Plant
No1

Sorghum
Characters

Culm length463
No. of samples
10 plants

Primary essential character

Methods
Measurement

Rank or measurement unit

Remarks
Length from the ground to the neck node of

cm (integer)

panicle of main stem
2

Number of tillers

10 plants

Measurement

Number/plant (roundto the 1st decimal place)

Number of tillers longer than 1/3 height ofmain stem per plant for green forage type, or
number of panicles per plant for grain type3

Panicle length

10 plants

Measurement

cm (round4

Panicle shape

10 plants

Observation

1:Broom 2:Lax cone 3:Cone 5:Spindle
7:Cylinder 9:Short cylinder

Panicle shape at maturity

5

Grain color

10 plants

Observation

1:White 2:Yellowish white 3:Yellow 4:Orange
5:Red 6:Reddish brown 7:Brown 8:Purplish
brown 9:Other

Color of threshed and dehulled grains at

Date when 50% of plants have begun heading

6

Date of heading

10 plants

Observation

date7

Diameter of culm

10 plants

Measurement

mm (roundto the 1st decimal place)to the 1st decimal place)

Length from the neck node to the tip of panicle

maturityLong diameter of the middle of internode ofmain stem at 10 to 15 cm above the ground

8Leaf length

10 plants

Measurement

cm (integer)

Length of the longest leaf blade

9Leaf width

10 plants

Measurement

mm (round

Width of the widest part of the longest leaf

to the 1st decimal place)

blade
10

Weight of 1000 grains

10 plants

Measurementg (roundto the 1st decimal place)

Weight of 1000 grains estimated by sampling 100
mature grains with duplications after threshingand removing glumes

PlantSorghum

No

Characters

1

Grain weight per463
No. of samples
10 plants

Primary optional characterMethods
Measurement

Rank or measurement unitg (roundto the 1st decimal place)

paniclePanicle type10 plants

Observation

1:Open3Grain density on

10 plants

Observation

1:Very sparse 3:Sparse
7:Dense 9:Very dense

10 plants

Observation

datepanicle
Date of maturity

Weight of cleaned grains per panicle on mainstem

24Remarks

5:Intermediate

9:Compact

Inflorescence type at maturity

5:Intermediate

Density of grains on panicle at maturity

Date when grains at 1/3 of panicle length fromthe base of panicle became as hard as wax inmost panicles

5Coleoptile color

10 plants

Observation

1:Green

5:MixedColeoptile color after germination. Green:more

9:Purplethan 70% of seedlings have green coleoptiles,
mixed:other, purple:more than 70% have purple
coleoptiles
6

Quantity of lipid white 10 plants

Observation

powder on stems and0:None 3:Little 4:Slightly little
5:Intermediate 6:Some 7:Much 8:Very much
9:Extremely much

Quantity of waxy white powder on stems andNumber of leaves on main stem

sheaths 50 days after sowing

sheaths
7

Number of leaves on

10 plants

Measurement(roundto the 1st decimal place)

10 plants

Observation

3:Small 4:Slightly small
6:Slightly large 7:Largemain stem
8Angle between leaf andstem

5:Intermediate

Angle that the longest leaf makes with the stemat heading time. Small:30 degrees,intermediate:45 degrees, large:60 degrees

9

Color of midrib

10 plants

Observation

1:White 2:Light green 3:Green 4:Green-Orange Midrib color of a few leaves below the longest
5:Orange 6:Orange-Brown 7:Brown 9:Mixedleaf at heading time10

Number of panicles

10 plants

Measurement

Number/plant (round11

Neck length of panicle

10 plantsObservation

1:Not emerged 2:Very short 3:Short
4:Slightly short 5:Intermediate 6:Slightlylong 7:Long 8:Very long 9:Extremely longto the 1st decimal place)

Number of mature panicles per plant
Neck length emerged from flag leaf sheath tothe base of panicle

