1. Sorghum
1-1. China
1-2. Indonesia

1-1. China
LI Guiying, LIU Luxiang and WANG Jing
Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS)
Key Lab of Agricultural Nuclear Technology & Aerospace Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture
As per the general plan of the Multilateral Research Program (MRP-1) under the framework of
FNCA Agriculture Project (Mutation Breeding), we have exchanged sorghum mutant
germplasms with Indonesia, and have done multi-location evaluation for further use,
popularized new mutant varieties, and used introduced germplasm in breeding program. This
paper will give an outline summary on the researches during project years (2002-2006) as
follows.

1 Goal of the MRPThis project aims to form an Asia regional cooperation network of drought tolerance
improvement in sorghum by using mutation induction technique and related biotechnology.
(1) To collect, identify and utilize useful germplasms of drought tolerance for regional andnational sorghum breeding programs in agricultural institutions and extend planting andutilization of the improved cultivars.
(2) To exchange the improvement techniques for raising efficiency of screening for droughttolerance in sorghum.
(3) To form Asia regional co-operation network of drought tolerance improvement in sorghum
by holding meetings, inviting experts to scientific visits and exchange sorghum plant materials
and information.

2 Project Progress
2.1 Exchange useful sorghum germplasms of drought tolerance
Totally China has provided Indonesia with 4 mutant or hybrid sorghum: Yuanza 1(Hybrid),
Zhenzhu, Yuan8002, SP84002; Indonesia has provided China with 5 mutant and their initialmaterial: ME/30/9, ET/20/477, DU/30/95B, DU/20/3E and JA/30/58 and Durra .

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2.2 Observation on Sorghum mutant germplasm from Indonesia
5 sorghum mutants introduced from Indonesia were planted in IAAE’s experimental farm in
2002. Experimental results are showed as in the table1.
Table 1. Performance of sorghum mutants introduced from Indonesia

ME/30/9

ET/20/477>160

DU/30/95B

DU/20/3E

JA/30/58

159

159

95

Growth period (d)125Plant height (cm)

310

350

250

250

220

Stem diameter (cm)

0.6

2.5

1.7

1.7

1.5

Number of tillers

1.0

2.3

1.0

1.5

2.0

Panicle length (cm)

23

30

20

23

38

Seed wt/panicle (g)

70

-

60

80

40

1000-seed weight(g)

36.5

-

28.0

21.0

18.0

Bx (%)

-

5.0

10.0

8.0

-

Type

Grain

Forage

Grain

Grain

Broom

Among the 5 mutants, JA/30/58 was very early mature, with short stalks and big spikes. It
could be used as a good cultivar of broom sorghum. DU/30/95B has a bright red seed color,very beautiful, could be used for decoration. ME/30/9 and DU/20/3E have bright white color,shows good market quality. ET/20/447 was multi-tillering. It had thick and strong stalks (notsweet) and high biomass yield. It might be utilized as a good cultivar of forage sorghum or beused as a high biomass parent in energy crop sweet sorghum breeding. But it cannot get mature
enough to propagation in Beijing.

2.3 Multi-location Evaluation of Sorghum Mutants and Parents
In 2005，a total number of seven varieties included four mutants and one parent fromIndonesia (Du/30/95B, Du/20/100B, DU/20/3E, ET/20/477and Durra), one mutant and one
parent from China (Yuanyu 8002 and SP4-8002) were used to do multi-location trial toevaluate their possible uses for forage or grain production in Beijing, Gansu and Heilongjiang,-2-

respectively. Randomized complete block design with 3 replications, row length 6 meters with
3 rows in one plot, row spacing 60cm and plant-to-plant space 50cm. The sowing date was 20
April 2005 in Beijing, 25 April 2005 in Gansu and 29 April 2005 in Heilongjiang.
Among the mutants and parents, Yuan8002 and SP4-8002 belong to grain sorghum but
Du/30/95B, Du/20/100B, DU/20/3E, ET/20/477and Durra forage usage according to theiragronomic performance.
Yuan8002 and SP4-8002 can be used as restoring lines of cytoplasmic male sterility ofsorghum, with short stalks and growth period. SP4-8002 was about 5 days delay in heading
date than its parent Yuan8002, which will be helpful to hybrid seed production.
Durra, DU/30/95B,Du/20/100B and ET/20/477 produced high biological yield with very highplant height but too long growth period in the above three locations.
Performance comparison of these varieties in Beijing was showed as Table2.
Table 2. Performance of sorghum mutants and parents with drought tolerance in Beijing in 2004

