1. Sweet Sorghum Improvement and Production in Brazil
Consultation on Pro-poor Sweet Sorghum Development for Bio-ethanol - IFAD
November 8-9, 2007
Robert E. Schaffert
Embrapa Milho e Sorgo

2. In the late 1970´s Brazil initiated a bio-energy program (Pro-Alcohol) anticipating an energy crises caused be a shortage of petroleum to meet Brazil's fuel needs.
There was a strong incentive to develop technology for micro-distilleries (100L hr-1) and mini-distilleries (1000L hr-1)
Embrapa´s sweet sorghum program was developed to provide raw material for these distilleries.
Pilot Projects were successfully developed in the mid-1980’s at Sete Lagoas, Brasilia, and Pelotas to process sweet sorghum in micro-distilleries.

3. (Embrapa Maize and Sorghum)
The potential uses of sweet sorghum for food, fiber, fertilizer, ethanol, and methane gas production
(Embrapa Maize and Sorghum)
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Silage

4. Advantages of Using Sweet Sorghum vs. Sugarcane
Sweet sorghum may be harvested 3 – 4 months
after planting
Sweet sorghum production can be completely
mechanized
The sweet sorghum crop can be established
from seed
The grain from sweet sorghum can be used as
food, feed or fuel
The bagasse from sweet sorghum has a higher
biological value than the bagasse from
sugarcane when used as a forage for animals
Sweet sorghum is more water use efficient

5. Integrated Rural Energy System Developed at
Sweet
Sorghum
Sugarcane
Micro-
distillary
Other uses
Integrated Rural Energy System Developed at
Embrapa Maize and Sorghum 1980
Integrated rural energy system developed at Embrapa Maize and Sorghum 1980
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6. Development of Sweet Sorghum Cultivars
Breeding priorities depend upon how the product will be used
Panicles removed for food or feed
Small vs. large panicles
Juice is extracted from stalks and leaves
Not feasible to separate leaves and stalks
Juice fermented in micro- and mini-distilleries
Juice extraction less efficient in smaller
distilleries
Bagasse used for forage or fuel
Starch present in sorghum juice and stalk
Biological value of sweet sorghum bagasse is
greater for sweet sorghum than for sugarcane
Tillering vs. Non-tillering to control stalk diameter

7. A Simple Flow Diagram of a Roller Mill Micro-distillery; Used in Establishing Breeding Priorities at Embrapa Maize and Sorghum
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx X x
A - roller mill, B - boiler, C - yeast treatment and distribution tank, D - juice distribution tanks, E - fermentation tanks, F – beer holding tank, and G - distillation column (Embrapa Maize and Sorghum)

8. Industrial Planning J F M A M J J A S O N D
Sweet Sorghum
Planting
Harvesting
Sugarcane
Planting and harvesting periods for sweet sorghum and sugarcane in Brazil. (Embrapa Maize and Sorghum)
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Ratoon Harvest
Irrigation Required

9. Yield and Quality Goals must be Established
Minimum Total Sugar Extraction – 80 kg 1t-1 biomass
Considering 60-65% Extraction Efficiency
Minimum Biomass Yield tha-1
Minimum Alcohol Yield – 40L t-1 biomass
Considering:
60 -65% sugar extraction efficiency
90% Fermentation Efficiency
90% Distillation Efficiency or 81% Industrial Efficiency
Minimum Total Sugar Content in Juice – 12.5%
Establish minimum parameters for determining Period of
Industrial Utilization (PIU - 80 kg 1t-1 biomass)
Minimum PIU – 30 days

10. Total Biomass Production of Two New Sweet Sorghum Varieties Developed at Embrapa for Micro-distilleries *

11. Sweet Sorghum Nomenclature
Average values of brix, total invert sugars, juice extraction, and fiber of selected sweet sorghum varieties grown at Araras, São Paulo, Brazil in 1981.
Variety
Brix
Total invert sugars
(% juice)
Extraction
(% sorghum stalks)
Fiber
(% sorghum stalk)
Brandes
16.7
14.7
63.2
12.5
Honey
13.0
11.1
73.0
11.6
Sart
12.4
69.8
14.8
Rio
16.4
14.2
57.6
16.1
MN 1500
11.4
61.1
18.5
MN 1048
14.1
13.4
56.5
22.0
MN 1030
15.2
10.0
47.6
25.8
MN 4008
10.6
10.5
74.9
12.0
Williams
13.5
70.5
10.1
MN 4080
-----
45.7
26.6
Wray
19.3
16.8
67.5
Theis
71.5
Redlan
7.4
67.0
13.6
Tx623
10.8
7.0
64.0
Source: Schaffert and Borgonovi (1980)
Sweet sorghum variety names that begin with the letter or sound or R are high sucrose types and variety names that begin with other letters are low sucrose types. Redlan and Tx623 are non-sweet juicy stem female lines.

12. Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx x
RIO
PIU – 32 days
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx x
XXX
The interaction of refractometry Brix and percent total reduced sugars in the juice and percent fiber, percent juice extraction, and percent sugar extraction of sorghum stalks during the maturity phase for the varieties Rio and Wray grown in Brazil,
(Embrapa Maize and Sorghum)
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WRAY
PIU – 58days
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Zzzz

13. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sugar extracted ( Kg 100 Kg biomass) -1
Percent water in the biomass
Percent fiber of fresh biomass
xxx
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Total Sugars (%)
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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Brix, Total Sugars, Fiber and Percent Water of four sweet sorghum cultivars at Embrapa Maize and Sorghum, Sete Lagoas, Brazil, 1986/87.
BR 501 = Brandes, BR 505 = Wray, BR506 and BR507 are new derived varieties
Total sugars (% juice)
Brix (% juice))
BR 505

14. Period for Industrial Utilization
Wray 9% Total sugars
Wray 8% Total sugars
xxxx
Wray PUI 32 days
Wray PUE 51 days
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15. PUI 28 days
The interaction of refractometry Brix and percent total invert sugars in the juice and percent fiber, percent juice extraction, and percent sugar extraction of sorghum stalks during the maturity phase for the variety Rio grown in Brazil (Embrapa Maize and sorghum) .

16. Brix, total sugars (%), fiber (%), and juice extraction (%)
Sugar extraction (%)
PUI – 35 days
The interaction of refractometry Brix and percent total invert sugars in the juice and percent fiber, percent juice extraction, and percent sugar extraction of stalks during the maturity phase for the variety Brandes grown in Brazil (Embrapa Maize and Sorghum).

17. Brix, total sugars (%), fiber (%), and juice extraction (%)
CMSXS 623 (Brandes Derivative)
Brix, total sugars (%), fiber (%), and juice extraction (%)
Sugar extraction (%)
PUI 37 days
The interaction of refractometry Brix and percent total invert sugars in the juice and percent fiber, percent juice extraction, and percent sugar extraction of stalks during the maturity phase for the variety Brandes grown in Brazil (Embrapa Maize and Sorghum).
Days after planting
The interaction of refractometry Brix and percent total invert sugars in the juice and percent fiber, percent juice extraction, and percent sugar extraction of sorghum stalks during the maturity phase for the variety CMSXS 623 grown in Brazil (Embrapa Maize and sorghum).

18. PUI 54 days
The interaction of refractometry Brix and percent total invert sugars in the juice and percent fiber, percent juice extraction, and percent sugar extraction of stalks during the maturity phase for the variety Brandes grown in Brazil (Embrapa Maize and Sorghum).
The interaction of refractometry Brix and percent total invert sugars in the juice and percent fiber, percent juice extraction, and percent sugar extraction of sorghum stalks during the maturity phase for the variety Wray grown in Brazil (Embrapa Maize and sorghum) .

19. Biomass and Alcohol Production of two new Cultivars, BR506 and BR507, Compared to Brandes and Wray
(t ha-1)
Extracted Sugar Yield
(kg 100 kg-1) (t ha-1)
Alcohol Yield
Ideal
(L ha-1)
81%
Efficient
Relative
(% Wray)
Brandes
Wray
BR506
BR507
47.4
44.6
48.8
52.0
7.2
10.9
9.7
9.6
3.4
4.6
4.7
5.0
2208
2946
3062
3231
1788
2386
2481
2617 75
100
104
110
Embrapa Maize and Sorghum 1986/87

20. Current Plant Breeding Strategies and Priorities
Develop sweet sorghum 3 dwarf A and B lines (female) to be used
in hybrid development and production
- Identify molecular markers for juicy stem and sweet juice
- Incorporate genes for multiple stress (biotic and abiotic)
resistance
Evaluate existing new sweet sorghum cultivars (approx. 50) and
develop new sweet sorghum R lines (male) to be used in
hybrid development and production
- Incorporate genes for multiple stress (biotic and
abiotic) resistance
Identify molecular markers for tillering - Non-tillering desired to be
able to control stalk diameter with plant population (better
extraction with large stem diameter)
Develop transgenic sweet sorghum with sucrose isomerase gene
(SI), a gene that regulates the transformation of sucrose to
isomaltulose and thus can increase the sink capacity of sugar
storage (Wu and Birch, Plant Biotechnology Journal (2007) 5
(pp )