PlantNo

Sorghum
Characters463
No. of samples

Primary optional character

Methods

Rank or measurement unit

Remarks

12

Awn presence

10 plants

Observation

0:Absent

13

Glume color

10 plants

Observation

1:Gray 2:Yellow 3:Yellowish brown 4:Orange
5:Red 6:Reddish brown 7:Brown 8:Purplishbrown 9:Black

Color of glumes of mature grain

14

Polyembryony

10 plants

Observation

0:Absent

Presence of twin or triple embryos at maturity

15

Grain shape

10 plants

Observation

1:Boat 2:Boat-Egg 3:Egg 4:Egg-Oval 5:Oval
6:Oval-Round 7:Round 8:Round-Fan 9:Fan

9:Present

9:Present

Presence of awns at maturity

Shape of grains observed by sampling 10 maturegrains per plant after threshing and removing
glumes16

Rhizome presence

10 plants

Observation

0:Absent

17

Growth in early stage

10 plants

Observation

1:Extremely poor 2:Very poor 3:Poor
4:Slightly poor 5:Intermediate 6:Slightly
good 7:Good 8:Very good 9:Excellent

Plant vigor observed 30 to 40 days after

9:Present

Presence of rhizomes observed at maturity

seeding18

Flowering time

10 plants

Observation

date

Date when 50% of plants have flowered

19

Degree of self

10 plants

Observation

1:Extremely low 2:Very low 3:Low 4:Slightly
low 5:Intermediate 6:Slightly high 7:High
8:Very high 9:Extremely highRatio of self fertility determined by bagging

1:DryStem juiciness observed on the cross section offertility
20

Stem juiciness10 plants

Observation

5:Mixed

9:Juicy

the panicle on main stem

stem at heading time. Dry:70% of plants arejuicy, mixed:mixed, juicy:70% of plants are dry
21

22

23

Hullability

10 plants

Ease of removing glumes 10 plants

Grain texture

10 plants

Observation

Observation

Observation

1:Extremely easy 2:Very easy 3:Easy
4:Slightly easy 5:Intermediate 6:Slightly
hard 7:Hard 8:Very hard 9:Extremely hard

Degree of hullability estimated by rubbing

1:Extremely easy 2:Very easy 3:Easy
4:Slightly easy 5:Intermediate 6:Slightly
hard 7:Hard 8:Very hard 9:Extremely hard

Ease of removing glumes from grains estimatedheads with hands in the field at maturity

by rubbing heads with hands

Horny portion (semi-transparent) in endosperm
1:Extremely small 2:Very small 3:Small
4:Slightly small 5:Intermediate 6:Slightlyof grain. Small:1/3 part of endosperm is horny,large 7:Large 8:Very large 9:Extremely large
intermediate:1/2 part, large:2/3 partPlantNo24

SorghumCharacters

Endosperm type463
No. of samples10 plants

Methods
Observation

Primary optional character
Rank or measurement unit
1:Non-glutinous

5:Intermediate

9:Glutinous

Remarks
Glutinous or nonglutinous endosperm type testedby the potassium iodide reaction of clean
grains cut in half

PlantSorghum

NoCharacters1

Number of regenerated

463
No. of samples
10 plants

Secondary essential character

Methods
Observation

tillers

Rank or measurement unit

Remarks

1:Almost none 2:Extremely few 3:Very few
4:Few 5:Intermediate 6:Some 7:Many 8:Very
many 9:Most

Number of regenerated tillers 10 to 20 daysafter harvest

2Regrowth

10 plants

Observation

1:Extremely poor 2:Very poor 3:Poor
4:Slightly poor 5:Intermediate 6:Slightly
good 7:Good 8:Very good 9:Excellent

Plant vigor 10 to 20 days after harvest

3

Lodging resistance

10 plants

Obs.&Measr.

