Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Kiflom Aregawi, Jianqiang Shen, Grady Pierroz, Manoj K. Sharma, Jeffery Dahlberg, Judith Owiti, Peggy G. Lemaux
Summary: Sorghum bicolor is the fifth most important cereal worldwide and has multiple uses. Establishing gene function is crucial for improving sorghum and other important crop plants. New tools and methods have been developed to expedite research on gene function in this widely grown crop.
PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xuemin Kang, Wei Gao, Bo Cui, A. M. Abd El-Aty
Summary: This review focuses on the structure and genetic regulation of starch formation in sorghum endosperm, which is an important cereal crop. Starch synthesis in sorghum endosperm is regulated by complex genetic and environmental factors. Recent research has identified genes involved in starch synthesis regulation, and environmental factors like temperature and water availability can also affect the structure and properties of sorghum starch. Understanding the structure and genetic regulation of starch formation in sorghum endosperm can have implications for improving sorghum-based products.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Qinnan Yang, Mallory Van Haute, Nate Korth, Scott E. Sattler, John Toy, Devin J. Rose, James C. Schnable, Andrew K. Benson
Summary: Prebiotic fibers, polyphenols, and other molecular components in food crops have significant effects on the composition and function of the human gut microbiome. Using in vitro fermentation techniques, researchers identified genetic loci in sorghum that influence the gut microbes. These loci were found to be associated with microbial taxa and metabolite abundance, some of which were regulated by sorghum genes involved in condensed tannin biosynthesis. The study highlights the potential of genetic analysis in discovering and characterizing molecular components in food crops that impact the human gut microbiome.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Lidong Wang, Li Shang, Xiaoyuan Wu, Huaiqing Hao, Hai-Chun Jing
Summary: This study found that sorghum leaf senescence is primarily controlled by the progression, rather than the onset of senescence. The senescence-delaying haplotypes of 45 key genes increased from landraces to improved lines. Leaf senescence is a genetically programmed developmental process that plays a central role in plant survival and crop production.
THEORETICAL AND APPLIED GENETICS
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Muluken Enyew, Tileye Feyissa, Anders S. Carlsson, Kassahun Tesfaye, Cecilia Hammenhag, Mulatu Geleta
Summary: This study investigated the genetic diversity of Ethiopian sorghum using gene-based single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers, revealing significant differentiation among geographic regions and varieties based on peduncle shape. Cluster and molecular variance analyses revealed distinct accession clusters. The findings suggest that crossbreeding genotypes from different clusters may lead to desirable traits in progenies.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Frank Maulana, Ramasamy Perumal, Desalegn D. Serba, Tesfaye Tesso
Summary: This study assessed the efficacy of using genomic information of parental genotypes to predict the performance of grain sorghum hybrids. The results suggest that genomic prediction could be an effective tool for predicting the performance of sorghum hybrids based on parental genotypes.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Si Xu, Xiu-Qing Li, Hong Guo, Xiao-Yuan Wu, Ning Wang, Zhi-Quan Liu, Huai-Qing Hao, Hai-Chun Jing
Summary: Sorghum accessions showed significant genotypic variation in mucilage secretion. The involvement of a UDP-glycosyltransferase gene (Sobic.010G120200) and the glucuronidation pathway in mucilage secretion in sorghum was suggested by GWAS and transcriptome analyses. Aerial root mucilage in Sierra Mixe maize can enhance nitrogen fixation by providing sugar and low oxygen environment to the rhizosphere microbiome. However, the biological significance, genotypic variation, and genetic regulation of aerial root mucilage in sorghum are poorly understood. This study found a large variation in mucilage secretion capacity among 146 sorghum accessions, with secretion occurring primarily in young aerial roots under humid conditions and decreasing or stopping in mature long aerial roots or dry conditions. The main components of the mucilage were glucose and fructose, and landrace grain sorghum had higher mucilage secretion capacity than wild sorghum. Transcriptome analysis identified 4461 differentially expressed genes, including 82 genes belonging to glycosyltransferases and glucuronidation pathways. Sobic.010G120200, encoding a UDP-glycosyltransferase, was identified as a candidate gene involved in the regulation of mucilage secretion in sorghum.
