Genome-Wide Dissection of Genetic Loci and Candidate Genes Underlying Salt Tolerance During Sorghum Seedling Establishment

A genome-wide association study of sorghum seedlings under salt stress identified 35 loci and 39 candidate genes—many conserved across species—implicated in salt sensing, ROS detoxification, osmotic adjustment, and K⁺/Na⁺ homeostasis, providing targets for improving salt tolerance through molecular breeding.

Integrative Molecular and Physiological Mechanisms Underlying Drought Tolerance in Sorghum

Drought tolerance in sorghum arises from coordinated molecular, biochemical, and physiological mechanisms, including elevated osmoprotectant levels, enhanced antioxidant defenses, and activation of ABA-dependent bZIP transcription factors that collectively maintain cellular stability and promote resilience under water stress.

Stem-Preferred Gene Regulation and Meristematic Origins Underlying Transcriptional Specificity in Sorghum

A genome-wide analysis of sorghum revealed that stems possess relatively few organ-specific genes due to their meristematic origins, with two KNOX-like transcription factors, SbTALE03 and SbTALE04, emerging as key stem-preferred regulators and promising tools for targeted engineering supported by regulatory and network evidence.