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Growth period (d)

110

115

183

182

183

159

>190

Plant height (cm)

138

122

248

251

262

250

350

Stem diameter(cm)

1.41

1.42

1.51

1.53

1.55

1.70

2.50

Number of tillers

1.20

1.10

1.65

1.80

1.75

1.50

2.30

Panicle length(cm)

25.8

27.1

23.5

23.1

23.2

23.0

30.0

Seed wt/panicle(g)

54.6

55.1

60.3

62.6

61.5

80.0

-

1000-seed weight(g)

25.0

24.8

25.8

26.3

26.1

21.0

-

Bx(%)

3.0

3.0

8.0

10.0

9.0

8.0

5.0

Note:1. Yuan8002 (P); 2. SP4-8002; 3. Dura (P); 4. DU/30/95B; 5. Du/20/100B; 6. DU/20/3E; 7. ET/20/477

2.4 Use of introduced mutant germplasm in breeding program
Among 5mutant from Indonesia, ET/20/447 is a useful germplasm with very high biomassyield, but it can’t get mature enough for reproduction. In order to use its useful genes, in 2003
we treated its seedlings after three leaves shoot in short sunlight (9 hr/d) for 32 days. It head
95day after sowing and short sunlight treatment. Then emasculated and pollinated with sweetsorghum CV Rio, Rio/BJk156-1-3-1 and Roma. Finally 26 seeds from cross [ET/20/477]/Rio,
50 seeds from [ET/20/477]/Roma and 50 seeds from [ET/20/477]/[Rio/BJK156 -1-3-1].
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F1 generation
In 2004 all these seeds were planted in the experiment field, and F2 seeds were obtained.
ET/20/477 is 350 cm, Rio/156-1-3-1 is an advanced lines, juicy and sweet (brix 16-18%), 360380cm high. F1 plants were 5.0-5.3m tall and 3-4wm thick (see Fig.1), showing very strong
heterosis.

Et/20/477

Fig1. F1 populations of [ET/20/477]/Roma, [ET/20/477]/[Rio/156-1-3-1 and [ET/20/477]/Rio

F2 generation
In 2005 F2 populations (Fig2) were planted in the experimental field for selection of single
plant with high biomass potential, sweet or non-sweet. From 300 F2 population of[ET/20/477]/Roma, 35 plants were selected; from 240 F2 of [ET/20/477]/[Rio/156-1-3-1, 46
were selected; 240 from F2 of [ET/20/477]/Rio, 56 plants were selected. Plants with ET/20/477
characters and early mature have been recovered.
Distributions of some important characters were analyzed. Take [ET/20/477]/ [Rio/156-1-3-1]
as an example, 64 F2 plants were examined, the distributions of plant heights (Fig.3), stem
types (dry or juicy)(Fig.4), Maturity (showed as mature state when frosting, i.e. waxy to fullmature, milk or flowering)(Fig.5). For juicy plants, juice Brix was measured with a handrefractometer. And Brix distribution was showed as Fig 6.

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Plants height
ET/20/477 is 350cm high. Rio/1561-3-1 is an advanced line, 360380cm high. Among 64 F2 plants
examined, 13 plants were higher than
5m, 19 were between 4.6-5m, 17

20
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0

were shorter than two parents. It
showed plants with ET/20/477 height>5 M

4.65.0M

4.14.5M

3.64.0M

3.13.5M<3.0

Fig2 Distribution of Plant height in F2[ET/20/477]/ [Rio/156-1-3-1]

character could be recovered.

