Sorghum propinquum facts for kids

Sorghum propinquum is a type of wild grass. It is related to the sorghum plants that farmers grow for food. This plant grows naturally in many warm parts of Asia. You can find it from India all the way to Southeast Asia, southern China, and islands like those in Malesia and Papuasia.

What is Sorghum propinquum?

Sorghum propinquum is a plant that lives for many years. It has special underground stems called rhizomes. These rhizomes help the plant spread and grow new shoots. Each cell in this plant has 20 chromosomes. This is the same number as in Sorghum bicolor, which is a type of sorghum grown by farmers. However, S. bicolor is an annual plant, meaning it lives for only one year, and it does not have rhizomes.

Where Does It Grow?

This wild sorghum species is native to tropical Asia. This means it naturally grows in warm, humid areas across a large part of Asia. Its home ranges from India in the west, through countries in Southeast Asia, and into southern China. It also grows on islands in Malesia and Papuasia.

Why Is This Plant Important?

Scientists are very interested in Sorghum propinquum. They are studying it to see how it can help make the sorghum crops we eat even better. Because it is closely related to the farmed sorghum, it might have useful traits. These traits could help make crops stronger or more resistant to diseases.

A long time ago, S. propinquum mixed with S. bicolor. This created a new plant called Johnson grass (S. halepense). Johnson grass is known as a very difficult weed for farmers. It can grow quickly and take over fields, making it hard for other plants to grow.