The Genetic Improvement of Sorghum in Ethiopia: Review

Zigale Semahegn Yitayeh

doi:10.7176/jbah/9-3-06

Abstract

Sorghum is the most known drought tolerant crop as compared to other cereal crops due to it’s ability to withstand poor soil fertility and high temperature. As Ethiopia is the centre of origin and diversity for sorghum, the crop has been cultivated for thousands of years and hence the heritage of the crop is expected to be rich. Sorghum is mostly grown as food grain in the developing country while in the developed countries, as an animal feed. The yield and quality of sorghum is affected by many factors such as drought, Striga, insect pests (stalk borer, midge, and shoot fly), disease (grain mold, anthracnose and smut). Ethiopia has a diverse sorghum germplasm which adapted to a range of altitudes and rainfall conditions. Characterization and identification of sorghum germplasms which provide desirable traits for genetic improvement is a basis in plant breeding. DNA based molecular marker and PCR based are the best to characterize and identify sorghum genotypes which provide desirable traits as compared to field experimental evaluation due to time and environmental effect. Genetic improvement is the cost-effective means of enhancing sorghum productivity for different end-uses. In Ethiopia, sorghum improvement for yield,quality, early mature, biomass, resistance to drought, Striga, diseases and wide adaptability prioritized by national sorghum improvement program to satisfy end-users demand. Fifty two sorghum vareites, which contained desirable traits as compared to landraces, released in Ethiopia. Keywords: Sorghum breeding, genetic diversity, sorghum improvement, genetic variablity DOI : 10.7176/JBAH/9-3-06

Highlights

In the arid and semi-arid tropics of Africa and Asia, sorghum is mostly grown as a food grain crop while in the developed world the majority of the grain produced is used for animal feed (Rakshit et al, 2014)
A major challenge of sorghum production in these parts of the country is lack of high yielding and stable varieties, lack of improvement works in genetic yield potential, abiotic stresses such as drought, soil fertility decline (Gebrekidan H., 2003). Biotic stresses such as diseases, insects and weeds are yield limiting factors
As the potential of genetic diversity in Ethiopia, the research is carried out in our country by scientists/researchers based at higher learning institutions and research institute

Summary

Introduction

A major challenge of sorghum production in these parts of the country is lack of high yielding and stable varieties, lack of improvement works in genetic yield potential , abiotic stresses such as drought, soil fertility decline (Gebrekidan H., 2003). Sorghum productivity over the past four decades has shown a yield improvement of 1 to 4% per year in many countries including USA, Australia, and China (Rakshit et al, 2014).

Results

Conclusion