Utilizing the Bmr Trait in Sudangrass and Sorghums

Brown midrib (BMR) is a genetic mutation in several grass species. The BMR gene reduces lignin content in plant cell walls and vascular tissue and improves fiber and whole plant digestibility. Lignin is mostly indigestible and plays a critical role in forage quality by affecting digestibility of cell wall polysaccharides. Lignin also plays in important role in plant rigidity. During the past several years the BMR trait has been incorporated into corn, millet, forage sorghum, sudangrass, and sorghum x sudangrass hybrids. Productivity and commercial acceptability of early generation BMR materials was limited by linkage drag associated with the BMR gene. Focused breeding has overcome most of the initial limitations in sorghums. Palatability in BMR materials has been improved significantly over conventional types. Animal performance, i.e., animal gain from direct pasturage, has improved dramatically with the introduction of BMR into forage sorghum, sudangrass, and sorghum x sudangrass hybrids.