21. Plant Breeding Strategies and Priorities (cont.)
Develop high yielding biomass cultivars for cellulose conversion
to bio-energy
- Identify molecular markers for maturity genes Ma5 and Ma6
to be able to develop photosensitive (PS) sorghum biomass
hybrids
Ma5Ma5ma6ma6 is photo-insensitive (PIS) and flowers in approximately 60 days regardless of day length.
ma5ma5Ma6Ma6 is photo-insensitive and flowers in approximately 60 days regardless of day length.
The hybrid between these genotypes, Ma5ma5Ma6ma6 is photo-sensitive (PS) and floral initiation is only induced with day lengths less than 12h and 20min.
This can be useful in both sweet sorghum and biomass sorghum in locations farther from the equator where there is more variation in day lengths (McCollum et al. reported average yield increases of 25% of PS hybrids over PIS hybrids at Amarillo, Texas).

22. Plant Breeding Strategies and Priorities (cont.)
Develop high yielding biomass cultivars for cellulose conversion
to bio-energy
- Identify molecular markers for brown midrib low lignin
genes genes brm-6 and brm-12
Homozygous brm-6 hybrids and brm-12 hybrids have been reported to reduce lignin content in sorghum biomass by 50%

23. Production Cost of alcohol from sweet sorghum in Brazil in micro-distilleries in November, 1980.
Item
US$
Production Cost /ha
320.00
Cost/t stalks (30 t/ha)
10.67
Cost/t stalks (40 t/ha)
8.00
Cost/t alcohol (45 liter/t and 40 t/ha)
0.22
Cost/t alcohol (59 liter/t and 40 t/ha)
0.20
Cost/t alcohol (68 liter/t and 40 t/ha)
0.17
Source: Embrapa Maize and Sorghum, Sete Lagoas, MG, Brazil.
The price of ethanol today (November 5, 2007) is about US$ 0.35 L-1 at the
distillery gate and US$ 0.75 to 0.90 at the pump, depending on the distance
from distilleries

24. Incorporação de Tolerância ao Al em Cultivares de Sorgo Elite
Estamos incorporando o gene para tolerância ao Al em nossas linhagens elites em seis gerações usando a casa de vegetação em dois anos. O parâmetro usado é crescimento de raiz em solução nutritiva por sete dias.
Usando este tecnologia estamos empilhando genes úteis em genótipos com tolerância ao estresse múltiplo.
Estamos com ensaios no campo com três níveis de Al para quantificar o efeito dos genes para tolerância ao Al tóxico na produtividade e estabilidade de produção.
Seleção p/ Tolerância ao Al em Solução Nutritiva
BR 007B SC 283
Tol x Suc F3 Progenies
Linhagem
Recorrente Fonte
Susceptível x Tolerante
Cross tt x TT
F Tt
BC tt x Tt
BC1F ½ Tt (½ tt eliminado em solução nutritiva)
BC tt x Tt
BC2F ½ Tt (½ tt eliminado em solução nutritiva) .
BC4F ½ Tt (½ tt eliminado em solução nutritiva)
BC4F ¼ TT ½ Tt (½ tt eliminado em solução nutritiva)
BC4F3 100% TT and 97% Igual ao pai recorrente
Retrocruzamento Assistido para Desenvolver Linhagens de Sorgo com Tolerância ao Al Tóxico.
Incorporação de Tolerância ao Al em Cultivares de Sorgo Elite
e Desenvolvimento de Linhagens Isogênicos

25. COELHO & SCHAFFERT, 2005

26. Intra-Specific Diversity for Al Tolerance in Sorghum
SC283 and SC566 rely on the same locus AltSB for Al tolerance
Genetic basis apparently narrow
8 different Al tolerant sources x BR012
Inheritance study and linkage analysis to markers in the AltSB region
SSR-based phylogenetic analysis
Al tolerance gene diversity for pyramidation via breeding
Stronger alleles of AltSB
Different haplotypes at AltSB for candidate gene validation
Foundation for future association tests