Stem types
ET/20/477 is a dry type, and100.00%

Rio/156-1-3-1 is a juicy type, with

80.00%

brix 16-18%. Among 64 F2 plants

60.00%

observed, there were two types of

40.00%

stems, 12.5% juicy and 87.5% dry,

20.00%

which showed juicy is controlled
by recessive gene. It is easy to get

0.00%

87.50%

12.50%
Juicy stem

Dry stemFig3 Distribution of Plant types in F2[ET/20/477]/ [Rio/BJK156-1-3-1]

a dry type with high biomass yield.

Maturity
ET/20/477 is very late mature, andcould not mature enough for further
reproduction. That is the key reason
to treat it and cross with earlyvarieties so as to keep its usefulgenes. Among 64 F2 plants, 54.7%
could develop to waxy to full ripe,enoughtoflowering

reproduction,
to

milk,

45.3%

difficult

to

60
50
40
30

54. 7

20

29. 7
15. 6

10
0

Waxy

Mi l k

Fl ower i ng

Fig4 Distribution of maturity in F2 [ET/20/477]/ [Rio/BJK156-1-3-1]

reproduce.

-5-Juice Brix
Among 64 F2 plants, only 8 or
10-18%, 3 plants between 10-13%,

16
juice Brix

12.5% were sweet. Brix were from

18
14
12
10

4 plants 13-16%, 1 plant 18%.

8

Generally sweet type is later

4

mature. It needs a large population

0

16

6

10

11

3

4

15

14. 4

5

6

13

2
1

to select for a sweet type with highbiomass yield.

18

15. 6

2

7

8

s i ngl e pl ant

Fig5 Distribution of Brix in F2 [ET/20/477]/ [Rio/156-1-3-1]

F3 generation
F3 generation is growing as Fig. 6. The result has yet to obtain.

Fig 6 F3 generation of [ET/20/477]/ [Rio/156-1-3-1]

2.5 Mutation technology in sorghum improvement
2.5.1 Production of M1 and M2 population after gamma radiation
Seeds of grain sorghum variety “Zhenzhu” and sweet sorghum “Sart” were irradiated by
gamma rays, 100Gy, 150Gy, 200Gy, 250Gy, 350Gy and 400Gy, respectively. The results ofthe germination test and the field planting showed that 200Gy ～ 250Gy could be theappropriate radiation dose, while very lower survival plants in 350 Gy treatment and no seeds
in 400 Gy in M1 generation. M2 seeds from 100Gy to 350Gy were obtained and will be used tolaboratory test for drought tolerance by PEG6000 and field planting in next year.
2.5.2 Mutational effects of new mutagens on sorghum-6-

Seeds of sorghum cv. Y030 and Yuan8002 were irradiated by proton, with the energy of 3Mev
and dosage of 300Gy, and synchrotron (ultra-soft X rays, 5～20λ), respectively. The result
showed that the biological effects of proton and synchrotron irradiation on the current
generation of treated sorghum seeds are very similar. The sorghum seedlings in 1～3 leaflets
stage from the treated seeds showed variations of stripe chlorophyll deletion, with the deletion
rate near 100%. However, no such variation was found in the treatments with 200Gy gamma
rays irradiation. The chlorophyll deletion was also not reported in literature.
Electron beam was used to irradiate the seeds of four sorghum cultivars, i.e.,Wusawu, Jinwu,
Aisi and Yuan2B. The preliminary results from bioeffect analysis showed the proper doses ofelectron beam to treat sorghum seeds were to be 30～50 Gy for white grain and 100～150 Gy
for red grain, respectively. This dose is significantly lower than that of gamma rays, indicatinga high relative biological effect.
2.6 New varieties
Yuantian No 1 a sweet type showed as Fig 7, released in 2002. It was developed from Rio as
initial material by induced mutation with gamma ray. It is grown ca. 1000 hectares.

Fig7 Plants, stem and spike of Yuantian No 1

Hybrid variety Yuanza 502(Yuan2/ Sp8002) In the variety comparison experiment, 25 newcrosses made with mutants Cms lines or restorer lines were evaluated, Yuan2/ Sp8002 showed
more than 20% higher in grain yield than original Yuan2/ Yuan8002. Sp8002 is a mutant
developed by space breeding. The performance of this cross shows as Fig 8.

