MSU scores $2.7 million DOE grant to study sorghum genetics and crop modeling

In Michigan, Michigan State University researchers are part of a multi-university team that has been awarded a $2.7 million DOE grant for a new study on sorghum that melds differing sciences — from genomics to crop modeling.

The aim is to identify and better understand genes that lead to improved growth and yield in various environments. Interest in sorghum, the third most abundant cereal crop in the United States, is rising due to its potential as a biofuel.

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln is leading the project, which also involves Iowa State University, Purdue University and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.