Research shows that the TALE transcription factors in Sorghum bicolor regulate growth, development, and stress responses, showing evolutionary conservation, tissue-specific expression, and hormone-induced activity.
Evolutionary Rewiring of Gene Networks in the Transition to C4 Photosynthesis
The evolution of C4 photosynthesis involved the co-option of ancestral transcriptional networks and cis-regulatory elements, enhancing efficiency in carbon fixation and offering insights for engineering C4 traits in C3 crops.
Highlights from Plant Biology 2025
This annual gathering brought together plant scientists from around the globe for an inspiring week of scientific sessions, interactive workshops, poster presentations, and networking opportunities. The meeting served as a hub for professional growth and scientific exchange, equipping attendees with the knowledge, skills, and connections needed to advance both their research and careers. This year’s conference welcomed over 984 scientists and researchers, featured 36 exhibitors, and offered 20 workshops across diverse areas of plant biology. Attendees engaged with 533 poster presentations and explored 727 completed abstracts.
Sorghum in Fermentation: New Insights into Genetics, Grain Traits, and Microbial Interactions from Baijiu to African Traditional Beers
Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) has long played a central role in the production of fermented beverages across continents, from West African dolo and pito to Chinese baijiu and emerging gluten-free craft beers in the West. A wave of recent research is shedding light on how sorghum’s grain properties, microbial interactions during fermentation, and genetic diversity influence the quality and sustainability of these beverages.
Genetic Insights into Plant Height Regulation: Enhancing Crop Resilience and Yield through Brachytic Mutants
Research on brachytic mutants, including the SbMYB110 gene in sorghum and its maize ortholog ZmMYB78, demonstrates that genetic regulation of plant height through internode elongation and hormonal pathways can enhance crop resilience and yield, offering valuable strategies for modern agricultural breeding.
Transcriptional Regulation of Starch Biosynthesis in Sorghum: Functional Characterization of the B3 Transcription Factor SbLAV1
SbLAV1, a member of the B3 transcription factor family in sorghum, plays a key regulatory role in starch biosynthesis during grain development through transcriptional activation of starch biosynthesis-related genes.
Monolignol Pathway-Mediated Resistance to Sugarcane Aphid in Sorghum
Overexpression of the monolignol pathway gene SbCCoAOMT enhances sorghum resistance to sugarcane aphid through increased lignin deposition, altered phloem-feeding behavior, and accumulation of defensive phenolic compounds.
SbNAC074 Enhances Salt Tolerance via Proline Accumulation, Antioxidant Activity, and MAPK-Mediated Regulation
Overexpression of the sorghum transcription factor SbNAC074 enhances plant salt tolerance by promoting proline accumulation, boosting antioxidant enzyme activity, and interacting with SbMPK3 for phosphorylation-mediated regulation.
Genetic and Metabolic Insights into the Relationship Between Seed Coat Color, Phenolic Compounds, and Volatile Profiles in Sorghum
Sorghum seed coat color correlates with the accumulation of phenolic and volatile compounds, and key regulatory genes including ABCB28, PTCD1, and ANK have been identified as central to their biosynthesis and transport.
Vulnerability of Cereal Crop Landraces Under Post-Catastrophic Climate Scenarios
Though the diversity of native crop varieties (landraces) may be useful for increasing food security under novel environmental conditions, in the scenario of a soot-producing catastrophe, local genetic diversity is insufficient to ensure agricultural resilience without long-distance genotype substitutions or crop shifts.