SorghumBase blog

Highlights from Plant Biology 2025

• 07 August 2025

This annual gathering brought together plant scientists from around the globe for an inspiring week of scientific sessions, interactive workshops, poster presentations, and networking opportunities. The meeting served as a hub for professional growth and scientific exchange, equipping attendees with the knowledge, skills, and connections needed to advance both their research and careers. This year’s conference welcomed over 984 scientists and researchers, featured 36 exhibitors, and offered 20 workshops across diverse areas of plant biology. Attendees engaged with 533 poster presentations and explored 727 completed abstracts.

2025 CSHL Genome Informatics Conference, Nov. 5-8, Abstracts Due Aug. 22

• 21 July 2025

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.

CSI Seminar Sandeep Marla, July 22 at 11 AM CT

• 17 July 2025

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.”

Comprehensive Analysis of TALE Transcription Factors in Sorghum bicolor: Evolution, Expression, and Functional Roles

• 25 August 2025

Research shows that the TALE transcription factors in Sorghum bicolor regulate growth, development, and stress responses, showing evolutionary conservation, tissue-specific expression, and hormone-induced activity.

Evolutionary Rewiring of Gene Networks in the Transition to C4 Photosynthesis

• 18 August 2025

The evolution of C4 photosynthesis involved the co-option of ancestral transcriptional networks and cis-regulatory elements, enhancing efficiency in carbon fixation and offering insights for engineering C4 traits in C3 crops.

Genetic Insights into Plant Height Regulation: Enhancing Crop Resilience and Yield through Brachytic Mutants

• 04 August 2025

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.

Sorghum in Fermentation: New Insights into Genetics, Grain Traits, and Microbial Interactions from Baijiu to African Traditional Beers

• 05 August 2025

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.

Unlocking Sorghum’s Potential in Skin Care and Antioxidant Applications: A New Frontier for Kafirin Peptides

• 15 July 2025

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.

Kafirin on the Rise: Sorghum Protein Bioplastics Show Expanding Potential Across Industries

• 30 June 2025

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.