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.
Evolution and Efficiency of C4 Photosynthesis: A Blueprint for Crop Enhancement
Recent genomic studies highlight the higher diversity and specialized regulatory adaptations of photosynthetic genes in C4 plants like sorghum and foxtail millet, compared to CAM plants, providing insights for improving crop resilience and productivity.
2025 CSHL Genome Informatics Conference, Nov. 5-8, Abstracts Due Aug. 22
The Genome Informatics Conference will take place at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory from November 5-8, 2025. Virtual participation is available to those not giving poster or oral presentations. The Keynote Speakers will be Yana Safonova, from Penn State, and Marinka Zitnik, from Harvard University.
Genetic Basis of Inflorescence Adaptation in Chinese Sorghum for Climate-Resilient Breeding
This study reveals how geographic adaptation shapes inflorescence morphology in Chinese sorghum, identifying key genetic regions that could be leveraged to breed climate-resilient, high-yield varieties.
CSI Seminar Sandeep Marla, July 22 at 11 AM CT
The Center for Sorghum Improvement (CSI) is hosting a virtual seminar given by Sandeep Marla, from the Department of Agronomy at Kansas State University, on Tuesday, July 22 at 11 AM CT. The title of the talk is, “Accelerating sorghum trait delivery with established public-private sector partnerships.”
Unlocking Sorghum’s Potential in Skin Care and Antioxidant Applications: A New Frontier for Kafirin Peptides
In recent years, sorghum has gained increasing attention not just as a climate-resilient staple crop, but also as a source of high-value bioactive compounds with applications beyond the food and feed sectors. A growing body of research highlights the potential of sorghum storage proteins—particularly kafirins—as a sustainable source of antioxidant peptides and cosmeceutical ingredients.
Accelerating Gene Discovery in Sorghum: EMS Mutagenesis and Sequencing Reveal a Conserved Regulator of Male Fertility
Researchers demonstrated how coupling EMS mutagenesis with sequencing accelerates gene identification and validation in sorghum, revealing a conserved bHLH transcription factor essential for male fertility and highlighting broader applications for crop improvement and functional genomics.
Leveraging Sorghum Biofortification: Grain Color as a Proxy for Carotenoid-Rich Varieties to Combat Vitamin A Deficiency
Developing carotenoid-rich sorghum varieties using grain color as a proxy for carotenoid levels, combined with marker-assisted selection, offers a promising strategy to combat vitamin A deficiency in vulnerable populations.
Kafirin on the Rise: Sorghum Protein Bioplastics Show Expanding Potential Across Industries
As interest grows in sustainable, plant-based alternatives to synthetic materials, sorghum’s seed storage protein, kafirin, is gaining recognition not just for its agronomic relevance but also for its remarkable biomaterial properties. Once considered a low-value byproduct of sorghum processing, kafirin is now being explored as a key ingredient in high-performance bioplastics, nanomaterials, and drug delivery systems.