Open AccessSweet sorghum ideotypes: genetic improvement of stress tolerance
Author(s) -
Anami Sylvester Elikana,
Zhang LiMin,
Xia Yan,
Zhang YuMiao,
Liu ZhiQuan,
Jing HaiChun
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
food and energy security
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.253
H-Index - 25
ISSN - 2048-3694
DOI - 10.1002/fes3.54
Subject(s) - sorghum , agronomy , context (archaeology) , sweet sorghum , environmental science , biofuel , sustainability , population , biology , biomass (ecology) , agriculture , agroforestry , microbiology and biotechnology , ecology , demography , paleontology , sociology
Abstract Stress tolerance is a prerequisite for the success of biofuel production, which normally requires the use of marginal lands and nonfood biofuel feedstocks. Sorghum is known for its ability to withstand stress conditions, however, terminal stresses threaten its growth and development negatively impacting yield and sugar accumulation. It is crucial, therefore, that research aimed at developing sorghum resistance to stress factors should be pursued to expand the range of its growth to marginal and barren soils to meet the needs of a growing population, changing diets, and biofuel production. In this context, the leaf architectural trait of stay‐green drought tolerance, in addition to salinity, cold, and aluminium toxicity and biotic stress tolerance and their genetic basis discussed in this review are expected to be available in future sweet sorghum ideotypes. Also highlighted is the key role of efficient management of farming systems, in particular the use of herbicides to control weeds, to ensure the sustainability of the sweet sorghum biomass productions.