Project Number: 6635-21000-049-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: Sep 09, 2008
End Date: Sep 08, 2013

Objective:
In cooperation with staff at the ARS Plant Genetic Resources Conservation Unit, Griffin, Georgia, conserve and distribute a wide spectrum of sorghum genetic diversity and associated information to researchers and breeders worldwide. Phenotypically evaluate sorghum genetic resources for priority morphological and phenological characters, disease resistance, and other priority agronomic traits, and incorporate data into GRIN and/or other databases.

Approach:
Conduct field seed increase to regenerate approximately 500 sorghum accessions with critically low seed quality or quantity to conserve the collection. Use technical information derived from sorghum germplasm evaluations to assist NPGS staff to aid in the conservation, introduction, and distribution of sorghum germplasm. Phenotypically evaluate the 1,227 sorghum accessions from the Zimbabwe collection and use this information to evaluate genetic diversity for sorghum improvement. Using passport and phenotypic evaluation data develop germplasm subset for disease evaluation to identify ecogeographic regions associated with resistance and develop genetic mapping populations to evaluate genetic diversity for disease resistance.