Characterization of Brown Midrib Mutants of Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench)

摘要

Twenty brown midrib (bmr) mutants of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) were evaluated for agronomic traits, forage quality traits and the relationships between these traits. Potential fodder quality was assessed by laboratory analysis. Significantdifferences were observed among the bmr mutants (bmrl, 3, 6, 7, 8 and two new mutants) for stover yield, plant height, stover nitrogen (N) content, in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD), metabolizable energy (ME) content and acid detergent lignin (ADL) content. The bmr mutants such as IS 23253, IS 21549, IS 23789 and IS 23787 had high stover yield coupled with better forage quality, hence these mutants can be exploited in future bmr hybrid breeding programs. All of these had reduced cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD) activity except for the new and uncharacterized bmr mutant, IS 23253, whose allelic relationship is yet to be determined.