W1S), two rows of waxy sorghum alternated with two rows of soybean (2W2S), three rows of waxy sorghum alternated with one row of soybean (3W1S), three rows of waxy sorghum alternated with two rows of soybean (3W2S), and three rows of waxy sorghum alternated with three rows of soybean (3W3S), was conducted during 2019 and 2020 in Guiyang, China. Accumulation and transportation of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) in waxy sorghum were investigated. The results showed that the row ratio configurations had significant effects on the N, P, and K accumulation and transportation of waxy sorghum. On the one hand, compared to SW treatment, intercropping treatments showed higher N, P, and K contents and accumulation amounts, N, P, and K transportation amounts before anthesis, N, P, and K transportation rates before anthesis, and contribution rates of N, P, and K transportation before anthesis to the grain of each organ in waxy sorghum. Similarly, the waxy sorghum-soybean intercropping system increased the yield components (including spike length, grain number per spike, and 1,000-grain weight) of waxy sorghum. In addition, the yields of waxy sorghum and soybean among all treatments were in the sequence of SW (SS) > 2W1S > 3W1S > 3W2S > 3W3S > 2W2S. Besides, the 2W1S treatment showed the highest land equivalent ratio and economic benefit. On the whole, the waxy sorghum-soybean intercropping system can increase the N, P, and K absorption among organs and promote the N, P, and K transportation from vegetative organs to grain in waxy sorghum so as to promote the growth and development of spike in waxy sorghum to obtain higher land equivalent ratio and economic benefits. The 2W1S treatment was recommended as the optimal row ratio configuration of the waxy sorghum-soybean system to achieve the maximum utilization of nutrient resources.

Grain sorghum is a versatile crop, which can thrive under limited water and other inputs. However, crop loss from weed infestation continues to be a major constraint in grain sorghum production. Particularly, post‐emergence grass weed control is a great challenge in grain sorghum due to the lack of herbicide options. Unlike in other major crops, such as maize or soybean, herbicide‐resistant sorghum technology that can facilitate weed control throughout crop growing season is not available to growers yet. The development of herbicide‐resistant sorghum can have potential to improve weed management, including post‐emergence grass weed control. One of the major concerns in the development of such technology in sorghum is escape of resistance traits into weedy relatives of sorghum (e.g. shattercane and johnsongrass). This review focuses on sources of herbicide resistance in sorghum, the status of the development of herbicide‐resistant sorghum technologies, overview of breeding methods, and limitations in the development of such sorghum technology as well as economic benefits for sorghum growers. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Thesis (PhD (Biotechnology))--University of Pretoria, 2022. | Exserohilum turcicum is a foliar pathogen that causes the widespread and damaging disease, northern leaf blight (NLB), in both sorghum and maize. Even though E. turcicum is an economically important pathogen, limited information is available on the underlying molecular mechanisms of the sorghum-E. turcicum interaction and, more specifically, the sorghum response. This study aimed to gain insight into the sorghum response to E. turcicum infection. A real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay was developed that specifically detects and accurately quantifies the relative E. turcicum DNA present in infected sorghum and maize leaf samples. The qPCR assay was applied to quantify E. turcicum DNA in sorghum and maize leaf samples across NLB disease stages. Pathogenicity trials in commercial sorghum and maize varieties with varying degrees of NLB resistance were undertaken to show that the sorghum E. turcicum isolate 73 is only pathogenic on sorghum. The pathogenic specialization of the sorghum E. turcicum isolate was based on visual disease symptoms and in planta fungal biomass that was determined through the E. turcicum qPCR assay. Transcriptomic characterization of the sorghum response to E. turcicum infection was done through RNA sequencing of two time points of a moderately resistant sorghum-E. turcicum interaction. Differential expression analysis of the RNA-Seq data revealed the significant downregulation of the Sb- THI1-1 and Sb-THI1-2 thiamine biosynthesis gene targets after E. turcicum inoculation. Sorghum putative Sb-THIC and Sb-COG0212 genes were also identified. The sorghum targets putatively involved in thiamine metabolism as well as sorghum putative resistance genes were analyzed through RT-qPCR analysis. Research from this study will positively impact NLB resistance breeding efforts for effective disease management. | Plant Science | PhD (Biotechnology) | Unrestricted

Leaves are photosynthetic organs that greatly affect plant growth and yield. In an intercropping system, leaves often experience shade stress, so it is necessary to adjust the planting dates between intercrops. This study aimed to determine the effect of additive intercropping of sorghum with peanut relay-planted at different dates on yield of sorghum and its relationship with leaf characteristics of the sorghum plants. The experiment, carried out in the IP2TP NTB experimental farm located East Lombok (Indonesia) from September 2020 to January 2021, was arranged according to a randomized block design with four treatments, namely W0 (sorghum monocrop), W1 (peanut relay-planted 14 days before sorghum planting), W2 (peanut relay-planted on the same day as sorghum planting), W3 (peanut relay-planted 14 days after planting (DAP) of sorghum). The experiment was made in 4 blocks (replicates). Results indicated that additive intercropping of sorghum with peanut relay-planted at different dates between rows of sorghum did no affected characteristics of sorghum leaves, but those leaf characteristics showed significant correlation with grain yield of sorghum especially the greenness levels of the leaves at 60 and 80 DAP and greenness levels of the flag leaves, which all showed significant correlation coefficients. However, those intercropping treatments had a significant effect on grain yield, dry stover weight and harvest index of sorghum, with the highest dry grain yield of 46.87 g/plant (or 3.35 ton/ha) was obtained on sorghum intercropped with peanut relay-planted on the same day as sorghum planting date.

In Tanzania, sorghum is the 3rd most grown cereal with approximately 500,000 tons produced per year (FAOSTAT, 2018). It is grown in semi-arid regions of Dodoma, Singida, Mara, Shinyanga, Mwanza, and Tabora regions. Farmers primarily produce sorghum for consumption (83%) rather than commercial purpose (17%). It is mainly used as human food, animal feeds, alcoholic beverages, and biofuels. In the past years, there has been an increase in sorghum production from 676,772 tons in 2015 to 750,000 tons in 2020 (FAOSTAT, 2022). Recently, there is an increase in demand for sorghum since many people are increasingly getting aware of the health benefits that come with the consumption of sorghum like prevention of cancer, reducing tumor incidence, and lowering blood pressure (Saleh et al, 2013); and increase in sorghum demand among breweries like Serengeti Breweries Limited (SBL) (American sorghum, 2016). White sorghum is highly preferred in and outside the country because of its use, color and low tannin; and red sorghum is highly demanded in Lake Zone and Northern Highland of Tanzania and exported to Burundi and Rwanda. Tanzania mostly exports sorghum to Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Burundi, and United Arab Emirates (UAE). Sorghum grain in Tanzania hardly competes in both local and international markets because of the low-quality grain.....