Location: Plant Stress and Germplasm Development Research
Project Number: 3096-21000-024-012-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Apr 15, 2026
End Date: Apr 14, 2029
Objective:
1. To better understand the physiological and genetic mechanisms controlling post-flowering drought tolerance and lodging in grain and forage sorghum.
2. To develop new germplasm and management strategies for optimizing sorghum production in diverse Kansas environments.
3. Develop dhurrin-free sorghum utilizing novel gene edits techniques.
Approach:
Sorghum is a highly underutilized grain and forage crop with immense potential as a sustainable source of food, animal feed, and biomass. Its inherent drought tolerance, impressive yield potential, and extensive genetic diversity position it uniquely as a crop for the future—one that holds great promise for breeders and researchers alike. Despite its potential, there are currently few active sorghum breeding programs. As such, collaborative efforts are essential to accelerate the development of enhanced sorghum inbred lines and hybrids. This proposed research represents a joint initiative between the USDA-ARS and Cooperator. The project encompasses foundational research to understand the physiological and genetic mechanisms underlying drought tolerance and lodging in sorghum. Additionally, it includes the creation of new germplasm, including dhurrin-free sorghum, and the refinement of management strategies to optimize sorghum production. Research activities will be conducted across laboratory, greenhouse, and field environments. Trait responses from field and greenhouse evaluations will be analyzed using ANOVA or appropriate nonparametric methods. Field trials will utilize randomized complete block designs (RCBD) or augmented designs, with three to four replications. Additionally, an integrative part of project will be the training of graduate students.