ARS | Publication request: Sorghum mutant library and TILLING

Submitted to: American Society of Plant Biologists
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: May 1, 2012
Publication Date: July 20, 2012
Citation: Xin, Z., Burow, G.B., Chen, J., Burke, J.J. 2012. Sorghum mutant library and TILLING [abstract]. American Society of Plant Biologists. p. 132.

Technical Abstract: Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) is the fifth most important grain crop and serves as a major food staple and fodder resource for much of the world, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. Due to its superior tolerance to stresses and low soil fertility, it has emerged as a promising bioenergy crop. Completion of the sorghum genome sequence has opened new avenues for sorghum functional genomics. However, the availability of genetic resources, specifically mutant lines, is limited. Chemical mutagenesis of sorghum germplasm, followed by screening for mutants altered in important agronomic traits, represents a rapid and effective means of addressing this limitation. We have created a sorghum mutant library consisting of >6000 pedigreed M3 families through single seed descent from independently EMS-treated seeds of an elite inbred line BTx623 that was used for sequencing the genome. The mutant library displays a wide range of mutant phenotype in morphological, physiological, and agronomic traits (http://www.lbk.ars.usda.gov/psgd/index-sorghum.aspx). Many mutants, such as brown midrib, erect leaf, and multiple tillers have potential applications in improving the biomass yield and quality of sorghum. Recently, we have established a modified TILLING (targeting induced local lesions in genome) procedure for high throughput discovery of mutants for sorghum genes using Rhodamine- labeled dUTP and regular primers. After Cell nuclease digestion, the re-annealed PCR products are separated on ABI capillary sequencer. The primers and PCR conditions can be optimized in users’ lab before TILLING analysis. The TILLING platform can be accessed on collaboration basis without fee.