CROPPING

Landmark research to halve sorghum breeding time

NEW research from the US has found a significantly quicker sorghum breeding process, in a major boost for Australian growers.

Alex Paull
Landmark research to halve sorghum breeding time

The US team at DuPont Pioneer and the United Sorghum Checkoff Program uncovered two sorghum haploid inducer lines - the first of its kind. 

These patent-pending inducer lines enable the creation of doubled haploid sorghum, which is the first step to significantly accelerating the sorghum breeding process.

Sorghum Research Scientist with Pioneer Australia, Ivan Calvert said sharing the technology between the US and Australia would mean new, improved hybrids can reach growers faster.

“It’s very exciting news for DuPont Pioneer all around the world, including Australia, because with this type of technology and development we can achieve spontaneous chromosome doubling with parent development,” Calvert said.

“What it means is, in comparison with our conventional sorghum parent development, which can take up to six generations, double haploid technology can achieve this in one generation.

“This in turn rapidly speeds up hybrid development, delivering traits and yield advantages at a much quicker rate to Australian growers.”

The United Sorghum Checkoff Program funded the Pioneer research in Texas, Kansas, Puerto Rico, Mexico and Iowa, leveraging the world-class, global sorghum breeding programs of Pioneer.

“With this technology, and the additional molecular breeding tools that are used by DuPont Pioneer within our sorghum program, we are able to advance parents at a rapid rate and therefore test many more parental combinations in hybrids over time, which will improve the standard of sorghum hybrids for Australian growers,” Calvert said.

“It’s key that the new process is so much faster, it will take at least three to four years off parent development and then hybrid advancement.”

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the farming sector, brought to you by the Farming Ahead team.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the farming sector, brought to you by the Farming Ahead team.

editions

Research Report: Harvest Weed Seed Mills

The Report includes a round up of commercially-available batching plants as well as farmer-made approaches.

editions

Research Report: Agritechnica 2023

Kondinin Group’s Mark Saunders, Ben White and Josh Giumelli went to Agritechnica, Germany. This report covers the key award winners from the event and some of the latest autonomous platforms displayed.

editions

Research Report: Fronting Up

This Research Report looks at harvester fronts including research and expertise from Kondinin Group’s Ben White, with input from harvesting specialists Brett Asphar, Kassie Van Der Westhuizen, Murray Skayman and Martin Reichelt.

editions

Research Report: Liquid Applications At Seeding

Kondinin Group’s Mark Saunders, Josh Giumelli and Ben White have rounded up liquid application Case Studies for this Research Report including tips and tricks from experiencd producers.