Writer: Joe Bryant (806) 746-6101, j-bryant1@tamu.edu
Contact: Dr. Darrell Rosenow (806) 746-6101
LUBBOCK–Scientists from 35 countries will attend a five-day conference here Sept. 23-27 to share research and examine needs and progress in improving the breeding of sorghum and pearl millet around the world.
Some 300 leaders in the genetic improvement of the important world food crops are expected for the conference at the Holiday Inn Plaza, South Loop 289 at Indiana Avenue. The international meeting is sponsored by the International Sorghum and Pearl Millet Collaborative Research Support Program and the International Crop Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics, located in India, in collaboration with Texas A&M University and other organizations.
Also supporting the conference are Texas Tech University, National Grain Sorghum Producers Association, Texas Seed Trade Association, Overseas Development Administration and the Rockefeller Foundation.
“It will be primarily a breeding conference,” said Dr. Darrell Rosenow, professor and sorghum breeder at the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station here, chairman of the planning committee. He said the emphasis will be on the current “state of the art” of breeding and genetic improvement in the two crops, with a strong look to the future.
Sorghum and millet are important around the world as feed for poultry and cattle. Researchers also are looking at many possible new uses for the crops. Among these are production of ethanol, paper and plastics, breakfast cereals, pop sorghum and cooking oil.
The major part of the program will consist of invited papers related to genetic improvement. The ODA, a biotechnology group on the use of molecular markers for breeding sorghum and millet in developing countries, will also meet as part of the conference.
In addition to the presentation of papers, the visitors will make several field tours. “Most multinational sorghum seed companies have one of their primary sorghum breeding centers within 50 miles of Lubbock,” Rosenow noted.
On Sept. 24, the group will visit the Texas A&M Agricultural Research and Extension Center north of Lubbock. The following afternoon they will look at private breeding and seed production programs of the DeKalb, Pioneer, Cargill and Crosbyton seed companies.
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