Sorghum hybrids with improved grain protein and essential amino acids: Implications for nutritional security

Authors: TESSO, TESFAYE - Kansas State University; Serba, Desalegn; TIRFESSA, ALEMU - Ethiopian Institute Of Agricultural Research; BEJIGA, TAMIRAT - Ethiopian Institute Of Agricultural Research; BEKELE, ALEMNESH - Ethiopia Haramaya University; TERESSA, TEMESGEN - Ethiopian Institute Of Agricultural Research; BELAINEH, YEMANE - Kansas State University; CHERE, DIRIBA - Kansas State University; KETEMA, KINDE - Kansas State University; SEXTON-BOWSER, SARAH - Kansas State University; Bean, Scott; Peiris, Kamaranga; BOYLE, DANIEL - Kansas State University

Submitted to: Crop Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/4/2026
Publication Date: 10/1/2026
Citation: Tesso, T., Serba, D.D., Tirfessa, A., Bejiga, T., Bekele, A., Teressa, T., Belaineh, Y., Chere, D., Ketema, K., Sexton-Bowser, S., Bean, S.R., Peiris, K.H., Boyle, D.L. 2026. Sorghum hybrids with improved grain protein and essential amino acids: Implications for nutritional security. Food Security Journal. 66(5). https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.70365.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.70365

Interpretive Summary: Cereals are the major source of calories both in human food and animal feed. Although they are lower in protein content, they contribute about 39% to the global protein supply and are the major source of dietary protein for smallholder farmers in developing countries. While animal products (milk and meat) provide well balanced essential amino acids, smallholder farmers in semi-arid regions cannot easily access them. Because sorghum growing regions are not well suited to many legume crops, supplemental protein from high protein grains is also minimal. As a result, the health and wellbeing of communities relying on crops from smallholder farmers is highly compromised by protein malnutrition resulting in low productivity and perpetuation of poverty. As sorghum is adapted to environments where many smallholder farmers live and they know how to grow sorghum, research aimed at improving sorghum protein content and amino acid profile was conducted. A novel set of sorghum germplasm and hybrids with enhanced protein and essential amino acids lysine and leucine were identified for use by smallholder sorghum farmers. Hybrid combination among advanced lines with significantly improved protein profile (total protein, lysine, and leucine) showed that the hybrids combine superior agronomic performance with 20-40% higher protein and essential amino acids lysine and leucine. These results implied that systematic breeding approach can realize significant improvement in sorghum nutritional traits for better nutritional security among smallholder farmers.

Technical Abstract: Cereals serve as the major source of calories, both in animal feed and human food. Although they are lower in protein compared to animal sources, they contribute about 39% to the global protein supply. Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) is grown as principal food cereal in the semiarid tropics and as feed grain in the developed world. While animal products provide well-balanced essential amino acids in human diet, low-income households in developing countries suffer from protein malnutrition due to limited access to animal proteins. Crop cultivars with enhanced nutritional profiles may help reduce the problem. In this paper, novel sorghum germplasm with enhanced protein and essential amino acids lysine and leucine is described. Diverse breeding populations involving high-protein sources were initiated and advanced using pedigree breeding method with initial selection based on agronomic merits. Nutritional evaluation was conducted at an advanced stage, and lines with significantly higher protein profiles were tested in hybrid combination across locations in the United States and Ethiopia. The study identified a series of lines and hybrids with superior agronomic performance that also possess up to 90% higher protein and essential amino acids lysine and leucine. These results imply that well-thought-out breeding efforts can lead to significant improvement in sorghum nutritional traits for better nutritional security for smallholder farmers. The results are equally applicable to domestic sorghum production and utilization, especially in animal feed.