PLANT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Yusuf M. Kardes, Mahmut Kaplan, Hasan Kale, Mehmet F. Yilmaz, Kevser Karaman, Ridvan Temizgluel, Taner Akar
Summary: The study revealed significant variations in protein, oil, starch, tannin, and phytic acid profiles among sorghum genotypes. Some lines showed superior traits compared to standard cultivars, which can be utilized for direct cultivar registration and further breeding purposes.
Review
Agronomy
Balaji A. Pandian, Sarah Sexton-Bowser, P. V. Vara Prasad, Mithila Jugulam
Summary: Grain sorghum is a versatile crop that can thrive under limited resources, but weed infestation remains a major constraint in production. The lack of herbicide options for post-emergence grass weed control in sorghum poses a great challenge. The development of herbicide-resistant sorghum technology has the potential to improve weed management, but the risk of escape of resistance traits into weedy relatives is a major concern.
PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Sarah Tepler Drobnitch, Louise H. Comas, Nora Flynn, Jorge Ibarra Caballero, Ryan W. Barton, Joshua Wenz, Taylor Person, Julie Bushey, Courtney E. Jahn, Sean M. Gleason
Summary: Root pressure is a mechanism that increases crop production under drought conditions, possibly related to root allocation and gene regulation. In six genotypes of Sorghum bicolor, root pressure promotes adaptation by regulating the ratio of fine: coarse root length and shoot biomass production. Using RNA-Seq, genes for aquaporins, membrane transporters, and ATPases were identified as potential regulators of positive xylem pressure in root tissue.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Abdulnasir Kedir, Mulugeta Kebede, Muluken Enyew, Tilahun Mekonnen, Kassahun Tesfaye, Tileye Feyissa
Summary: The genetic diversity and population structure of sorghum landraces were investigated using SSR markers. The results showed high gene diversity within populations and high gene flow between regions and populations.
GENETIC RESOURCES AND CROP EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Caroline Liboreiro Paiva, Dea A. M. Netto, Valeria A. V. Queiroz, Maria Beatriz A. Gloria
Summary: This study quantified the levels of free bioactive amines during germination of tannin and tannin-free sorghum seeds and seedlings. It was found that tannin-free sorghum seeds had higher levels of spermidine, spermine, putrescine, and total amines compared to tannin sorghum. Throughout germination, putrescine was prevalent followed by spermidine. Spermine was only detected in the 7th germination day in tannin sorghum. The findings suggest that by selecting different genotypes, the polyamine contents in germinated sorghum can be modulated for specific food applications.
LWT-FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Martha Natukunda, Maria B. Mantilla-Perez, Michelle A. Graham, Peng Liu, Maria G. Salas-Fernandez
Summary: This study characterized the canopy-layer specific transcriptome of sorghum and identified differentially expressed genes related to leaf angle. The candidate genes are involved in various biological processes such as transmembrane transport, hormone regulation, oxidation-reduction, and photosynthesis. Further investigation is needed to understand the potential pleiotropic effects of these genes.
Article
Plant Sciences
Birgul Guden, Engin Yol, Cengiz Erdurmus, Stuart James Lucas, Bulent Uzun
Summary: Sorghum is a valuable cereal crop that is grown in Asia and Africa due to its resilience to drought and heat. There is increasing demand for sweet sorghum for bioethanol production and food/feed purposes. Understanding the genetic basis of bioenergy-related traits can lead to the development of new cultivars for bioenergy production.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Qianlin Xiao, Tianhui Huang, Wan Cao, Kuang Ma, Tingting Liu, Fangyu Xing, Qiannan Ma, Hong Duan, Min Ling, Xianlin Ni, Zhizhai Liu
Summary: This study investigated the pathway and transcriptional regulations of starch biosynthesis in sorghum by analyzing the RNA-sequencing profiles of 20 sorghum tissues at different developmental stages. The results identified key genes associated with sorghum starch biosynthesis and potential transcriptional regulations. The findings suggest that sorghum starch biosynthesis may share similar transcriptional regulations with other cereals.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
