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ARS Home » Plains Area » Lincoln, Nebraska » Wheat, Sorghum and Forage Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #180577
Title: REGISTRATION OF 'ATLAS BMR-12' FORAGE SORGHUM

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 'atlas bmr-12' forage sorghum. Crop Science 46:478

Interpretive Summary: ‘Atlas bmr-12’ forage sorghum was developed jointly by the USDA, ARS and the University of Nebraska, and was released in January 2005. Atlas bmr-12 closely resembles Atlas It is four days earlier in maturity than Atlas and is 8 cm shorter in height than Atlas. Like Atlas, Atlas bmr-12 has white seed with no tannin-containing testa, normal white endosperm, is awnless, has purple plant color, and juicy culms. In yield trials conducted at Lincoln, NE (dryland) and Ithaca, NE (irrigated) lignin content was reduced in Atlas bmr-12 and fiber digestibility was increased when compared to Atlas. Yield of Atlas bmr-12 was reduced 14% when compared to Atlas. In separate yield trials comparing Atlas bmr-12 to commercial hybrids at Lincoln and Ithaca in 2003, Atlas bmr-12 had statistically similar yields compared to commercial brown midrib hybrids of similar maturity class. Release of Atlas bmr-12 makes the digestibility enhancing brown midrib gene bmr-12 available in a currently utilized self-pollinated forage sorghum cultivar. This cultivar is well suited for use by small and sustainable farms that rely on the ability to produce their own seed, and for small seed growers and companies specializing in the production and marketing of open-pollinating forage varieties. Seed of Atlas bmr-12 is available for research purposes without cost. Foundation seed will be made available for certified seed production on a non-exclusive basis to seed producers who agree to produce and market the seed only as certified seed using the cultivar name Atlas bmr-12.

Technical Abstract: ‘Atlas bmr-12’ forage sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] was developed jointly by the USDA, ARS and the University of Nebraska, and was released in January 2005. Atlas bmr-12 closely resembles Atlas. Like Atlas, it did not restore fertility in A1 cytoplasmic male-sterile lines under greenhouse conditions. Atlas bmr-12 is four days earlier in maturity than Atlas and is 8 cm shorter in height than Atlas. Like Atlas, Atlas bmr-12 has white seed with no tannin-containing testa, normal white endosperm, is awnless, has purple necrotic wound response, and juicy culms. In yield trials conducted at Lincoln, NE (dryland) and Ithaca, NE (irrigated) in 2002 and 2003, average cell wall content of Atlas bmr-12 was equivalent to Atlas. Lignin content was reduced in Atlas bmr-12 (65 g kg-1 vs. 75 g kg-1, Standard error of the mean=10 g kg-1) and fiber digestibility was increased (630 g kg-1 vs. 604 g kg-1, Standard error of the mean=11 g kg-1). Average dry matter yield of Atlas bmr-12 was reduced 14% when compared to Atlas (13.6 vs. 15.9 t/ha, Standard error of the mean= 1.1 t/ha). Release of Atlas bmr-12 makes the digestibility enhancing brown midrib gene bmr-12 available in a currently utilized self-pollinated forage sorghum cultivar with known performance and adaptation. Seed of Atlas bmr-12 is available for research purposes, including development and commercialization of new varieties/cultivars without cost to each applicant on written request. Foundation seed will be made available for certified seed production on a non-exclusive basis to seed producers who contractually agree to produce and market the seed only as certified seed using the cultivar name Atlas bmr-12.