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ARS Home » Plains Area » Lincoln, Nebraska » Wheat, Sorghum and Forage Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #180570
Title: REGISTRATION OF SEVEN FORAGE SORGHUM GENETIC STOCKS NEAR-ISOGENIC FOR THE BROWN MIDRIB GENES BMR-6 AND BMR-12

Author
item Pedersen, Jeffrey
item Funnell-Harris, Deanna
item Toy, John
item OLIVER, AMANDA - UNI OF NE
item GRANT, R - W.H. MINER INSTITUTE

Submitted to: Crop Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/31/2005
Publication Date: 1/24/2006
Citation: Pedersen, J.F., Funnell, D., Toy, J.J., Oliver, A.L., Grant, R.J. 2006. Registration of seven forage sorghum genetic stocks near-isogenic for the brown midrib genes bmr-6 and bmr-12. Crop Science 46:490-491

Interpretive Summary: Seven forage sorghum genetic stocks near-isogenic to their wild-type counterparts for the brown midrib genes bmr-6 and bmr-12 were developed jointly by the USDA, ARS and the University of Nebraska, and were released in January 2005. The genetic stocks were developed by crossing the recurrent parents Atlas, Kansas Collier, Rox Orange, and Early Hegari-Sart to brown midrib sources followed by a minimum of four cycles of selfing and backcrossing. Release of these genetic stocks makes brown midrib genes known to down-regulate two specific enzymes important in lignin synthesis, cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (bmr-6) and O-methyltransferase (bmr-12) available in diverse near-isogenic forage sorghum backgrounds allowing direct comparison of gene effects across these broad backgrounds. These genetic stocks can be used by other researchers to study lignin synthesis and the effect of these two genes on forage digestibility and on plant yield, fitness, etc. The genetic stocks can also be used as germplasm for the development of improved brown midrib forage sorghum lines and hybrids, but because of the presence of a high-tannin testa layer in seed of all but one of these lines, direct increase and use of these genetic stocks as cultivars is strongly discouraged. Seed of these genetic are available upon written request.

Technical Abstract: Seven forage sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] genetic stocks near-isogenic to their wild-type counterparts for the brown midrib genes bmr-6 and bmr-12 were developed jointly by the USDA, ARS and the University of Nebraska, and were released in January 2005. The genetic stocks were developed by crossing the recurrent parents Atlas, Kansas Collier, Rox Orange, and Early Hegari-Sart to brown midrib sources, followed by a minimum of four cycles of selfing and backcrossing. Release of these genetic stocks makes brown midrib genes known to down-regulate two specific enzymes important in lignin synthesis, cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (bmr-6) and O-methyltransferase (bmr-12) available in diverse near-isogenic forage sorghum backgrounds allowing direct comparison of gene effects across these broad backgrounds. They have immediate application for basic research involving lignin synthesis, and also may be utilized as germplasm for development of improved brown midrib forage sorghum lines and hybrids. Because of the presence of a high-tannin testa layer in seed of all but one of these lines, direct increase and use of these genetic stocks as cultivars is strongly discouraged. Seed of these genetic stocks will be provided without cost to each applicant on written request.