K-State Ag Today: Genetics show promise in growing weed-resistant sorghum

Weeds are a never-ending problem for sorghum growers.

There are pre-emergence treatments, but those rely on water for activation, so they're practically useless without abundant rainfall or irrigation.

Related links

KSU Agronomy Grain Sorghum Web site

Herbicides for Grain Sorghum, pgs. 42-52 (.pdf)

Sorghum Insect Management 2008 (.pdf)

Kassim Al-Khatib, an agronomy researcher at Kansas State University, has found a promising genetic solution in wild sorghum.

"We were able to identify two genes, that we move them from wild sorghum, to cultivated sorghum. And then, we were able to develop this hybrid you see behind me, that can withstand a group of herbicides we call ALS inhibiting herbicides," Al-Khatib said. "These herbicides work very well on broadleafs, and some grasses."

K-State's test plots show the non-hybrid is more weedy than the sorghum with the gene.

"It's working. It's giving good weed control, and this technology now is in the process of getting to the grower," he said.

Currently in Topeka, KS

KTKA