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.
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.
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.
Recent genomic studies highlight the higher diversity and specialized regulatory adaptations of photosynthetic genes in C4 plants like sorghum and foxtail millet, compared to CAM plants, providing insights for improving crop resilience and productivity.
Researchers demonstrated how coupling EMS mutagenesis with sequencing accelerates gene identification and validation in sorghum, revealing a conserved bHLH transcription factor essential for male fertility and highlighting broader applications for crop improvement and functional genomics.
Developing carotenoid-rich sorghum varieties using grain color as a proxy for carotenoid levels, combined with marker-assisted selection, offers a promising strategy to combat vitamin A deficiency in vulnerable populations.
Scientists researched how phenotypic plasticity in sorghum’s flowering time and plant height, driven by genetic loci and environmental factors like temperature, can be leveraged for predicting crop performance and improving adaptation to diverse and changing environments.
