Sorghum

Pacific Seeds’ grain sorghum varieties are well suited to Australian sorghum growing regions due to the tough growing conditions they originate from. They give excellent yields, have good standability and are reliable performers.

An important tool in quality sorghum production is the control of midge. Midge larvae attack the sorghum floret during flowering and eat the developing grain. In the early 1990s the Queensland Department of Primary Industries (QDPI) developed, in conjunction with Pacific Seeds and other seed companies, an industry protocol for the testing and official rating of midge resistance in Midge Resistant (MR) hybrids.

The midge rating system starts at 1 (nil resistance) through to 8 (maximum commercially available resistance) and measures the amount of grain lost, per visiting female midge per day. The midge rating is independently assessed and administered by the QDPI and is published by seed organisations.

The midge rating number when used in conjunction with the QDPI developed equation for the assessment of Economic Injury Level (EIL) gives the grower a very powerful management tool for these hybrids. This equation and a comprehensive explanation are found in the QDPI summer crop notes.

Only hybrids that have been through the official rating system can have the official Midge Tested Rating logo and tag.

This symbol identifies the level of midge resistance in sorghum varieties.

'For more information on the MR rating scheme, please follow this link to the GRDC website'

                             http://www.grdc.com.au/director/events/grdcpublications/SorghumMidge.cfm