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Fig.7 Field performance of new hybrid variety Yuan2/ Sp8002

3 Discussion
Through this project, participating countries exchange their research experience, mutant shareachievement, which is conducive to all participating experts and also good for enhancing
application of atomic energy in a wider research field.
Induced mutation has become a conventional breeding approach, it become less and less anopportunity to get support as an independent project. So it is suggested that the future FNCA
project be combined with other related domestic project. It may be better to organize projectgroup as end-up use, not as single crop, such could attack more experts to participate in FNCA
activity.

-8-

1-2. Indonesia
Dr. Soeranto Human
Center for Application of Isotope and Radiation Technology
National Nuclear Energy Agency (BATAN)

Introduction
Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) is a cereal crop that is usually grown under
hot and dry conditions. According to House (1985) sorghum might beoriginated from the headwaters of the Niger River in Africa. Archaeologicalevidence suggested that the practice of sorghum domestication was
introduced from Ethiopia to Egypt about 3000 B.C. Now about 80 % ofsorghum cultivation is found in the Africa and Asian regions, however, theworld sorghum production is still dominated by the USA, India, Nigeria,
China, Mexico, Sudan and Argentina.
In many countries sorghum is generally used as food source, animal feed,
and raw materials for industry. According to ICRISAT/FAO (1996), as global food source
sorghum ranks the fifth after wheat, rice, corn, and barley. In many countries, sorghum grains
and stovers are mainly used for animal feed. Sorghum grains are also used for industry such as
ethanol, bear, wine, syrup, paint, glue, and modified starch. Related to energy source, countries
like USA, India and China, have developed sweet sorghum as raw materials of bioethanol(biofuel) production. In the USA sorghum can produce up to 10,000 while in China 7,000 andin India 3,000-4,000 liters ethanol/ha/year. In India an improved, pressurized, multifuel(kerosene, ethanol or diesel) mantle lantern producing light output of 1,250-1,300 lumens(equivalent to that from a 100 W light bulb) called "Noorie" was developed (Reference). A
pressurized alcohol stove with a heating capacity of 3 kilowatts for 85% (v/v) ethanol
concentration with a thermal efficiency of 30-50% was also created (RAJVANSHI andNIMBKAR, 2004).
Sorghum has a high yield potential, comparable to those of rice, wheat, and maize. On a fieldbasis, grain yields have exceeded 11 ton/ha (in Japan, total (seed + stems and leaves) dry yield
are higher than 26t/ha), with above average yields ranging from 7-9 ton/ha where moisture is-9-not a limiting factor in Indonesia. In those dry areas where sorghum is commonly grown,
yields of 3-4 ton/ha are obtained under normal condition (Hause, 1985). Sorghum is also
known to have wide adaptability, ranging from lowland, medium and highland altitude.
Highest yields are usually obtained from varieties maturing in 100-120 days. Late-maturing
varieties tend to be appropriate for forage crop.
Sorghum is beleived to have high tolerance to adverse conditions such as drought. Compare tomaize, sorghum has a more extensive and fibrous root system. The plant roots penetrate agreater volume of soil to obtain moisture. Fertilizer, even under low rainfall conditions,encourages root development, hence the root are able to extract moisture from a greater volume
of soil. Sorghum requires less moisture for growth than some other cereal crops. A study showsthat sorghum requires 332 kg of water per kg of accumulated dry matter, while maize requires
368 kg of water, barley 434 kg, and wheat 514 kg. Compared to maize, sorghum is also moretolerant to water lodging, salinity, and aluminum toxicity (RANA and RAO, 2000).
Based on form of its spike and basic spikelet, sorghum is classified into 5 races namely Bicolor,
Guenia, Caudatum, Kafir, and Durra. The characteristic of basic spikelet for each race isshown in Figure 1. Race Durra having white color of grains is the one that is commonly
cultivated as grain sorghum and used as food source. Among race Durra, there is a variety
having high sugar content in its stalk, a type what so called sweet sorghum. In many countries,
sweet sorghum is used for syrup, sugar (jaggery), and/or ethanol industry (RAJVANSHI andNIMBKAR, 2004; UNDERSANDER et al., 1990).
Because sorghum is not Indonesian origin, so
its genetic variability found in Indonesia is
still limited. Some sorghum genotypes havebeen introduced from abroad e.g. from theInternational Crop Research Institute for theSemi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) in India.
Through

plant

Ministry ofbreeding

programs,theAgriculture has released somesorghum varieties such as UPCA, Keris,Figure 1. Classification of sorghum by basic spikelet type