1:Extremely low 2:Very low 3:Low 4:Slightly
low 5:Intermediate 6:Slightly high 7:High
8:Very high 9:Extremely highResistance to lodging based on the rate oflodging plants under the dense and lateplanting conditions or the hardiness of stemmeasured by a gauge

4

Perenniality

10 plants

Observation

1:Annual

9:Perennial

Perenniality observed the spring after
overwintering

PlantSorghum

NoCharacters

1

Leaf blight resistance463
No. of samples
10 plants

Methods
Observation

Secondary optional character
Rank or measurement unit

Remarks

1:Extremely low 2:Very low 3:Low 4:Slightly
low 5:Intermediate 6:Slightly high 7:High
8:Very high 9:Extremely highResistance to Setosphaeria turcica based on thedegree of infection by artificial inoculationor planting in an infected field2

Leaf-sheath blight

10 plants

Obs.&Measr.

resistance

1:Extremely low 2:Very low 3:Low 4:Slightly
low 5:Intermediate 6:Slightly high 7:High
8:Very high 9:Extremely highResistance to Rhizoctonia solani based on thedegree of infection (infection index=infectedleaf height/culm height x 100) by artificial
inoculation or planting in an infected field

3

Bacterial stripe

10 plants

Observation

resistance4

Zonate leaf spot

10 plants

Observation

resistance
56

7

8

Target spot resistance

Rust resistance

Anthracnose resistance

Ergot resistance

10 plants

10 plants

10 plants

10 plants

Observation

Observation

Observation

Observation

1:Extremely low 2:Very low 3:Low 4:Slightly
low 5:Intermediate 6:Slightly high 7:High
8:Very high 9:Extremely highResistance to Burkholderia andropogonis

1:Extremely low 2:Very low 3:Low 4:Slightly
low 5:Intermediate 6:Slightly high 7:High
8:Very high 9:Extremely highResistance to Gloeocercospora sorghi observed

1:Extremely low 2:Very low 3:Low 4:Slightly
low 5:Intermediate 6:Slightly high 7:High
8:Very high 9:Extremely highResistance to Bipolaris cookei observed when

1:Extremely low 2:Very low 3:Low 4:Slightlylow 5:Intermediate 6:Slightly high 7:High
8:Very high 9:Extremely highResistance to Puccinia purpurea observed when

1:Extremely low 2:Very low 3:Low 4:Slightly
low 5:Intermediate 6:Slightly high 7:High
8:Very high 9:Extremely highResistance to Colletotrichum sublineolum

1:Extremely low 2:Very low 3:Low 4:Slightly
low 5:Intermediate 6:Slightly high 7:High
8:Very high 9:Extremely highResistance to Claviceps sorghicola or C.

observed when the infection is apparent

when the infection is apparent

the infection is apparent

the infection is apparentobserved when the infection is apparent

africana observed when the infection isapparent

910

Aphid resistanceOriental corn borer
resistance

10 plants

10 plants

Obs.&Measr.

Observation

1:Extremely low 2:Very low 3:Low 4:Slightly
low 5:Intermediate 6:Slightly high 7:High
8:Very high 9:Extremely highResistance to aphids observed when the damage

1:Extremely low 2:Very low 3:Low 4:Slightly
low 5:Intermediate 6:Slightly high 7:High
8:Very high 9:Extremely highResistance to Ostrinia furnacalis observed whenis apparentthe damage is apparent

PlantSorghum

NoCharacters

11

Armyworm, pink borer,463
No. of samples
10 plants

Methods
Observation

etc.resistance

Secondary optional character
Rank or measurement unit
1:Extremely low 2:Very low 3:Low 4:Slightly
low 5:Intermediate 6:Slightly high 7:High
8:Very high 9:Extremely highRemarks
Resistance to Mythimua separata, Sesamia
inferens, etc. observed when the damage isapparent

1213

Bird resistance

Growth under low

10 plants

10 plants

Observation

Obs.&Measr.

temperature

1:Extremely low 2:Very low 3:Low 4:Slightly
low 5:Intermediate 6:Slightly high 7:High
8:Very high 9:Extremely highResistance to birds observed when the damage is

1:Extremely poor 2:Very poor 3:Poor
4:Slightly poor 5:Intermediate 6:Slightly
good 7:Good 8:Very good 9:Extremely good

Growth under low temperature conditions in theapparent

field or in the incubator for chilling
treatment

14

15

Drought resistanceTolerance to excess

10 plants

10 plants

Obs.&Measr.

