How2Day: Varieties of Sweet Sorghum

Rows of sweet sorghum. Don Farrall/Stockbyte/Getty Images
A native to Africa, sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) dug its roots into colonial America, and farmers now grow it extensively for syrup production. A cash crop, most sorghum cultivation in the United States takes place in Kentucky, which nets 90 percent of the crop's output. While sorghum belongs to a family with sorghum grains like milo and kafir, the sweet, juicy qualities of sweet sorghum varieties set it apart.

Developed at the U.S. Sugar Crops Field Station, according to the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, the Dale variety of sweet sorghum produces small seeds of a reddish brown color and straight, medium sized stalks covered with wax-like blooms. A mid-season variety known for its high yield and excellent quality of syrup, Dale also proves resistant to diseases like leaf anthracnose, red stalk rot and maize dwarf mosaic.

Also developed at the U.S. Sugar Crops Field Station, and on the Alabama Cooperative Extension System's recommended list, M81E looks similar to Dale but matures later in the season. Although it resists the onslaught of leaf anthracnose and red stalk rot diseases, it can be susceptible to maize dwarf mosaic as well as light frosts. On the other hand, it yields even more syrup than Dale. As a result of its low frost tolerance, farmers should plant M81E via transplant to ensure it matures before danger of frost.

the origin of Sugar Drip remains unknown. It matures around two weeks earlier than the Dale variety, which makes it optimal for late planting. This crop generates medium-sized brown seeds and smallish stalks that result in a lower yield than other varieties. Although it results in high quality syrup, Sugar Drip remains highly susceptible to disease, because of which some farmers have suffered the loss of entire crops, according to the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture.

Another recommended variety, Theis gets up to 16 feet tall with large brown seeds. Released in 1974, it matures later in the season than other varieties and gives good quality syrup. Theis contains resistance to leaf anthracnose, red stalk rot and downy mildew, with a tolerance toward maize dwarf mosaic.

Released in 1953 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, according to the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, Tracy grows up to 12 feet tall and produces erect, juicy stalks with low yield. Under favorable growing conditions, this crop generates high quality syrup, but it is susceptible to sorghum diseases like leaf anthracnose, red rot, leaf spot and rust.

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