27. Desenvolvimento de Sorgo Mais Eficiente na Aquisição de P
A identificação e conhecimento das mudanças no rhizosfero, mecanismos de aquisição e utilização de P facilitarão a manipulação destes parâmetros.
Não existe conhecimento de parâmetros nos cereais correlacionados a eficiência de aquisição/utilização de P.
Grão
Resposta
Classe
Pedigree
Tol
Baixa P
Alta P
ao P Al
t/ha
(%)
BR 007B S
1.95
4.86
2.49 IR
SC283 T
2.66
3.29
1.23
E N
BR 005R
2.74
3.51
1.28
Médio Ensaio
2.16
3.60
1.43 xx
Tem a necessidade de identificar ou desenvolver genótipos com diferenças na habilidade de adquirir e utilizar P eficientemente
Utilizando condições de campo, solução nutritiva, e casa de vegetação, identificamos genótipos de sorgo contrastantes para aquisição e resposta ao P
Plantas de Sorgo com
21 Dias em Rhizobox
xxx
Xxxx
BR007B (IR) BR 005R (EN) SC 283 (EN)
+ P P P P P P
Pelos de raízes dos genótipos SC283 (eficiente) e BR007 (responsivo) em estresse de P
SC283
BR007
BR007B
SC 283
+P P

28. Produção diferencial de Sorgoleone Sorgoleone per unit RFW (mg/g)
em Sorgo
SC 283 – SEM FÓSFORO
Sorgoleone Production by Various Sorghum Genotypesa
Sorghum Genotype
Root Fresh Wt
(RFW) (g)
Sorgoleone mg
Sorgoleone per unit RFW (mg/g)
% Purity
RTx433
0.15
0.10
0.67
91.8
RTx7078
1.80
12.00
98.7
RTx430
0.08
0.30
3.75
94.9
B Redlan
2.67
17.80
80.2
B Wheatland
0.33
0.83
2.50
78.3
BR 007 B – SEM FÓSFORO
a- three replicates of 25 seedlings each Fonte: Chandrashekhar I, et al.; J. Agric. Food Chem. 1996, 44, 1343−1347
Photomicrograph of Sorghum bicolor roots showing a sorgoleone-rich oily exudate secreted from the root hairs (Bar=80 μm) and b closer view of a root hair with sorgoleone exuding at the tip (Bar=15 μm). Sorgoleone-rich oil from tip of root hairs also exudes from secondary roots originating either from c roots (Bar=125 μm) or d stem (adventitious roots) (Bar=350 μm)
Fonte: F.E. Dayan, USDA-ARS Natural Products Utilization Research Unit, P.O. Box 8048, University, MS 38677, USA

29. Hibrido Sorgo Forrageiro de Corte Hibrido Sorgo Forrageiro de Corte
Desenvolvimento de Cultivares de Sorgo Forrageiro de Alta Qualidade (bmr6 bmr6)
Linhagens A e B bmr6
Linhagens R bmr6
Desenvolvimento de
novas linhagens bmr6 A/B
e R com tolerância ao
múltiplo estresse
A/BTx 635
A/B BR007
A/B CMSXS205
A/B CMSXS206
A/B BR008
A/B CMSXS156
A/B CMSXS 157
RTx2784
RTx2785
CMSXS912
CMSXS225
Hibrido Sorgo Forrageiro de Corte
Tx635bmr6A x
Tx2785bmr6R
Hibrido Sorgo Forrageiro de Corte
Tx635bmr6A x
Tx2784bmr6R

30. Final Remarks
Embrapa has a relative large number (50 -60) of sweet sorghum varieties
available for characterization for quality and utilization in developing
experimental hybrids.
The variety BR501 (Brandes) is tolerant to Al toxicity and is the restorer
parent in two commercial forage sorghum hybrids. Brandes probably
was selected 25 years ago because it was tolerant to Al toxicity.
Brandes was successfully used in two pilot sweet sorghum distilleries in
Jundiai, SP and Pelotus, RS.
The proof of concept of sweet sorghum as a biofuel source has been
determined. The next step is an economic evaluation for
competitiveness with other available raw materials.
Embrapa is currently evaluating the return to an active research and
development program with sweet sorghum as a source for bio-fuels.

31. Embrapa Maize and Sorghum
Thank You
Robert Schaffert
Embrapa Maize and Sorghum
Tel:

34. Hibrido Sorgo Forrageiro de Corte
Tx635bmr6A x
Tx2785bmr6R

35. Fiber Increases and Juice Extraction Decreases with Time
Percent fiber and juive extraction of cultivar Brandes at Araras, CNPMS/EMBRAPA, 1981 and 1982 (Schaffert et al. 1986).
Percent fiber and juive extraction of cultivar Wray at Araras, CNPMS/EMBRAPA, 1981 and 1982 (Schaffert et al. 1986).
Fiber Increases and Juice Extraction Decreases with Time
Brandes
Wray

36. Juice Extraction Varies Between Cultivars
Percent juice extraction of four sweet sorghum cultivars at CNPMS/EMBRAPA, Sete Lagoas, Brazil, 1986/87, BR 501 = Brandes; BR 505 = Wray.

