NextGen Sorghum: Genomic approaches to novel renewable bioproducts (2010-2013)
Abstract
Sorghum is a crop plant adapted to the hot, water limited environments of northern Australia, both as a grain and forage crop. Sorghum is an ideal crop for starch production, novel bio-products and will remain an important animal feedstock. We will take reverse genetics approaches to identify and manipulate genes for grain quality, included cell wall thickness, cell size, and protein:starch matrix properties. Expected outcomes are knowledge and selection tools for producing NextGen Sorghums. These tools will allow rapid deployment of NextGen Sorghums with improved quality parameters for nutrition and novel bio-products. NextGen Sorghums will be delivered as highly adapted hybrids both for Australia and internationally.
