The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations has declared 2023 the International Year of Millets (IYM 2023). Focusing the year on these important crops affords the opportunity to direct attention to the nutritional and health benefits of
Ethiopian Sorghum Landraces Provide Novel Genetic Sources for Drought Tolerance
A study of seven traits in 320 Ethiopian landraces and four improved varieties suggests chlorophyll content is an ideal trait to select for in a breeding program. Several landraces outperformed the improved varieties.
Texas Tech to Host the Third Global Sorghum Conference, September 14-18, 2026
Texas Tech University (TTU) in Lubbock, Texas has been selected as the site of the third Global Sorghum Conference, which will take place September 14-18, 2026.
Growth and Salt Tolerance Negatively correlated with Expression of Transcription factor SbMYBHv33
A sorghum MYB transcription factor was studied under salt stress conditions. Overexpression reduces biomass accumulation and salinity tolerance, while loss of function leads to longer roots and increased salt tolerance.
SbPho2, Phosphorus Starvation Signaling Gene, Identified in Sorghum and Shown to be Involved in Regulating the Uptake of Multiple Nutrients
Sorghum mutant, sbpho2, exhibits leaf necrosis and short roots, and is likely involved in phosphate accumulation and root architecture alteration.
The American Society of Plant Biologists Annual Conference in Savannah, Georgia, Aug 5-9, Early Registration Ends June 2, Poster Abstracts Due July 5
The American Society of Plant Biologists is hosting their annual Plant Biology Conference in Savannah, Georgia from August 5 – 9, 2023. The conference draws together a global group of more than 1,300 scientists and includes plenary sessions as well
Composition of Starch Polymers in Waxy, Sweet, and Hybrid Sorghum
Kang et. al., study the relationship between fine structure and the physicochemical properties of starch in sweet and waxy inbreds and hybrid sorghum
ANTHRACNOSE RESISTANCE GENE 2 Imparts Fungal Resistance Without Negatively Affecting Plant Growth
Using genetic mapping and sequence comparisons, Mewa et al. identified a single ANTHRACNOSE RESISTANCE GENE 2 (ARG2) in SC328C, which encodes a nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat (NLR) protein that produces resistance to certain Cs strains.
Programming for Biology, CSHL Oct. 16-31, Applications Due July 15
Simon Prochnik, from Circularis Biotech Inc., and Sofia Robb, from the Stowers Institute for Medical Research, will be teaching the “Programming for Biology” course from October 16-31 at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
Major traits in Sorghum Bicolor Linked to SNP Markers showing Potential for Future Use in Genomically Selective Breeding
The Ethopian sorghum crop is extremely genetically diverse and exhibits a large phenotypic variation. The fact that the germplasm is also widely adapted to both biotic and abiotic stresses makes it a valuable resource for enhancing desirable traits.