Mandau, Higari, Badik, Gadam, Sangkur,- 10 -

Lumbu and Kawali. These national varieties have a big potential to be cultivated and developedin the arable land in Indonesia especially during wet seasons. Further research on sorghum
breeding is needed especially to search for genotypes that can be grown and cultivated during
dry seasons.

FNCA Mutation Breeding Project
Under FNCA plant mutation breeding project, the first meeting of the sub-project entitled“Drought Tolerance in sorghum and soybean” was held in Indonesia on 25 February - 01
March 2002. The participating countries included China, Indonesia, Japan, the Philippine, andVietnam. The goal of this sub-project is to provide a broad base of common interests and tostrengthen research collaboration among participating countries in the field of mutation
breeding. Two kinds of crop species i.e. sorghum and soybean have been selected as targets forindication of drought tolerant crops. China and Indonesia took part in breeding sorghum, while
the Philippine and Vietnam were in soybean. Exchange of breeding materials was agreed
among the participating countries, which necessarily intended only for breeding purposes.
(This part will be written in the preface of the report (book).)For sorghum, the sub-project has been implemented accordingly. Exchange of sorghum
breeding materials (sorghum seeds) has been made between counterparts of Indonesia andChina. The list of the exchanged materials is presented in Table 1 below.
Table 1. List of exchanged sorghum breeding materials between counterparts of Indonesia and China

From Indonesia to China

From China to Indonesia

ET/20/477

Zhengzhu

DU/20/100-B

Yuan 002

DU/20/3E

Yuantianza

DU/30/95-B

Yuanyu 8002

Durra

SP4-8002

Sorghum Breeding For Drought Tolerance
Drought problem is one of limiting factors in agriculture development in Indonesia especiallyin Java and eastern part of the country. The problem is that annual dry season in some regions
sometime happens quite long i.e. for about 6 months, starting from May up to October. During
dry season most arable land usually becomes fallow, so farmers harvest almost nothing from- 11 -

their land. For example, in the district of Gunungkidul in Yogyakarta Province, during dry
season farmers attempt to import corn leaves in a huge amount from other Districts orProvinces in order to suffice their ruminant animal feeds.
For the areas having drought problem such as that in Gunung Kidul District, selection of crop
species indicating high water use efficiency would be of valuable to be introduced. Sorghum
plant (Sorghum bicolor L.) is thought to have high tolerance to drought (ICRISAT/FAO, 1996).
Sorghum breeding to improve its yield in drought prone areas can be of importance forincreasing the overall agricultural production in the region. Its biomass may be used for animal
feed while the grains may be used as an alternative food during dry seasons.
The Indonesian farmers have long known sorghum landraces but its improvement anddevelopment seem to be neglected if compared to the other food crops. By being able to growsorghum during dry seasons, it is hoped that the fallow land at least can produce biomass forfeeding the animals. If good quality of sorghum variety is available, it may also provide foodsource to the local people so that it will prevent a hunger. As a food source, sorghum has beenreported to have good nutrition values (DEPKES RI. 1992). Thus, sorghum has a big potential
to help farmers increase their income, stimulate economic growth in the rural areas, and its
cultivation will also promote soil improvement to support sustainable agriculture development.
Sorghum is actually not Indonesian origin but it has a big potential to be grown and cultivatedin this country owing to its wide adaptability. However, sorghum is not as popular as othercereal crops and it is still insignificantly grown by very limited farmers. Available genetic
variability of sorghum plant is also low, thus, plant breeding program is badly required in orderto support sorghum development in the country. The breeding objective is to search forsuperior genotypes to help improve sorghum production with good quality according to its use
either as food, animal feed or material for industry. Any plant breeding method such as that of
selection, introduction, hybridization, mutation and/or other related biotechnology may be of
appropriate to be applied in sorghum improvement program.
With regard to drought tolerance, indirect and direct selection methods have been implemented
in sorghum breeding (SOERANTO, 2003). These methods are briefly described below:- 12 -

