BACKGROUND: Leaf angle is an important plant architecture trait, affecting plant density, light interception efficiency, photosynthetic rate, and yield. The "smart canopy" model proposes more vertical leaves in the top plant layers and more horizontal leaves in the lower canopy, maximizing conversion efficiency and photosynthesis. Sorghum leaf arrangement is opposite to that proposed in the "smart canopy" model, indicating the need for improvement. Although leaf angle quantitative trait loci (QTL) have been previously reported, only the Dwarf3 (Dw3) auxin transporter gene, colocalizing with a major-effect QTL on chromosome 7, has been validated. Additionally, the genetic architecture of leaf angle across canopy layers remains to be elucidated.RESULTS: This study characterized the canopy-layer specific transcriptome of five sorghum genotypes using RNA sequencing. A set of 284 differentially expressed genes for at least one layer comparison (FDR 

Genetic Factors Behind Sorghum Leaf Angle Show Promise for Increasing Yield

Iowa State University - Plant Sciences Institute none given

Iowa State University - the R.F. Baker Center for Plant Breeding none given

U.S. Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research Service project 5030–21220-006-00D

United States Department of Agriculture - National Institute of Food and Agriculture IOW04314