Search Results (178)

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) is a major cereal in water-limited environments. Its C₄ carbon-concentrating pathway suppresses photorespiration and supports comparatively high photosynthetic and water-use efficiency at high temperature, although yield remains sensitive to the timing and intensity of drought. This systematic review critically evaluates how coordinated variation in phenology, canopy development, transpiration regulation, photosynthetic resilience and root-mediated water capture can be phenotyped for sorghum improvement. The review was conducted and reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 statement. Eligible primary studies examined sorghum drought physiology, sensing-based phenotyping, trait retrieval, root-associated water capture, or breeding applications. Following duplicate removal and title, abstract and full-text screening, 45 sorghum-specific studies were included. Owing to substantial heterogeneity in experimental design, drought treatment, sensing platform, target trait, and validation metric, evidence was synthesised narratively rather than by meta-analysis. We compare sorghum studies across Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), multi-spectral, hyperspectral, thermal, structural, and fluorescence sensing, with emphasis on reported accuracy, transferability and physiological interpretation. We then examine how PROSAIL (PROSPECT coupled with Scattering by Arbitrarily Inclined Leaves) and SCOPE (Soil Canopy Observation, Photochemistry and Energy Fluxes) can be constrained for sorghum canopies and combined with machine learning. The central contribution is a sorghum-specific framework that distinguishes directly observed or model-retrieved canopy traits from indirect root-function predictions requiring ground validation. The synthesis identifies practical routes for measuring functional stay-green, high-vapour-pressure-deficit responses and post-anthesis water capture, while defining priorities for cross-environment validation and breeding deployment. Full article

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor [L.] Moench) is a nutritious crop widely adapted to grow in arid and semi-arid agro-ecologies, supporting millions of households, and it has the potential to enhance soil health. However, extreme drought and heat stress conditions curtail its yield potential, requiring global efforts to develop drought-tolerant and agronomically superior cultivars. The objective of this paper was to quantitatively assess the impact of drought stress on sorghum genotypes for agronomic and yield-related traits, based on global breeding efforts for drought-tolerant varieties to guide current and future improvement programmes. The study involved a meta-analysis based on 30 selected research papers published around the world that reported on sorghum agronomic and yield-related traits under non-stress (NS) and drought stress (DS) conditions. Data were extracted for the following vital traits: days to 50% flowering (DTF), days to 50% maturity (DTM), plant height (PH), number of tillers (TN), panicle length (PL), panicle width (PW), shoot biomass (SB), root biomass (RB), root-to-shoot biomass ratio (RS), stay green (SG), and grain yield (GY). The sorghum genotypes reported with drought tolerance exhibited a mean GY value of 3.30 t ha⁻¹, ranging from 0.55 to 8.39 t ha⁻¹ under DS conditions. Under NS conditions, the mean GY was 4.38 t ha⁻¹, with the top genotype scoring a GY of 14.1 t ha⁻¹. Drought reduced TN and GY by 42.12% and 27.18%, followed by PW (25.52%) and SB (22.12%)—in that order. The forest plot analysis revealed that drought had a negative effect on the assessed traits, highlighting the need for developing drought-tolerant cultivars. The highest effect sizes were calculated for TN (−1.83), followed by PW (−1.69), and SB (−1.33), whereas PL (−0.1) had the lowest, suggesting that PW and SB are critical for selection in drought-tolerance breeding. Under DS conditions, GY exhibited positive correlations with RS (r = 0.63), RB (r = 0.50), SB (r = 0.27), DTM (r = 0.26), and SG (r = 0.21). The findings of this study could guide future breeding efforts to develop drought-tolerant sorghum varieties. Full article

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) is an important crop with remarkable tolerance to adverse environments, including nitrogen deficiency. To investigate the mechanisms underlying sorghum tolerance to low-nitrogen (LN) stress, we integrated phenotypic evaluation, transcriptome profiling, weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), and haplotype analysis. Two accessions, the LN-tolerant ‘Liaonian B-1’ and the LN-sensitive ‘Yikeerli’, were examined under hydroponic and field conditions. Under LN conditions, Liaonian B-1 showed increases of 32% in root length, 4.3-fold in root fresh weight, and 91% in root dry weight, whereas the LN-sensitive accession showed severe reductions in shoot biomass and a decrease in root fresh weight, with root dry weight remaining relatively stable. Transcriptomic analysis revealed more shared differentially expressed genes and stronger enrichment of N metabolism pathways in shoots, whereas roots showed enrichment of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter and fatty acid elongation pathways. WGCNA identified 500 hub genes in roots and shoots. Five genes in the glutamine synthetase/glutamate synthase (GS-GOGAT) pathway were significantly associated with nitrogen-related traits. SORBI_3001G116400, which encodes glutamate synthase, showed the strongest haplotype effect in 232 sorghum accessions. The A allele (Hap1) was significantly associated with increased plant height, SPAD value, grain number, nitrogen accumulation, and biomass under LN stress, suggesting that SORBI_3001G116400 as a candidate gene requiring functional validation and testing in additional genetic backgrounds. Full article

