Quantitative trait locus mapping and genetic improvement to strengthen drought tolerance in sorghum.

This chapter overviews the approaches to and application of quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping and positional cloning of genes controlling important traits related to drought tolerance in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), which ultimately yields crop improvement and genetic modification. The use of high-throughput phenotyping will help better understand the mechanism involved in response to drought stress by plants. The new paradigm of scientific research should focus on the integration of physiology, genetics, genomics, soil characteristics and breeding to deal with the challenges of food security in the coming years.