SorghumBase blog

SorghumBase Release 10

• 13 February 2026

We are pleased to announce the 10th major release of SorghumBase. Highlights of this release include the addition of 31 new genomes from the JGI SorghumPan project

The Biology of Genomes Conference from May 5-9, 2026 at CSHL, Abstracts Due Feb 13

• 09 February 2026

The 39th annual Biology of Genomes meeting will take place at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory May 5-9, 2026. The conference will explore how DNA sequence variation shapes molecular evolution, population genetics, complex disease biology, and comparative genomics, as well as findings from large-scale gene and protein expression studies and genomic analyses of ecological systems.

CSI Global Conference Announcement and SorghumBase, Nick Gladman, Andrew Olson and Doreen Ware Feb 10 at 11 AM CT

• 06 February 2026

The Center for Sorghum Improvement (CSI) will host a virtual Global Conference Announcement and SorghumBase seminar on Tuesday, February 10 at 10:45 AM CT. The meeting will begin with announcements and the seminar will start at 11:00 AM CT. Nick Gladman, Andrew Olson and Doreen Ware will speak on behalf of SorghumBase with their talk, “SorghumBase: a central KnowledgeBase for Sorghum Stakeholders.”

Evolutionary, Structural, and Functional Diversification of Polyamine Oxidase Genes Underlying Drought Tolerance in Sorghum

• 04 March 2026

Sorghum polyamine oxidase genes exhibit distinct structural, evolutionary, and regulatory specializations that shape tissue- and genotype-specific stress responses, with SbPAO5 and SbPAO6 emerging as key contributors to drought tolerance and promising targets for crop improvement.

Integrated Cytological and Multi-Omics Analysis Reveals Phenylpropanoid-Mediated Regulation of Leaf Angle Formation in Sorghum

• 03 March 2026

Leaf angle formation in sorghum is driven by coordinated changes in auricle cell development, phenylpropanoid-mediated lignin biosynthesis, and associated gene expression, collectively shaping plant architecture for improved light capture.

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

• 02 March 2026

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.

High-Throughput, Nondestructive Grain Quality Analysis in Sorghum

• 09 January 2026

Understanding sorghum grain quality is essential for breeding, food innovation, and industrial applications. Traits such as protein, starch composition, oil content, tannins, and phenolic compounds directly influence nutritional value, processing behavior, and end use. However, traditional laboratory assays are slow,

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.