Obs.&Measr.

moisture
16

Viviparity

10 plants

Observation

1:Extremely low 2:Very low 3:Low 4:Slightly
low 5:Intermediate 6:Slightly high 7:High
8:Very high 9:Extremely highResistance to drought conditions in the field

1:Extremely low 2:Very low 3:Low 4:Slightly
low 5:Intermediate 6:Slightly high 7:High
8:Very high 9:Extremely highTolerance to wet conditions in the field or in

1:Extremely low 2:Very low 3:Low 4:Slightly
low 5:Intermediate 6:Slightly high 7:High
8:Very high 9:Extremely highViviparity observed when it is apparent

or in the installation for drought treatment

the installation for wet treatment

PlantSorghum

NoCharacters

1Fresh foliage yield of463
No. of samples
2 plots

Tertiary essential character

Methods
Measurement

Rank or measurement unit
kg/a (integer)

first harvest

Remarks
Fresh foliage yield estimated by weighing
leaves and stems of at least 10 plants at first
harvest, that is at dough ripe stage for wholecrop silage

2

Fresh head yield of

2 plots

Measurement

kg/a (integer)

first harvest

Fresh yield of heads estimated by weighing
heads of at least 10 plants at dough ripe stageof the first harvest

3

Total fresh yield of

2 plots

Calculationkg/a (integer)

first harvest
4

Dry matter ratio ofTotal fresh yield of the first harvest
calculated by fresh foliage + fresh head yield

2 plots

Measurement% (roundto the 1st decimal place)

Dry matter ratio of foliage measured byfoliage at the firstsampling at least 1 kg of fresh foliage cut

harvestinto pieces from more than 5 plants at thefirst harvest and drying at 70 centi degrees
for 48 hours

5

Dry matter ratio of

2 plots

Measurement% (roundto the 1st decimal place)head of first harvest

Dry matter ratio of foliage measured bysampling at least 0.3 kg of fresh foliage cut
into pieces from more than 5 plants at thefirst harvest and drying at 70 centi degrees
for 48 hours

67

Dry matter yield of

2 plots

Calculationkg/a (roundto the 1st decimal place)

Dry matter yield of forage of first harvest

foliage of first

calculated by fresh foliage yield x dry matter

harvestratio of foliage/100

Dry matter yield ofhead of first harvest

2 plots

Calculationkg/a (roundto the 1st decimal place)

Dry matter yield of head of the first harvest
calculated by fresh head yield x dry matterratio of head/100

PlantSorghum

NoCharacters

8

Total dry matter yield463
No. of samples
2 plots

Tertiary essential character

Methods
Calculation

Rank or measurement unit
kg/a (roundto the 1st decimal place)of first harvest

Remarks
Total dry matter yield of the first harvest
calculated by dry matter yield of foliage + drymatter yield of head9

Fresh foliage yield of

2 plots

Measurement

kg/a (integer)

aftermath10

Fresh head yield of

measured as for the first harvest
2 plots

Measurement

kg/a (integer)

aftermath11

Total fresh yield of

Dry matter ratio of

2 plots

Measurement

kg/a (integer)

Dry matter ratio of

2 plots

Measurement% (roundto the 1st decimal place)

Dry matter yield of

2 plots

Measurement% (roundto the 1st decimal place)

Dry matter yield of

2 plots

Measurement

kg/a (roundto the 1st decimal place)

Total dry matter yield

2 plots

Measurement

kg/a (roundto the 1st decimal place)Yearly total fresh

2 plots

Measurement

kg/a (roundto the 1st decimal place)

