Agronomy (Sep 2019)

Sorghum as a Novel Crop for Central Europe: Using a Broad Diversity Set to Dissect Temperate-Adaptation

  • André Schaffasz,
  • Steffen Windpassinger,
  • Wolfgang Friedt,
  • Rod Snowdon,
  • Benjamin Wittkop

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy9090535
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9, no. 9
p. 535

Abstract

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Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) is a promising novel crop for Central Europe. However, enhancements in cold tolerance and early maturity are essential for a successful adaptation to cooler climates. We scored a broad sorghum diversity set (n = 338) for early chilling tolerance, high-latitude adaptation, and bioenergy related agronomical traits in multi-environment trials. Our results show a high phenotypic variation and medium to high heritabilities for most traits, indicating that a robust breeding progress is feasible. Several public accessions with a good adaptation to cooler climates were identified, which can serve as valuable base material for sorghum breeding in temperate areas. Genome-wide association studies reveal a polygenic (quantitative) character for most of the traits, confirming previous studies. Hence, for practical breeding, it will be difficult to conduct efficient marker-assisted selection for temperate-adaptation traits in genetically diverse material.

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