Agronomic traits and fungal diversity between commercial and non-commercial sorghum fields

Authors: Prom, Louis; Esquivel, Jesus; Liu, Jinggao

Submitted to: Journal of Plant Studies
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/5/2025
Publication Date: 6/6/2025
Citation: Prom, L.K., Esquivel, J.F., Liu, J. 2025. Agronomic traits and fungal diversity between commercial and non-commercial sorghum fields. Journal of Plant Studies. 14(1):10-16. https://doi.org/10.5539/jps.v14n1p10.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5539/jps.v14n1p10

Interpretive Summary: Sorghum is an important cereal crop worldwide that is subjected to attack by many fungal and bacterial pathogens, resulting in annual monetary losses in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Thus, selection of hybrids or varities with high yield potential and levels of resistance to diseases is preferred. We collected sorghum seeds from commercial and non-commercial fields in Burleson County, Texas, and compared seed weight, germination rate, grain mold severity, and the presence of microorganisms on sorghum seeds obtained from the two types of fields. We found that seeds collected from commercial fields had lower grain mold severity and higher seed weight, while seeds from non-commercial fields had higher percent germination rates. All identified microorganisms, except for Aspergillus niger, were recovered from both non-commercial and commercial fields; Aspergillus niger was only found in non-commercial fields. The work is significant because it shows that sorghum producers in the area usually select lines that possess higher yield potential with more tolerance to grain mold diseases.

Technical Abstract: Sorghum is an indispensable cereal crop, especially in the drier tropical regions where it supplies the daily caloric needs for millions of people. However, the productivity and profitablity of the crop are hampered by several biotic stressors, including grain mold. The grain mold disease complex is associated with several fungal genera, including those that are mycotoxigenic. In this study, seeds collected from non-commercial and commercial fields were compared for grain mold severity, seed weight, germination rate, and mycoflora. Overall, seeds collected from commercial fields exhibited lower grain mold severity and higher seed weight, while seeds from non-commercial fields had higher percent germination rates. The mycoflora analysis of seeds obtained from both non-commercial and commercial fields revealed the occurrence of many microorganisms, including Alternaria alternata, Bipolaris spp., Curvularia lunata, Aspergillus niger, Colletotrichum sublineola, and other unidentified fungal species and bacterial strains. All identified microorganisms except for Aspergillus niger were detected in samples from non-commercial and commercial fields. Aspergilllus niger was only recovered from non-commercial fields. In conclusion, the primary aim for producers is to plant hybrids or varieties with higher yield and low disease, hence, in this study, lower grain mold infection and higher seed weight were observed in commercial fields when compared to non-commercial or research plots.