Biomass and Sugar Productivity of Brown Midrib Sorghum Mutant Lines Resulting from Gamma-Ray Radiation Mutation

Abstract

Brown midrib (BMR) sorghum is a sorghum variety known for producing feed biomass and has a high sugar potential similar to that of sweet sorghum. This study assessed the productivity of several BMR mutant sorghum lines by measuring sugar and biomass yields during grain filling. The experiment was conducted using a three-replicate randomized complete block design. Twenty-two sorghum genotypes were tested: 20 BMR mutant lines, one wild type, and one control. Data were collected during the grain filling period and included fresh and dry stem and leaf biomass, total soluble solids, pH, juice weight, extraction capacity, sugar content, and sugar concentration. Significant differences were observed among sorghum genotypes. SBC-26 had the highest TSS content (18.3%). SBC-29 exhibited the highest juice weight and fresh biomass (106.5 and 705 g per stem and plant, respectively). SBC-37 had the highest juice sugar content (54.7 g). SBC-42 exhibited the highest juice sugar concentration (818 mg.g –1 ). Selecting stalk yield and juice weight in BMR sorghum can be done indirectly by considering plant height and stalk diameter. SBC-29, SBC-36, SBC-42, and Soper-9 were selected, and their biomass and sugar production stability in different environments should be further evaluated.