Research Highlights

Recent advancements in genomics have led to the complete telomere-to-telomere (T2T) assemblies of two sorghum genomes. These comprehensive assemblies provide valuable insights into the genetic landscape of sorghum, enhancing our understanding and enabling significant agricultural and biological discoveries. The recent studies are below : Wei et al (April-2024) – 10.1002/imt2.193 & Deng, Y et al (May-2024) – 10.1016/j.xplc.2024.100977.

Insect feeding on plants triggers complex physiological and metabolic changes, including alterations in lignin biosynthesis and auxin signaling, which enhance plant defense mechanisms against phloem-feeding insects, such asaphids.

Pearl millet, a resilient C4 crop crucial for food security in arid regions, faces challenges in yield and shelf life due to environmental stresses and rapid flour rancidity, which can potentially be mitigated through genetic engineering targeting phospholipase genes.

Sorghum seed development involves complex molecular processes, including tissue-specific gene expression and metabolite accumulation, which are critical for improving grain quality, yield, and climate resilience.

Researchers from Shijiazhuang, China identified and characterized seven PRE genes in sorghum, highlighting SbPRE4’s role in enhancing aphid resistance through jasmonic acid signaling.

LncRNAs play a crucial role in regulating gene expression and enhancing drought tolerance in sorghum by modulating stress-related biochemical and physiological processes.

This study identifies and characterizes 32 phospholipase A (PLA) genes in Sorghum bicolor, revealing their diverse roles in plant growth, defense, and stress response, with significant implications for improving sorghum production in semi-arid regions.

This study identified and characterized the COMPASS-like complex in sorghum, revealing unique ASH2 gene duplications and novel transcriptional activation activity in RbBP5, suggesting distinct regulatory mechanisms for gene expression in sorghum compared to other plants.

This study utilized genetic analysis and genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to identify significant marker-trait associations for iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) concentrations in sorghum, aiming to improve biofortification and enhance the nutritional quality of this staple crop.

This study identifies CcNAC6 as a key regulator of secondary cell wall synthesis in Sudan grass, suggesting its potential role in reducing lignin content to enhance forage digestibility.