A. Indirect selection:
Using 25% Polyethilene Glycol (PEG Method). This method is used in seedling stage. It
can reduce water potential equivalent to natural drought condition so that water absorption
by roots is affected.
Using 0.3 % solution of potassium iodide. This method is used in seedling stage. It cansimulate leaf senescence and abscission equivalent to natural drought condition (Singh andChaudhary, 1998).
B. Direct selection:
The plants are grown directly in drought prone areas during dry season. Sowing time is usually
adjusted by the end of the rainy season. Production of total biomass, yield and its components
can be used as criteria for selection.

The Use of Mutation Techniques
A. Gamma Irradiation
Research on sorghum mutation breeding was carried out at the Center for Research andDevelopment of Isotope and Radiation Technology, National Nuclear Energy Agency(BATAN). Through research collaboration with the International Crop Research Institute for
the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), a number of precious breeding materials were obtained (aslisted in Table 1; only exchanged materials are listed in Table 1). In our previous mutation
breeding program, Durra variety from ICRISAT was used as starting breeding material owing
to its high yielding and white grain type with good quality to be used for food and animal feedsource.
The seeds were irradiated with Gamma rays emitted from Cobalt-60 source which is installedin the Gamma Chamber 4000A model. The dose levels 0-1000 Gy with increment of 100 Gy
was used in order to study the optimal dose estimated around LD-50. Best fitting software wasused to calculate the relationship between the doses and growth rates and to estimate theoptimal doses. For example, Figure 2 shows the relationship between doses of Gamma
irradiation doses (Gy) and survival rates (%) of sorghum Durra variety. It was found that the fit
function is as follows:
3rd degree Polynomial Fit: y=a+bx+cx2+dx3
Coefficient Data: a = 95.984; b = -0.098; c = -7.615e-005; d = 7.966e-008
R = 0.99326615
LD-50 = 395.88 Gy- 13 -

Gamma irradiation had significantly increased sorghum genetic variation in the M2(SOERANTO et al., 2001). Plant selections based on phenotypic variation were started in theM2 generation, focused on the improved agronomic characters compared to that of the control
plants. Through selection processes, a number of mutant lines with various desirable
agronomic characteristics had been identified (SOERANTO and NAKANISHI, 2003). Somemutant lines had been tested for drought tolerance in Gunungkidul and Bantul Districts of
Yogyakarta Province during dry season 2001 (M3), 2002 (M4), 2003 (M5), and 2004 (M6). The
drought tolerance lines had been obtained namely B-68, B-69, B-72, B-75, B-83, B-90, B-92,
B-94, B-95, and B-100. Biomass production and grain yields of these mutant lines (3-4 ton/ha)
were significantly higher compared to that of original variety Durra and the national checkvariety (UPCA and Higari) which yielded only 1-2 ton/ha in dry seasons. Visual performancesof some mutant lines are presented in Figure 3.

Response of Sorghum Durra to Gamma Radiation.74
109

Growth Rate (%)

9
91.4

25
73.

00
55.

5
36.7

51
18.

6
0.2

0.0

183.3

366.7

550.0

733.3

916.7

1100.0

Doses of Radiation (Gy)Figure 2. Response curve of sorghum Durra variety to Gamma irradiation in the M1 generation

