Plant Gene and Trait 2024, Vol.15, No.6, 295-304 http://genbreedpublisher.com/index.php/pgt 301 International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) has already made strides in this direction by developing a mini core collection of sorghum germplasm, which allows for more efficient evaluation and utilization of genetic resources (Upadhyaya et al., 2009). Additionally, the USDA National Plant germplasm System (NPGS) has characterized a core set of Ethiopian sorghum germplasm, highlighting the importance of international cooperation in germplasm conservation and utilization (Cuevas et al., 2019; Cuevas et al., 2023). By fostering global collaboration, researchers can pool resources, share knowledge, and develop strategies to protect and utilize sorghum germplasm more effectively. 7.3 The potential of new technologies in germplasm resource preservation New technologies offer promising avenues for the preservation of sorghum germplasm resources. Cryopreservation, for instance, allows for the long-term storage of genetic material at ultra-low temperatures, ensuring the preservation of genetic diversity for future use. Digital germplasm banks, which involve the digitization of genetic information, can also play a significant role in germplasm conservation. These technologies enable the efficient storage, retrieval, and sharing of genetic data, facilitating global collaboration and research (Boyles et al., 2018). The integration of genomic resources and high-throughput phenotyping platforms further enhances the ability to connect genotype with phenotype, aiding in the identification and utilization of valuable genetic traits. By leveraging these advanced technologies, the preservation and utilization of sorghum germplasm resources can be significantly improved, ensuring their availability for future crop improvement efforts. 8 Conclusion The global collection of sorghum germplasm is extensive, with over 236 000 accessions conserved in various genebanks worldwide. Notably, the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and the USDA-ARS hold significant portions of these collections, with ICRISAT alone maintaining over 37 000 accessions. These collections are crucial for preserving genetic diversity and providing resources for crop improvement. Efforts have been made to develop core and mini core collections to facilitate easier access and more efficient utilization of these vast germplasm resources. For instance, ICRISAT developed a mini core collection comprising 242 accessions, representing 1% of the entire collection, which has been extensively evaluated for various agronomic traits. Similarly, the USDA-NPGS has characterized a core set of Ethiopian sorghum germplasm, revealing high genetic and phenotypic diversity, which is essential for breeding programs. The evaluation of these collections has focused on identifying traits related to resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses, agronomic performance, and nutritional quality. Advanced genomic tools and high-throughput phenotyping technologies have been employed to map important traits and understand the genetic basis of these traits. This has led to the identification of valuable germplasm with superior traits, which are being utilized in breeding programs to develop improved sorghum varieties. To enhance the efficiency of utilizing germplasm resources and to innovate breeding strategies, future research needs to conduct comprehensive genomic characterization of the entire germplasm collection. This includes sequencing diverse samples to discover rare alleles and novel genetic variations that can be harnessed for crop improvement. Genomic tools such as genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and genomic selection should be integrated into breeding programs to accelerate the identification and utilization of beneficial traits. At the same time, precise phenotypic analysis is crucial for linking genotype data with phenotypic traits. Developing and deploying high-throughput phenotyping platforms will aid in efficiently screening large germplasm collections for desirable traits, thereby improving the selection process in breeding programs. Core and mini-core germplasm collections should be further refined and utilized to effectively represent the genetic diversity of the entire germplasm collection. These subsets can serve as valuable resources for detailed evaluation and trait mapping, facilitating the discovery of new sources of variation and their incorporation into breeding programs. Additionally, research should explore non-traditional uses of sorghum, such as its potential in the health food market and bioenergy production. Screening germplasm for traits such as high antioxidant levels, gluten-free properties, and suitability for renewable fuel production can open new avenues for the utilization of sorghum.
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