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Origin, History, Morphology, Production, Improvement, and Utilization of Broomcorn [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] in Serbia1

Poreklo, istorijat, morfologija, proizvodnja, oplemenjivanje i korišenje sirka metlaša (Sorghum bicolor [L.] Moench) u Srbiji

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Origin, History, Morphology, Production, Improvement, and Utilization of Broomcorn [ Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] in Serbia

Broomcorn in South Eastern Europe (SEE) is part of an important niche market of natural, renewable brooms made from the panicles of sorghum. This article is a summary of almost 60 years of experiences concerning broomcorn research, development, and production in SEE, and more specifically in Serbia. The botanical classification, origin, history, morphology, production, cultivar choice, certified seed, improvement, and utilization of broomcorn are discussed. Its improvement through breeding and production research includes various panicle quality traits, like optimization of fiber length, improving fiber fineness and appearance, elimination of undesirable red discoloration, and adapting the crop to mechanical harvest. Broomcorn could become a suitable feed, energy, or fiber crop if improvements in seed quality, as well as stalk biomass, juiciness, and sweetness are undertaken. Broomcorns will continue to play an important role in Serbian agriculture and work will continue to breed for improvements of the crop to benefit broomcorn farmers throughout Europe and the world.

Poreklo, istorijat, morfologija, proizvodnja, oplemenjivanje i korišenje sirka metlaša (Sorghum bicolor [L.] Moench) u Srbiji

U Jugoistočnoj Evropi sirak metlaš čini deo specijalizovanog tržišta prirodnih, biorazgradivih, metli izrađenih od metlica sirka. Ovaj rad je rezime skoro 60 godina iskustva na istraživanju i unapređenju proizvodnje sirka metlaša u Jugoistočnoj Evropi, tačnije u Srbiji. Obrađeni su botanička klasifikacija, poreklo, istorijat, morfologija, proizvodnja, izbor sorti, sortno seme, kao i unapređenje proizvodnje i korišenja sirka metlaša. Unapređenje proizvodnje kroz oplemenjivanje i istraživanje načina gajenja obuhvata razne osobine kvaliteta metlice kao što su optimalizacija dužine peteljki, poboljšanje finoe i izgleda peteljki, eliminacija nepoželjnog crvenila i prilagođavanje biljke mehanizovanoj žetvi. Sirak metlaš bi mogao postati pogodan za stočnu hranu, za dobijanje energije ili vlakna, ako bi se poboljšao kvalitet zrna i prinos biomase, sočnost i slatkoa stabla. Sirak metlaš e nastaviti da igra važnu ulogu u poljoprivredi Srbije, a rad na oplemenjivanju i unapređenju proizvodnje ove biljke e biti od koristi proizvođačima u Evropi i u svetu.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops, Novi Sad, Serbia

    Janoš Berenji & Vladimir Sikora

  2. University of California, Kearney Agricultural Research & Extension, Lubbock, TX, USA

    Jeff Dahlberg

  3. Faculty of Agriculture, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia

    Dragana Latkovi

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  1. Janoš Berenji
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  2. Jeff Dahlberg
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  3. Vladimir Sikora
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  4. Dragana Latkovi
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Correspondence to Jeff Dahlberg.

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Berenji, J., Dahlberg, J., Sikora, V. et al. Origin, History, Morphology, Production, Improvement, and Utilization of Broomcorn [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] in Serbia1 . Econ Bot 65, 190–208 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12231-011-9155-2

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