Sorghum

Abstract

Sorghum is an important cereal and fodder crop, which is adaptable to extreme climatic conditions and soil types. The diverse wild Sorghum species represent valuable germplasm and are an important repository of genes, which can be exploited for crop improvement. They are resistant to a variety of diseases and pests. The 25 species include some that are able to be readily crossed with cultivated sorghum. They will also help us to understand the evolution and adaptations of the Sorghum genus. Wild Sorghum species also allow comparative genomic approaches for understanding the genetic basis of important phenotypes such as plant architecture, flowering, and grain yield. Sorghum species have a diverse array of useful traits that are available for use in sorghum improvement as a food, feed fodder, or industrial crop