Sorghum

Context- New sorghum varieties developed by US Department of Agriculture (USDA) researchers may help meet the nutritional needs of mothers and children in sub-Saharan Africa, according to a new study.

Key Highlights 

• Both provitamin A and non-provitamin A carotenoids were improved in the new varieties. 
• These varieties also contain a more efficient phytase enzyme, a protein that breaks down phytic acid. 
• It improves the absorption of nutrients from food. 
• The results show that sorghum made from  this new sorghum strain can produce 32 times more provitamin A carotenoids than conventional sorghum sorghum. 
• New healthier sorghum sorghum varieties that contain significant concentrations of provitamin A carotenoids increase mineral absorption.  
• These sorghum also contained high concentrations of lutein and zeaxanthin, carotenoids  important for eye health and brain development. 

The most important facts about sorghum

• Also called large millet, Indian millet, millet, sorghum or sorghum, it is a cereal  plant in the grass family (Poaceae) and its edible starchy seeds.  
• The plant probably originated in Africa, where it is an important food crop.  
• It is the 5th most important cereal after wheat, rice, corn and barley.  
• It is cultivated worldwide in warmer climates and is an important food crop in the semi-arid tropical regions of Africa, Asia and Central America. 
• In India, sorghum is known as jowar, cholam or Jonna. 
• Different sorghum varieties  range in color from white and light yellow to deep red, purple and brown.  
• Sorghum is particularly valued in hot and dry regions for its  drought and heat resistance. 
• Due to such a root system, it can withstand drought. 
• It performs better than maize during drought and occupies areas unsuitable for maize in stressed semi-arid regions. 
• It tolerates salinity and to some extent short-term moisture. 
• It is sensitive to cold and floods. 
• In recent years,  sorghum production has moved from  drier western production areas to  wetter eastern ones

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