Application of X-ray computed tomography to analyze the structure of sorghum grain

Background The structural characteristics of whole sorghum kernels are known to affect end-use quality, but traditional evaluation of this structure is two-dimensional (i.e., cross section of a kernel). Current technology offers the potential to consider three-dimensional structural characteristics of grain. X-ray computed tomography (CT) presents one such opportunity to nondestructively extract quantitative data from grain caryopses which can then be related to end-use quality. Results Phenotypic measurements were extracted from CT scans of grain sorghum caryopses. Extensive phenotypic variation was found for embryo volume, endosperm hardness, endosperm texture, endosperm volume, pericarp volume, and kernel volume. CT derived estimates were strongly correlated with ground truth measurements enabling the identification of genotypes with superior structural characteristics. Conclusions Presented herein is a phenotyping pipeline developed to quantify three-dimensional structural characteristics from grain sorghum caryopses which increases the throughput efficiency of previously difficult to measure traits. Adaptation of this workflow to other small-seeded crops is possible providing new and unique opportunities for scientists to study grain in a nondestructive manner which will ultimately lead to improvements end-use quality.

Mega-Environment Analysis To Assess Adaptability, Stability, And Genomic Predictions In Grain Sorghum Hybrids

Multi-environment trials (MET) are fundamental for assessing genotype-by-environment interaction (GxE) effects, adaptability and stability of genotypes and provide valuable information about target regions. As such, a MET involving grain sorghum hybrid combinations derived from elite inbred lines adapted to diverse sorghum production regions was developed to assess agronomic performance, stability, and genomic-enabled prediction accuracies within mega-environments (ME). Ten females and ten males from the Texas A&M and Kansas State sorghum breeding programs were crossed following a factorial mating scheme to generate 100 hybrids. Grain yield, plant height, and days to anthesis were assessed in a MET consisting of ten environments across Texas and Kansas over two years. Genotype plus Genotype-by-block-of-environment biplot (GGB) assessed ME, while the "mean-vs-stability" view of the biplot and the Bayesian Finlay-Wilkinson regression evaluated hybrid adaptability and stability. A genomic prediction model including the GxE effect was applied within ME to assess prediction accuracy. Results suggest that grain sorghum hybrid combinations involving lines adapted to different target regions can produce superior hybrids. GGB confirmed distinct regions of sorghum adaption in the U.S. Further, genomic predictions within ME reported inconsistent results, suggesting that additional effects rather than the correlations between environments are influencing genomic prediction of grain sorghum hybrids.

Development of mixed feed technology for poultry using sorghum

The article presents the results of research on the use of sorghum grain for laying hens. An examination of the literature data on substances with poor digestibility in the composition of sorghum has been carried out. The physical and technological properties and chemical composition of unconventional components grain sorghum and safflower meal have been studied. Recipes of protein and vitamin supplements for laying hens using sprouted sorghum and safflower meal have been developed.

The effectiveness of pre-sowing seed treatment in the fight against diseases of grain sorghum

The aim of this work is to investigate the composition of pathogenic mycoflora on seeds of grain sorghum in the Samara region and to study the effectiveness of dressing agents against pathogens in laboratory conditions. Research methodology and methods. The research was carried out on the basis of the laboratory of innovative technologies in breeding, seed production and seed science of the Volga NIISS, a branch of the SamSC RAS. The objects of research were two varieties of grain sorghum Ros’ and Kinel’skoe 63. Determination of the population of seeds by pathogenic organisms was carried out by the method of a wet chamber with their preliminary placement on corrugated filter paper in boxes with natural ventilation using the technique according to GOST 12044-93 and subsequent microscopy. To study the effect of plant protection chemicals, the seeds were treated with moisture (at the rate of 10 l/tons) with preparations of contact-systemic action Celeste Maks and Vitaros; contact – TMTD and Maksim; and systemic action - Armor. Untreated seeds were used as a control. The repetition is fourfold. Results. Correct diagnosis and knowledge of the causes of the onset of the disease, the peculiarities of the development of a particular pathogen will be the basis for the successful implementation of protective and preventive measures. Phytopathological examination of grain sorghum seeds, carried out by us in 2019–2020, shows that the most common fungi found on grain sorghum seeds are Cladosporium sp., Trichothecium roseum, Mucor sp., Penicillium sp. It has been established that dressing agents with varying efficiency – from 75.8 to 97.6 % reduce the contamination of seed material. Scientific novelty. A phytopathological assessment of grain sorghum seeds was carried out in relation to the conditions of the Samara region and the most effective preparations for pre-sowing treatment of grain sorghum were determined to reduce the damage to plants by diseases.

