Selection of restorers and varieties for stalk sugar traits in sorghum

Reddy, B V S and Ramaiah, B and Ashok Kumar, A and Reddy, P S (2007) Selection of restorers and varieties for stalk sugar traits in sorghum. Journal of SAT Agricultural Research, 5 (1). pp. 1-3.

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Abstract

In India, sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) is an important staple food crop for a large population and ranks fifth in area and production next to rice (Oryza sativa), wheat (Triticum aestivum), maize (Zea mays) and barley (Hordeum vulgare). Sorghums that have 10–25% sugar in stalk juice at grain maturity are called sweet sorghums (Harlan and deWet 1972). Sweet sorghums are characterized by their wider adaptability, rapid growth and sugar accumulation associated with high biomass in the semi-arid tropics (Smith et al. 1987). The sugars presented in the stalk juice of sweet sorghum can be fermented and converted to ethanol using relatively simple techniques (Smith and Reeves 1981, Hill et al. 1987, Smith et al. 1987). Sorghum stalks are ideal for ethanol production as the ethanol is significantly cleaner (low sulfur), and potable alcohol produced from sorghum grains has superior quality. The feasibility of converting stalk sugars to ethanol/syrup/jaggery on or near farms, and the adaptability of sorghum to a wide range of environments prompted researchers to evaluate the potential of sweet sorghum as an alternative crop for ethanol production (Daniel et al. 1991).

Item Type: Article
Divisions: UNSPECIFIED
CRP: UNSPECIFIED
Subjects: Mandate crops > Sorghum
Depositing User: Library ICRISAT
Date Deposited: 27 Oct 2011 08:41
Last Modified: 11 Nov 2011 09:24
URI: http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/2671
Official URL:
Projects: UNSPECIFIED
Funders: UNSPECIFIED
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