Abstract: After 10 years storage in the National Crop Genebank of China (NCGC), more than 90% of 3300 monitored accessions of sorghum (Sorghum vulgare) seeds maintained above 85% germination percentage, the lowest initial viability standard for sorghum seeds when put into a low-temperature genebank. The number of varieties having low germination percentages increased while the number of varieties having high germination percentages decreased as a whole. The germination percentage of 33 accessions, account for 1.00% of the total, declined significantly from above 85% to below 75%. The decline of seed viability between different suppliers and different years was significant.

Key words: Sorghum seeds, Long-term storage, Viability monitoring, National Crop Genebank of China