Sweet sorghum for high-value sugars (2015-2017)
Abstract
Sweet sorghum is a high-biomass C4 plant adapted to the hot semi-arid tropics. As an annual crop, it can produce biomass equivalent to sugarcane in a shorter time frame with 10-15 tonnes of sugars per hectare and less water usage. We will identify elite sweet sorghum lines with high and stable sucrose production and transform the stem into an industrial model for value-added sugars such as isomaltulose (low glucemic and insulin indices and low tooth decay). The engineered plants will be tested under a wide range of cultivation areas of marginal land both in Queensland and China.