Total dry matter yield of aftermath calculated
as for the first harvest

2 plots

Calculationkg/a (integer)

yield
18

Dry matter yield of head of aftermath
calculated as for the first harvestof aftermath17

Dry matter yield of foliage of aftermath
calculated as for the first harvest

head of aftermath
16

Dry matter ratio of fresh heads of aftermath
measured as for the first harvest

foliage of aftermath
15

Dry matter ratio of fresh foliage of aftermath
measured as for the first harvest

head of aftermath
14

Total yield of aftermath measured as for thefirst harvest

foliage of aftermath
13

Fresh yield of heads of aftermath measured asfor the first harvest

aftermath12

Fresh yield of leaves and stems of aftermath

Annual dry matter yield 2 plots

Total of fresh yield of each harvest for theyear

Calculationkg/a (roundto the 1st decimal place)

Total of dry matter yield of each harvest for
the yearPlantSorghum

463

NoCharacters

No. of samples

Methods

1

Sugar content of stem

5 plants, 2 plots

Measurement

Tertiary optional character
Remarks

to the 1st decimal place)

Sugar content measured by Brix of internode sap% (roundRank or measurement unit

at the first harvestin the middle of main stem or that of wholestem at harvest

2

Sugar content of stem

5 plants, 2 plots

Measurement% (roundto the 1st decimal place)of aftermath
3Grain yield

Sugar content of aftermath measured as for thefirst harvest

2 plots

Measurement

kg/a (roundto the 1st decimal place)

Yield of grains threshed and cleaned for grain
type only

4

Dry matter2 replications

Measurement% (roundto the 1st decimal place)digestibility

Ratio of digestible dry matter estimated by invivo test or in vitro enzyme method or nearinfrared spectroscopy (NIRS)

5

Crude protein

2 replications

Measurement% (roundto the 1st decimal place)

Ratio of crude protein content on dry matterbase analyzed by Kjeldahl method or nearinfrared spectroscopy (NIRS)

6

Acid detergent fiber

2 replications

Measurement% (roundto the 1st decimal place)

(ADF)
7

Acid detergent lignin

analyzed by acid detergent-acetone washing
2 replications

Measurement% (roundto the 1st decimal place)

(ADL)
8

Neutral detergent fiber 2 replications

Mono-and

Ratio of ADL content on dry matter baseanalyzed by acid detergent-acetone washing

Measurement% (roundto the 1st decimal place)

(NDF)
9

Ratio of ADF content on dry matter base

Ratio of NDF content on dry matter baseanalyzed by neutral detergent-acetone washing

2 replications

Measurement% (roundto the 1st decimal place)oligosaccharides

Ratio of mono-and oligosaccharide content ondry matter base analyzed by thin layer
chromatography after ethanol extraction

10

Hydrocyanic acid

2 replications

Measurementppm (roundto the 1st decimal place)Hydrocyanic acid content on dry matter baseanalyzed by colorimetric analysis with alkali
picrate solution

PlantSorghum

NoCharacters

11Nitrate nitrogen (NO3-463
No. of samples
2 replications

Tertiary optional characterMethods
Measurement

Rank or measurement unitppm (roundto the 1st decimal place)

N)
1213

IntakePalatability

Remarks
Nitrate nitrogen content on dry matter baseanalyzed by phenol di-sulfuric acid method

4 replications

4 replications

Measurement

Observation

1:Extremely poor 2:Very poor 3:Poor
4:Slightly poor 5:Intermediate 6:Slightly
good 7:Good 8:Very good 9:Excellent

Intake per unit time by grazing or free

1:Extremely poor 2:Very poor 3:Poor
4:Slightly poor 5:Intermediate 6:Slightly
good 7:Good 8:Very good 9:Excellent

Palatability to cattle estimated by grazing orcafeteria feedingby free cafeteria feeding