Comparison of gas chromotography, spectrophotometry and near infrared spectroscopy to quantify prussic acid potential in forages.

Background: Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] has been shown to contain the cyanogenic glycoside dhurrin, which is responsible for the disorder known as prussic acid poisoning in livestock. The current standard method for estimating hydrogen cyanide (HCN) uses spectrophotometry to measure the aglycone, p-hydroxybenzaldehyde (p-HB), after hydrolysis.

Genetic background impacts soluble and cell wall-bound aromatics in brown midrib mutants of sorghum.

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.). Moench) BMR-6 and BMR-12 encode cinnamylalcohol dehydrogenase and caffeic acid-O-methyltransferase, respectively.

Opportunities and roadblocks in utilizing forages and small grains for liquid fuels.

This review focuses on the potential advantages and disadvantages of forages such as switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), and two small grains: sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), and wheat (Triticum aesitvum), as feedstocks for biofuels. It highlights the synergy provided by applying what is known from forage digestibility and wheat and sorghum starch properties studies to the biofuels sector. Opportunities therefore, exist to improve biofuel qualities in these crops via genetics and agronomics.

Genietic and molecular characterization of Candystripel transposition events in sorghum.

In sorghum, the Candystripe1 (Cs1) transposable element causes a variegated pericarp phenotype due to its excision activity from the yl (yellow seed1) locus. The Y1 is a transcription regulator which is required for the biosynthesis of red 3-deoxyflavonoid pigments. Somatic variability in the transposition behavior of Cs1 was observed via biochemical analysis of 3-deoxyflavonoids in the leaf tissues of the Y1-cs alleles.