Protecting Against Biotic Stressors

Insect-deterring sorghum compounds may be eco-friendly pesticide

Problem

How do we protect plants from pests and pathogens without posing toxic risks to consumers?

Findings

Researchers discovered a group of naturally occurring compounds in sorghum--flavonoid phytoalexins--that act as natural pesticides and fungicides and studied the role of these compounds in the ability of plants to resist or deter pathogens and pests.

Impact

Through the understanding of plant genetics, this project is moving toward breeding sorghum and maize crops that use their own natural defenses to resist biotic stressors.

  • This is a nontoxic, environmentally friendly solution.
  • Use of these crops reduces the need for chemical pesticides.

Related Research Area: Advanced Agricultural and Food Systems

Research Credit

Team

  • Surinder Chopra, Iffa Gaffoor, Sampurna Sattar, Cullen Dixon, Nadia Frock, Juliet Moen, Gary Thompson, Consuelo De Moraes, Mark Mescher, Rupesh Kariyat

Participating Departments

Federal and State Appropriations

  • USDA NIFA Hatch Project PEN04613, Accession # 1010654

Emerging Discoveries

Insect-deterring sorghum compounds may be eco-friendly pesticide

April 03, 2019

Compounds produced by sorghum plants to defend against insect feeding could be isolated, synthesized and used as a targeted, nontoxic insect deterrent, according to researchers who studied plant-insect interactions that included field, greenhouse and laboratory components.

Flavonoids' presence in sorghum roots may lead to frost-resistant crop

August 10, 2020

Flavonoid compounds — produced by the roots of some sorghum plants — positively affect soil microorganisms, according to Penn State researchers, who suggest the discovery is an early step in developing a frost-resistant line of the valuable crop for North American farmers.

Sorghum, a close relative of corn, tested for disease resistance on PA farms

June 17, 2021

With sorghum poised to become an important crop grown by Pennsylvania farmers, Penn State researchers, in a new study, tested more than 150 germplasm lines of the plant for resistance to a fungus likely to hamper its production.

Flavonoids from sorghum plants kill fall armyworm pest on corn; may protect crop

August 23, 2022

Flavonoids produced by sorghum leaves have shown promising results in combating fall armyworm larvae. When sprayed on the leaves of corn, sorghum flavonoids stunt the growth of fall armyworm and often kill the pest, Penn State researchers report in a new study.

Published Research

Sorghum 3-Deoxyanthocyanidin Flavonoids Confer Resistance against Corn Leaf Aphid

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Office for Research and Graduate Education

Address

217 Agricultural Administration Building
University Park, PA 16802-2600