DOI: 10.5061/dryad.hhmgqnkrn
title: Data from: Extended grain filling has potential to improve yield in grain sorghum

description: Yield increase in sorghum has been achieved primarily by increasing grain
 number. Scope exists to increase yield by increasing grain size, however
 this has been limited by the negative correlation between grain size and
 grain number. Extending the duration of the grain filling period has the
 potential to enable increased grain size without the trade-off with grain
 number. This study explored grain filling duration (GFD) in a diverse
 panel of 904 sorghum genotypes in three environments across two years.
 Significant variation in GFD observed, ranging from 400 to 680
 degree-days, included entries with significantly longer GFD than current
 commercial hybrids. Longer GFD was shown to result in larger grain size.
 Additionally,only low associations between GFD and grain number per
 panicle, flowering time or plant height were observed, indicating that GFD
 could be manipulated without adverse penalty to these traits. A simulation
 study to estimate the benefit of an increased GFD across Australian
 sorghum growing environments over 60 years revealed positive impacts on
 yield when GFD was increased by 10% or 20%. However, maintaining overall
 crop duration by shortening the time to flowering while extending GFD led
 to neutral or negative effects on yield. These results reveal
 opportunities to exploit GFD for improved genetic gains for yield in
 sorghum especially in environments or seasons where water does not become
 more limiting post anthesis.
description: Single plants of each genotype were tagged in each plot at the
 time of head exsertion prior to onset of flowering . All measurements for
 timing of flowering and maturity were recorded on the tagged plant.
 Flowering time was recorded as the date when the first anthers become
 visible at the tip of the panicle (Figure <em>1</em>B). The
 tagged plant was monitored throughout the season and the date of
 physiological maturity was recorded as the date when a sampled grain from
 the tip of the panicle first showed the abscission layer (black layer) at
 the point of connection of the grain. Plant height was measured at HRF2 by
 selecting one plant at random from the plot and measuring the distance
 from the base of the plant to the tip of the panicle at physiological
 maturity. Single panicles were harvested at HRF2, threshed, and cleaned
 before grains per panicle and thousand kernel weight (TKW) were measured
 using an automatic seed counter and weighing machine (Ball Coleman Gen3
 seed counter). Daily weather data was recorded using a portable weather
 station placed within the trial to record daily maximum and minimum air
 temperatures for the duration of the experiment. Overall, the trial at
 Gatton experienced lower temperatures during anthesis and post-anthesis in
 the grain filling period.
description: # Extended grain filling has potential to improve yield in grain sorghum
 [https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.hhmgqnkrn](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.hhmgqnkrn) ## Description of the data and file structure The data provided is from the experiments on grain sorghum planted across 3 years in two locations. 2 years at Hermitage Research Station and one year at GATTON. Commercial genotypes are included at Gatton but were not included in the interpretation of the results. The experiments are set up in a column Row design with full replications at Gat and HRF2 and partially replicated at HRF1.  The variables measured are; flowering time, plant height and time to physiological maturity. The notes describing each variable are included in the data file supplied. ### Files and variables #### File: GrainFillDurationSimulationSpecsV2.docx **Description:** The file GrainFillDurationSimulationSpecsV2.txt is an alternate open-access format for the doc file. Simulation parameters for the simulation experiment This file and its txt version provide the initial conditions set for the simulation experiment in APSIM and the outputs at maturity. The information provided include: 1. Sowing dates for each of the simulated environments 2. Estimated soil water at sowing ESW 3. Nitrogen status through the crop cycle 4. Planting density 5. Sowing depth 6. Row spacing 7. Row configuration 8. Tillering type 9. outputs at maturity #### File: Otwani\_et\_al\_GRAIN\_FILLING\_DURATION\_IN\_GRAIN\_SORGHUM.xlsx **Description:** Data from the 3 experimental sites. Each site's data is placed in a separate tab Note: NA, #N/A and empty cells indicate missing data due to either ungerminated plots or missed opportunities to collect the data. UQSGFD1347 - Was planted as a spray line and included in the design matrix for the experiment at HRF1 and HRF2. No data was collected on the spray line. ##### Variables | Variables | Description | | :-------- | :------------------------------------------------- | | Trait | Description | | dtf | Days to 50% flower Plot score | | dtfp1date | Date when sampled plant flowered | | dtf\_p1 | Days to 50% flower sampled plant score | | dtm\_p1 | Days to maturity/black layer sampled plant score | | gfd | Grain fill duration (dtm\_p1 - dtf\_p1) | | dtftt | Flowering time expressed as heat units accumulated | | dtmdate | Date when physiological maturity is recorded | | dtmtt | Physiological maturity expressed in heat units | | gfdtt | Grain filling duration expressed in heat units | | hgt | Plant height (m) | | dtfdate | Flowering date for entire plot | ## Code/software All analyses were conducted in the R environment, and ASReml-R was used in all mixed model analyses. ## Access information * Other publicly accessible locations of the data: Weather data is available from the [Bureau of Meteorology](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=http://www.bom.gov.au/&ved=2ahUKEwjX-_LFrpSJAxXqxjgGHSYgEgQQFnoECAsQAQ&usg=AOvVaw3b0VgbpXPpc9Dbrq_F5-SK)  * Data was derived from the following sources: [http://www.bom.gov.au/](http://www.bom.gov.au/)