Australian and Chinese researchers have mapped the the entire genome sequence of 44 lines of sorghum – Africa’s most widespread crop –  in an effort to improve drought tolerance and nutritional quality, according to a report in UQNews.

Scientists found more genetic material than they expected, the report said.

A staple cereal crop in Africa, sorghum is expected to play an increasingly important role in feeding the world’s growing population due to its good adaptation to heat and drought. It is also an important animal feed and biofuel crop in the developed world.

Researchers can now examine variation in specific genes and use this information to breed improved sorghum varieties.

The nature of genetic diversity at the genomic sequence level has been poorly understood until now, said Emma Mace, the study’s lead author. “Our study revealed a dramatic reduction in the diversity of modern varieties compared to the wild ancestors. It really highlights the exciting opportunities sorghum plant breeders have to make use of previously untapped variation.”

This resource is not just important for sorghum, the report said. Cereal crops share most of their genes in common so understanding drought mechanisms in one can be used to improve drought adaptation in other crops such as wheat and rice.

While an important staple, sorghum’s low digestibility presents a challenge for its usefulness as a food source, said Ian Godwin, one of the study’s authors. This research could provide new options for securing food supplies in Africa and Asia.

David Jordan with University of Queensland’s Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, leads Australia’s national sorghum genetic improvement program.

“Already we are using the information in our Grains Research and Development Corp.-funded pre-breeding program and it will play a key part in a new project to identify genes for drought tolerance funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation,” Jordan said.