Variability of sorghum genotypes to tolerate iron deficiency

Abstract

Abstract Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] needs to be improved for its ability to tolerate and produce under iron (Fe) deficiency conditions. To do this, sorghum germ plasm from various sources were screened and identified for performance under Fe deficiency conditions. Twenty‐nine inbred lines and 41 experimental lines used by sorghum breeders at the Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station, 31 inbred lines used in a disease and insect nursery at the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, 10 genotypes from Nigeria, and 78 S1 progenies from the Nebraska population NP20BR were screened to determine germ plasm differences under Fe deficiency conditions. Iron deficiency was induced in plants by growing them in a growth chamber in nutrient solutions with nitrate as a source of nitrogen. Observations on the rapidity with which plants became Fe deficient were recorded. Genotypes that remained green and tolerated Fe deficiency conditions for longer periods of time were QL3 (Texas), SC630–11E, SC33–9–8‐E4, a...