Only GT- IR7 showed midge resistance, scoring 1.7. U.S. farmers grow sorghum primarily for livestock feed. The nutritious grain can also be ground into flour for baked goods and other foods. Unfortunately, insects also like sorghum. Unchecked, midge larvae devour the grain as it matures inside the plant's seed head, causing yield losses of more than 50 percent.
Armyworms chew on the entire plant, and, left unchecked, can decimate the sorghum crop.
ARS researchers identified the line among the agency's soybean germplasm collection located at the University of Illinois, Urbana. Besides insect resistance, the new line contains 44 percent protein. Previously, the most widely used source of insect resistance, PI 229358, offered only 38 percent. This is an advantage because plants of many other germplasm lines tend to fall over, making them difficult to harvest. Soybean breeders and researchers may obtain germplasm by contacting Randall Nelson.