Breeding for resistance to root and stalk rots in sorghum

Stalk rots are one of the most prevalent diseases of sorghum. Charcoal rot is the most aggressive and widespread stalk rot disease in tropical and more and environments, but Fusarium stalk rot has greater impact in temperate environments, including the central Great Plains of the United States. Stalk rot resistance is controlled by multiple genes. Most breeding efforts focus on integrating resistance genes into elite parent lines through classical breeding and selection. Genes for charcoal rot resistance in sorghum are being mapped to enable marker-assisted selection and to enhance breeding efficiency.