The indices of sorghum seed quality in dependence on ecological and geographical origin

The current paper presents the study results of protein percentage, content of lysine and starch in the collection samples of grain sorghum of various ecological and geographical origin. It was determined that the seed protein percentage in the grain sorghum samples varied from 9.0 to 13.5%. The highest values were identified in the samples from Russia (KiM, Krymbel, Krusta, Ros’), Ukraine (Pioner 412/Milovskoe 6, No. 13-13, Pioner 878/Genicheskoe brown 129) and China (KX 8, No. 26-14) with 13.0-13.5%. The lysine content in protein of the studied samples was 2.5-4.3%, while the value of the standard variety Zernogradskoe 88 was 3.17% with the standard deviation of 0.24%. The maximum content (3.8-4.3%) was identified in the samples Early Hegari (Peru), Line ExF3 IS12606 (Australia), DN-35f (Ukraine), CS-175 (Philippines), H.S.-21 (Romania), Sorghum k-9553 (Korea). The starch content in seed of the collection samples varied within 70.2-77.5%. The highest intragroup values were showed by the samples from Peru (73.9%), Australia (73.8%), France (73.0%), Senegal (73.4%).

Near Infrared Spectroscopic Evaluation of Starch Properties of Diverse Sorghum Populations

Starch, mainly composed of amylose and amylopectin, is the major nutrient in grain sorghum. Amylose and amylopectin composition affects the starch properties of sorghum flour which in turn determine the suitability of sorghum grains for various end uses. Partial least squares regression models on near infrared (NIR) spectra were developed to estimate starch and amylose contents in intact grain sorghum samples. Sorghum starch calibration model with a coefficient of determination (R2) = 0.87, root mean square error of cross validation (RMSECV) = 1.57% and slope = 0.89 predicted the starch content of validation set with R2 = 0.76, root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) = 2.13%, slope = 0.93 and bias = 0.20%. Amylose calibration model with R2 = 0.84, RMSECV = 2.96% and slope = 0.86 predicted the amylose content in validation samples with R2 = 0.76, RMSEP = 2.60%, slope = 0.98 and bias = −0.44%. Final starch and amylose cross validated calibration models were constructed combining respective calibration and validation sets and used to predict starch and amylose contents in 1337 grain samples from two diverse sorghum populations. Protein and moisture contents of the samples were determined using previously tested NIR spectroscopy models. The distribution of starch and protein contents in the samples of low amylose (<5%) and normal amylose (>15%) and the overall relationship between starch and protein contents of the sorghum populations were investigated. Percent starch and protein were negatively correlated, low amylose lines tended to have lower starch and higher protein contents than lines with high amylose. The results showed that NIR spectroscopy of whole grain can be used as a high throughput pre-screening method to identify sorghum germplasm with specific starch quality traits to develop hybrids for various end uses.

Production of ingredients for cut cattle diet: a case study in farm angico, municipality of Corumbá - Mato Grosso do Sul

Nutrition has a fundamental role in the production of beef cattle, directly interfering in the costs, productivity and profitability of the activity. In this sense, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the challenges, opportunities and advantages of the production of the entire cattle fattening diet on the Angico farm, in the municipality of Corumbá - Mato Grosso do Sul. Applied research was carried out as a way of studying case. In the 2017/2018 harvest, the farm's own production yielded 116 bags/hectare of corn, 40 bags / hectare of soybeans, 42 tons / hectare of silage sorghum and 72.5 bags/hectare of grain sorghum. All these ingredients were used in the feed of the feedlot animals. It was concluded that at the Angico farm, with the use of proper planting and management techniques, it was possible to overcome production barriers (adverse weather, attack by pests, diseases and wild animals), thus improving the efficiency of the enterprise. In addition, it was possible to recover degraded pasture areas and increase the farm's food independence by reducing the purchase of food from third parties and reducing costs per arroba produced with the animals' own food production.