Project Number: 6202-21000-022-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: Apr 17, 2003
End Date: Apr 16, 2008

Objective:
Expand the development of genomics tools in sorghum and exploit these tools to map-base clone important agronomic genes. Enrich the unigene set of sorghum Expression Sequence Tags (ESTs) and utilize this gene library to produce a compendium of gene expression microarray profiles. Identify new favorable Quantitative Trait Loci (QTLs) for grain yield and quality in unadapted sorghum accessions and introgress these genomic regions into elite sorghum inbreds.

Approach:
The overall goal of this project is expansion of an ongoing program to assemble an integrated genetic, physical, and cytogenetic map of the sorghum genome while simultaneously utilizing the information to map-base clone important agronomic genes. Completion of the sorghum genome map in regions harboring key trait loci will simplify map-based gene isolation including cloning of the gene which conditions restoration of pollen fertility. In cooperative work partially funded by the National Science Foundation, cDNA library synthesis and microarray analyses will be conducted on sorghum subjected to various environmental perturbations. We hypothesize that microarrays and the compendium of gene expression profiles will provide powerful tools to identify candidate genes in trait loci and identify genes conditioning sorghum's special tolerance to drought and heat. A backcross breeding strategy will be used to identify QTLs associated with important agronomic traits (grain yield, grain quality, etc.) in unadapted sorghum germplasm. The wild species of sorghum provide a potentially valuable source of favorable genes for quantitatively inherited traits, and the genomics technology developed by this project will permit us to more efficiently introgress these genes into elite germplasm.

Project Team

Klein, Robert

Project Annual Reports

FY 2003

Related National Programs

Plant, Microbial & Insect Genetic Res., Genomics, & Genetic Improv. I (301)

Related Projects

EVALUATION OF SELECTED INDIGENOUS MALI AND SUDAN SORGHUMS    CHARACTERIZATION AND USE OF WILD SORGHUM SPECIES GERMPLASM    MAP-BASED CLONING OF FERTILITY RESTORATION GENES IN SORGHUM