Genetic Analysis and adaptability of sorghum germplasm in semi-arid Zimbabwe

Sorghum is the second most important grain cereal after maize in sub-Saharan Africa. The rate of accelerating of climate change and variability conjoined with increased global population threaten world food security. Changes in precipitation patterns further exacerbates crop failure and production declines. Small grain crops have been shown to thrive well under unfavorable conditions and these should be adopted especially in areas facing challenges due to climate change. Accordingly, sorghum has the potential to play an important role in meeting the world’s food demand in the face of climate change, land degradation and increasing water scarcity (Mofokeng et al., 2017). Sorghum has a wide genetic diversity which makes it possible to produce a wide range of diverse products and thus strengthen the crop’s value chain.

This technical note was developed as part of the project “Exploring wide crosses derived crop biodiversity (sorghum x maize) for climate resilience and food and nutrition security in Eastern and Southern Africa” funded in the 4th cycle of the Benefit Sharing Fund (BSF) of the International Treaty of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations (UN).