Sorghum breeding in the genomic era: opportunities and challenges

Abstract

Key message The importance and potential of the multi-purpose crop sorghum in global food security have not yet been fully exploited, and the integration of the state-of-art genomics and high-throughput technologies into breeding practice is required. Abstract Sorghum, a historically vital staple food source and currently the fifth most important major cereal, is emerging as a crop with diverse end-uses as food, feed, fuel and forage and a model for functional genetics and genomics of tropical grasses. Rapid development in high-throughput experimental and data processing technologies has significantly speeded up sorghum genomic researches in the past few years. The genomes of three sorghum lines are available, thousands of genetic stocks accessible and various genetic populations, including NAM, MAGIC, and mutagenised populations released. Functional and comparative genomics have elucidated key genetic loci and genes controlling agronomical and adaptive traits. However, the knowledge gained has far away from being translated into real breeding practices. We argue that the way forward is to take a genome-based approach for tailored designing of sorghum as a multi-functional crop combining excellent agricultural traits for various end uses. In this review, we update the new concepts and innovation systems in crop breeding and summarise recent advances in sorghum genomic researches, especially the genome-wide dissection of variations in genes and alleles for agronomically important traits. Future directions and opportunities for sorghum breeding are highlighted to stimulate discussion amongst sorghum academic and industrial communities.

SorGSD: updating and expanding the sorghum genome science database with new contents and tools

“…It is cultivated in vast geographic areas in the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Oceania. Sorghum’s excellent agronomic and biological properties, such as heat and drought tolerance, make it a vital grain crop in marginal land for production without competing against other major food crops [ 1 ]. With the increase of world population and the decrease of water resources, sorghum will become the preferred food crop all over the world in the future.…”

CRISPR/Cas9 mediated targeted mutagenesis of LIGULELESS‐1 in sorghum provides a rapidly scorable phenotype by altering leaf inclination angle

“…Sorghum performs better under drought, high temperature, and poor fertility conditions than most cereals, allowing cultivation on marginal land in support of global food and energy security. [ 1 ]…”

CRISPR/Cas-mediated genome editing in sorghum — recent progress, challenges and prospects

“…Traditionally, sorghum improvement has been achieved through conventional breeding practices, using both natural genetic variation and variation obtained through applied mutagenesis (Ulukan 2009;Jordan et al 2011;Hao et al 2021). Multiple breeding programs exist worldwide which have utilized techniques such as S 1 /S 2 selection, pedigree, and backcrossing methods to improve sorghum cultivars.…”

“…Multiple breeding programs exist worldwide which have utilized techniques such as S 1 /S 2 selection, pedigree, and backcrossing methods to improve sorghum cultivars. The advent of sequencing-based genotyping has accelerated sorghum breeding efforts by enabling genome wide association studies (GWAS), and genomic selection (Hao et al 2021). Sorghum breeding has improved grain and biomass yield, grain and biomass composition, disease and insect resistance, and aluminum, salt and drought tolerance, among other traits, for production of elite varieties (Reddy et al 2010;Kimball et al 2019;Hao et al 2021;Sapkota et al 2020).…”