Breeding Potential for Increasing Carbon Sequestration via Rhizomatous Grain Sorghum.

ABSTRACT: Rhizomes, key carbon sequestration sinks in perennial crops, are hypothesized to exhibit a trade-off with grain yield. This study evaluated rhizomatous grain sorghum populations for increasing carbon sequestration potential. Twelve F_3:4 heterogeneous inbred families (HIFs) from a Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench × Sorghum propinquum (Kunth) Hitchc cross were tested in a greenhouse, and two F_4:5 HIF progenies were field tested. Traits measured included rhizome biomass, root biomass, total belowground biomass, and grain yield. Rhizome biomass showed high heritability (0.723) and correlated strongly with belowground biomass (r₁ = 0.95; r₂ = 0.97) in both F_4:5 HIFs, suggesting the potential of rhizomes to sequester c

SUBMITTER: Zheng Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11902033 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature