Research Highlights

In a large breeding program (701 sorghum lines), leaf width was correlated with plant-level transpiration efficiency and associated with 19 QTL, suggesting it could be a surrogate for transpiration efficiency.

Borrell et al. conducted research to explore how genetically modifying PIN genes in sorghum can affect mechanisms underpinning the stay-green drought adaptation phenotype.

Ge et al. performed phylogenetic analysis of the sorghum ACP gene family and investigated the ACPs expression patterns under abiotic stresses.

Lv et al. fine mapped the red leaf gene and identified the metabolites that cause red leaf in sorghum providing a better understanding of the red leaf phenotype in natural sorghum populations.

Ke et al. studied two varieties of sorghum, Liaonian3 (glutinous) and Liaoza10 (japonica) and identified genes associated with starch accumulation.

Song et al. examined the endogenic responses underlying mechanisms for WRKY55 regulation under salt stress tolerance.

Researchers from Shandong University in China studied the effect of exogenous SA on resistance in SA sensitive and tolerant sorghum lines. Transcriptome analysis revealed that exposure to SA increases anthracnose resistance through the upregulation of the expression of immune-related genes and pathways.

Shi et al. studied eight GRF genes in the sorghum genome, identifying orthologs through phylogenetic analysis, and evaluating their structural functions and expression patterns under both normal and stressed conditions.

Khanal et al. identified 47 markers associated with resistance to C. sublineola across all sorghum chromosomes except chromosome 8. Of these, 32 genes were selected as likely causal candidates due to their location near significant SNPs.

Researchers “knocked down” or silenced the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase SbPPC3 gene in leaves and roots through RNA interference. Salt stress affected stomatal conductance, yield and central metabolism more in Ppc3 mutant plants.