Location: Grain Quality and Structure Research
Project Number: 3020-43440-002-018-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Jul 1, 2020
End Date: Jun 30, 2025
Objective:
Cooperator to provide goods and services necessary to carry out research of mutual interest within the Manhattan, KS Location. Sorghum grain has long been used in the United States for animal feed; however, the demand for sorghum grain-based products for human consumption is growing rapidly as it is gluten free and it contains unique phenolic compounds that may have nutraceutical properties. Like other grains and products derived from grain, sorghum is susceptible to feeding damage by a range of stored product insects after it is harvested, yet little is known about its susceptibility to these pests and it is not known what characterisitcs related to its physical or chemical composition influence its susceptilibty to insect feeding. The following objectives will be addressed: 1) Determine whether common phenolics found in sorghum negatively impact stored product insect populations 2) Determine whether physical characteristics of grain (hardness, shape, pericarp thickness, etc) influence suscepbility to insect feeding, and 3) Identify physical and chemical properties associated with sorghum varieties that do not support stored product insect development.
Approach:
ARS is engaged in research addressing Plant Genetic Resources, Genomics and Genetic Improvement. ARS will acquire goods and services from the Cooperator to further agricultural research supporting the independent interests of both parties. Sorghum lines that have been optimized for a variety of traits to improve digestibility and use for human consumption will be tested for susceptibility to feeding damage by several primary and secondary stored product pests. Primary feeders assayed will include pests that are common in sorghum-growing regions of Kansas, including lesser grain borer and rice weevil while secondary feeders assayed will include red flour beetle and warehouse beetle. Emerging and quarantine pests, such as larger grain borer and khapra beetle, will also be tested. For primary feeders, whole grains will be used in these bioassays and for secondary feeders, sorghum will be milled into flour using equipment available at Cooperator facility, and we will specifically test several different waxy lines with low amylose content as well as lines that contain different phenolic compounds. In order to identify phenolics that impact insect growth, development, and fecundity, we will also measure various life history parameters (progeny production, mortality, and development from egg to adult) using diets containing varying levels of different phenolic compounds commonly found in high levels in sorghum grain. This study will allow us to determine if any phenolic compounds that are relevant to the nutraceutical industry will also reduce insect colonization. Finally, we will also test a variety of physical and chemical characteristics of common varieties of whole and milled white and red sorghum used for human consumption and their susceptibilities to insect feeding. This will allow us to determine if there are physical or chemical characteristics of sorghum grain that make it less susceptible to insect feeding. In addition, several stored product insects were unable to infest sorghum varieties developed by the Cooperator. We will assess physical charactistics and phenolic composition of those lines to identify characteristics that make these lines less susceptible to feeding damage and insect colonization.