39. Agricultural and Industrial yields of sweet sorghum in Brazil.
Component
Agricultural Yield
Alcohol yield
(t/ha)
(liter/t)
(liter/ha per harvest)
Stalks
Range
Average
37.7 70
2639
Grain
2.2
340
748
Total
3387
Source: Schaffert and Borgonovi (1980)

40. Mean yield of stalk, fermentable sugar, alcohol, fresh
biomass and seed of sweet sorghum in experiments at the Beijing
Botanical Garden
Cultivar
Theis
M-81E
Wray
Keller
Brandes
Rio
Stalk (kg/ha) 95 89 76 62 52
Fermentable sugar (t/ha)
10.6
9.6
10.3
10.5
6.4
6.2
Alcohol (l/ha)
6 159
5 607
5 981
6 131
3 696
3 617
Fresh material (t/ha)
125
128
106
107 82
Seed (kg/ha)
6 674
6 213
1 426
1 960
3 500
2 866

44. Sugarcane (São Paulo averages)
Comparison of juice between sweet sorghum and sugarcane in Brazil.
Sweet Sorghum
Trait
Literature
National Trials
Sugarcane (São Paulo averages)
Juice extraction (%)
Retractometer Brix
18 -21
Sucrose (% juice)
10 -15
Invert sugars (% juice)
1 - 4
Total invert sugars (% juice)
Source: Schaffert and Borgonovi (1980)

47. Sucrose vs. Total sugars

48. Maximum dry matter production and maximum growth rates of several crops.
Maturity
Average Growth rate
Maximum growth rate
Crop
(t/ha)
(days)
(gm/m2 per day)
Napier
106
365 26
-----
Sugarcane 70 18 38
sugarbeet 47
300 14 31
Forage sorghum 30
120 22 43
210 19
Sudangrass 33
160 51
Alfafa 36
250 13 23
Bermudagrass 35
230 20
Alga 28
Source: Loomis and Willian (1963)

49. Location and Date of Planting
National Forage Sorghum Trial /87 Embrapa Maize and Sorghum
Location and Date of Planting
Linhares
Goiânia
Capinópolis
Ituiutaba
Taquari
Cruz Alta
S.J. dos Campos
Mean
Relative ES GO MG RS SP
Cultivar
BR601 (%)
Biomass Production (t/ha wet weight)
BR506 (V)
46.3
55.2
43.3
55.5
41.9
59.3
50.8
52.8
109
BR507 (V)
41.1
53.2
43.7
47.3
39.8
55.7
68.1
49.5
102
BR601(H)
44.1
54.3
47.6
55.1
66.0
48.6
100
BR126* (MV)
19.1
39.6
36.6
35.0
25.5
32.3
36.0
32.1 66
Biomass Production (t/ha dry weight)
14.4
11.6
10.2 NA
13.4
17.7
18.7
14.6
108
15.6
12.4
11.7
14.1
18.9
18.2
115
12.0
12.7
14.8
18.3
14.3
13.5
7.4
16.9
15.4
9.9
11.8
11.5 85
* Forage Maize Variety * *

50. Percent total sugar (Juice)
Wray
Rio
Brandes
CMSXS623
Days after planting
The differences between four cultivars grown in Brazil for total invert sugars of the juice during the maturity phase of production (Embrapa Maize and sorghum).

51. Percent fiber and juice extraction
Rio a
CMSXS623
Wray
Brandes
Days after planting
The differences between four cultivars grown in Brazil for juice extraction and fiber content of the stalks during the maturity phase of production (Embrapa Maize and Sorghum).
Percent fiber and juice extraction

52. Average yields:
Stalks
Leaves, peduuncle and heads
Tons/ha
32.9
13.6
46.5
Estimated approximate composition of sweet sorghum sugar varieties in the United States (Nathan, 1978)

53. Average yields:
Stalks
Leaves, peduncle and heads
total
Tonnes/ha
47.4
19.3
66.7
Estimated approximate composition of sweet sorghum syrup varieties in the United States (Nathan, 1978)