B. Ion-beam (C-ion) Irradiation
Mutation breeding in sorghum using Gamma irradiation was just started in 2005. Through
FNCA Mutation Breeding Project framework, the utilization of ion beam (C-ion) for inducing- 14 -

mutation in sorghum was implemented to sorghum variety Durra and Zhengzu. Seedirradiation was conducted at TIARA facility of Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) with thedose levels of 0 (control), 50, 100, 150, 200 and 300 Gy. The irradiated seeds were evaluated inIndonesia. Response of sorghum to ion-beam was studied in the M1 generation by its
germination rate and growth. Relationship between doses and germination rate was studied
using best fitting curve software. The curve functions were calculated and the LD-50 values
were estimated. It seemed that each variety gave different response to ion-beam.
Within the ion-beam treatment, Durra and Zhengzu gave different response curves and the LD50 values were found to be 376.30 Gy and 292.15 Gy, respectively. Meanwhile, the LD-50
value for Gamma radiation on sorghum Durra was 395.88 Gy. Comparing the ion beam andGamma radiation, it seemed that LD-50 value for Gamma radiation was higher than ion beam
radiation. The differences might be due to the highest dose levels used in the treatments. The
highest dose level used in ion beam radiation treatment was 300 Gy while in Gamma radiation
treatment was 1000 Gy. Results might suggest increasing the dose levels in ion beam radiation
treatment since the LD-50 values were about the same or slightly higher than the highest doselevels used. The effects of ion beam treatments to plant genetic variability are measured in theM2 generation by estimating genetic variance component of some agronomic characters.
In 2006, Zhengzu variety was irradiated again with ion-beam (C-ion, 320 MeV) at TIARA
facility of Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) with the dose levels of 40 and 50 Gy.
Meanwhile, sorghum variety Durra and Zhengzu were also irradiated again with ion-beam (Cion) at RIKEN facility in Japan with the dose levels of 25, 50, 75, 150 and 200 Gy, respectively.
All of these ion-beam irradiated materials are now being studied and evaluated in the field
experiments in Indonesia. Until now, there is not yet found any desirable and useful sorghum
mutants resulted from the ion-beam irradiation.

Highlight Results
1. A number of 10 drought tolerance mutant lines of sorghum have been obtained. In dry
seasons, these lines have biomass production and grain yields significantly higher than thatof original variety Durra and the national check variety (UPCA and Higari).
2. Our sorghum germplasm collections have been enhanced with these mutant lines, local andnational sorghum varieties, exchanged breeding materials from China (through FNCA
framework), and introduced genotypes from ICRISAT (Table of the data).
3. Some laboratory equipments for sorghum research have been provided by IAEA through- 15 -

TC-Project INS/05/030.
4. Good sorghum research collaboration with some national and international counterparts andthe end users has been established.
5. A private company (LIPPO Enterprises) has identified some of our sorghum mutant lines tobe good for food, animal feed, starch and ethanol industry. (Will you write this collaboration
more in detail with picture and data)

Figure 3. Variation of sorghum head form and size resulted from Gamma irradiation treatments

Other Supports
LIPPO Enterprises (MOU with BATAN was signed on 12 April 2005) (as menteined
abave.)
International Atomic Energy Agency (through TC-Project INS/5/030)
International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) through the Core University Program ofTokyo University- 16 -

Future Plan
Multi-location trials of sorghum mutant lines, at least in 12 locations, before being
submitted for official releases as new sorghum varieties to the Ministry of Agriculture.
Continuing mutation breeding to improve yields and quality of sorghum used as food,animal feed, and material for industry. The development of sorghum cultivation will bedirected to make optimal use of the marginal land, especially in drought prone areas, so that
it will not compete with the other crops in term of land utilization.
Continuing and strengthening sorghum research collaboration with national andinternational counterparts
Integrating Molecular Assisted Selection (MAS) and TILLING technology in pyramiding
and characterization of the mutated gene(s) in sorghum.

Conclusions
Mutation breeding program using Gamma radiation in sorghum in Indonesia had resulted 10
promising mutant lines. These lines indicated drought tolerance and were promising to be
developed further in Indonesia. Through FNCA Mutation Breeding for Drought Tolerance
project, exchange of sorghum seeds had been implemented between counterparts of China andIndonesia. All sorghum from China could grow and perform well in Indonesia. Zhengzu has
been included in our mutation-breeding program owing to its indication of drought tolerance
and high yielding. Induced mutation using ion-beam irradiation is being studied on sorghum
Durra and Zhengzu. Sorghum research in Indonesia is supported by some national andinternational counterparts.

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