Development of a Pedigreed Sorghum Mutant Library

Induced mutagenesis is a powerful approach to generate variations for elucidation of gene function and to create new traits for breeding. Here, we described a procedure to develop a pedigreed mutant library through chemical mutagenesis with ethylmethane sulfonate (EMS) treated seeds in sorghum and discussed its potential to generate new traits for sorghum improvement. Unlike random mutagenesis, a pedigreed mutant library, once properly established, can serve as a powerful resource to isolate and recover mutations of both agronomical and biological importance. With the development of affordable and high-throughput next-generation sequencing technologies, identification of causal mutations from a mutant library with a uniform genetic background becomes increasingly efficient and cost-effective. Fast causal gene discovery from mutant libraries combined with precise genome editing techniques will accelerate incorporation of new traits and revolutionize crop breeding.