Sorghum Improvement Through Efficient Breeding Technologies

Abstract

Sorghum is one of the most adaptive crops cultivated by mankind. It is the crop of subsistence in arid and semi-arid regions of the world. Sorghum has immense diversity which human has harnessed for various end uses. Globally, sorghum ranks fifth among the major cereal crops. The crop has emerged as a solution to climate change it has inherent heat and moisture stress tolerance. Sorghum is a potential bio-energy crop, first- and second- generation biofuel production. All these attributes have attracted researchers from the new and old world. There is immense progress in sorghum improvement since the nineteenth century. Advanced breeding technologies have been deployed to study genetics of traits with a focus to improve economic yield. The sorghum improvement took in phases, and every phase faced different challenge. It is important to know the succession of sorghum improvement to lead the future. This chapter will familiarize the readers with tools and techniques that were found efficient in sorghum improvement.