Stalk strength and sugar content of different dual-purpose sorghum lines

Shih Fang Chen, Patrick Brown, Mary Grace Danao

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Dual-purpose bioenergy crops, in which reduced carbon is harvested from multiple sources, are efficient feedstocks because carbon accumulation in any one organ is usually sink-limited. In other words, carbon yield from the vegetative stalk can usually be increased without sacrificing starch yield from the grain. In December 2012, sorghum was approved by EPA as an advanced bioenergy feedstock as it is highly tolerant to drought and requires lower inputs than maize. However, it is susceptible to lodging which reduces grain yields significantly. Stalk moisture and sugar content affect harvest, transport, and storage strategies. Therefore, identifying sorghum varieties with stronger stalk strength can prevent lodging damage and differentiating the hybrids with higher sugar content can increase potential biofuel yield. In this study, rind penetrometer resistance measurements of stalk strength and sugar content of the leaves and the stalks of 40 dwarf grain sorghum inbreds and 15 photoperiod sensitive sorghum inbreds were measured. These measurements were calibrated against the Fourier transform near infrared (FT-NIR) spectra of ground sorghum stalks and leaves to cluster inbreds using principal components analysis (PCA). Results showed dwarf grain sorghum contained 0.1-6.9% glucose in stalks, 0.3-3% glucose in leaves, 0-15% sucrose in stalks, 0-6.5% sucrose in leaves, and stalks strengths were ranged from 2.43-7.72 kg; photoperiod sensitive sorghum contained 0.6-12% glucose in stalks, 0.3-1.7% glucose in leaves, 0.3-17% sucrose in stalks, 0-3.1% sucrose in leaves, and stalks strengths were ranged from 2.43-7.72 kg. PCA results effectively clustered two varieties, fractions from leaves and stalks, and differentiated the sugar contents in stalks.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationAmerican Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers Annual International Meeting 2013, ASABE 2013
PublisherAmerican Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers
Pages2437-2450
Number of pages14
ISBN (Print)9781627486651
StatePublished - 2013
EventAmerican Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers Annual International Meeting 2013 - Kansas City, MO, United States
Duration: Jul 21 2013Jul 24 2013

Publication series

NameAmerican Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers Annual International Meeting 2013, ASABE 2013
Volume3

Other

OtherAmerican Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers Annual International Meeting 2013
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityKansas City, MO
Period7/21/137/24/13

Keywords

  • FT-NIR spectroscopy
  • Principal components analysis
  • Sorghum
  • Stalk strength
  • Sugar content

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Agronomy and Crop Science
  • Bioengineering

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