Forage sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) has excellent stress resistance and feeding quality. Lodging is one of the most critical factors influencing its yield and overall quality. However, there remains no definitive conclusion regarding the key indicators affecting the lodging of forage sorghum and their correlations. In this study, 149 forage sorghum lines, including 26 maintainer lines and 123 restorer lines, from the United States, China, and Japan were used to analyze the correlation between agronomic and mechanical properties at maturity. In addition, we selected forage sorghum with high, medium and low lignin content and observed the tissue sections, which further revealed the essence of lodging of forage sorghum from the microscopic point of view. Correlation analysis showed that lodging index (LI) was positively associated with plant height (PH), stem bending moment (SBM), lignin content (LC), stem center of gravity height (SGH), and fresh weight from the breaking point to the top of the panicle (FWP); lodging index was significantly negatively associated with breaking resistance (BR) and exhibited no significant correlation with stem diameter (SD) and lodging resistance of individual plant (LR). LI showed no significant association with BR and SD in the maintainer line subgroup, whereas LI was significantly negatively correlated only with BR and showed significant positive correlations with the other seven traits in the restorer line subgroup. Histological observation of the longitudinal section of the stem stained with Safranin O/Fast Green showed that the lodging resistance of sorghum could not be simply defined by the lignin content, and the structure of stem tissue played a more decisive role in determining the lodging resistance. Full article

Climate change is expected to increase the frequency and severity of drought events in Europe, necessitating the identification of more water-efficient cropping systems. This study compared the evapotranspiration dynamics, water-use efficiency, and yield performance of maize (Zea mays L.) and grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) under controlled field conditions using a Thornthwaite–Mather-type compensation evapotranspirometer. Three water regimes (100%, 50%, and 30% of optimal water supply) were applied during the reproductive stage, combined with weed-free and weed-infested treatments. Under moderate water deficit (50% water supply), grain sorghum maintained stable grain yield, while maize grain yield decreased by 17.98%. Under severe water deficit (30% water supply), grain yield reductions reached 36.04% in maize and 42.80% in sorghum. Grain sorghum consistently required less water and used 2.87–38.17% less water to produce 1 kg of grain compared to maize across treatments. Weed interference was associated with a lower yield and water-use efficiency in both species, while severe water deficit (70%) caused substantial declines in all measured parameters. Evapotranspiration was primarily driven by solar radiation and temperature, with reduced sensitivity under increasing water limitation. Overall, the results suggest that grain sorghum may represent a viable alternative to maize under moderate drought conditions; however, both crops require supplemental irrigation under severe water scarcity. The study highlights the importance of integrated weed management and provides novel insights into crop water-use dynamics under combined abiotic and biotic stress conditions. Full article

Photoperiod-sensitive sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) accumulates biomass and sugars during vegetative growth, making it a silage candidate where water limits maize production. This study examined how harvest date and nitrogen (N) rate affect its forage quality and in vitro rumen gas production under rain-fed conditions. In a randomized complete block design with three replications, we evaluated dry matter (DM) yield, morphology, and chemical composition of sweet sorghum harvested at 80 and 110 days after planting (DAP) under five N rates (0, 75, 150, 225, and 300 kg N/ha). Each treatment was ensiled in laboratory-scale bag silos for 90 days. Silage was analyzed for silage quality and 48-h in vitro rumen gas production and fermentation parameters. Delaying harvest from 80 to 110 DAP increased DM yield and fiber fractions (NDF, ADF, lignin), but reduced crude protein (CP), water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC), and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) in fresh forage (p < 0.001). Increasing the N rate up to 225 kg N/ha enhanced DM yield, CP, and WSC at both harvest dates. A harvest date × N rate interaction occurred for WSC (p < 0.05). After ensiling, CP and IVDMD were higher in 80-DAP silage. Butyric acid (BA) and ammonia-N (NH₃-N) increased with N rate, but at ≥225 kg N/ha both were lower in 80 DAP silage. The highest 48-h gas production (71.2 and 61.0 mL/200 mg DM) occurred in forage and silage from 110 DAP with 150 kg N/ha. Ruminal pH remained optimal range (6.2–6.8) across treatments. Harvest date and N rate interactively influence sweet sorghum silage quality and rumen fermentability. Under rain-fed conditions, 80 DAP with 225 kg N/ha optimizes silage quality, while 110 DAP with 150 kg N/ha maximizes rumen fermentation potential. These findings support sweet sorghum as a viable silage option where maize production is constrained by water availability. Full article

This study investigates the physiological trade-off between biomass yield and sugar concentration in five sweet sorghum genotypes to evaluate how carbon partitioning influences bioethanol potential. Field experiments were conducted over the 2019–2020 seasons in the East Marmara transitional zone of Türkiye, under irrigated and rain-fed regimes. Results revealed a highly significant genotype × water regime interaction (p < 0.001). A distinct trade-off was identified: while the hybrid ‘Teide’ maximized juice volume under irrigation (2427.67 L ha⁻¹), ‘Leoti’ maintained superior sugar stability (18.38 °Brix) under moisture deficit. Genotype plus Genotype × Environment Interaction (GGE) biplot analysis indicated that ‘Early Sumac’ provided the highest environmental buffering, balancing productivity and sugar density across water regimes. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) demonstrated that plant height (averaging 214.2 cm) was positively associated with juice yield and concentration. Under irrigation, ‘Teide’ produced the highest bioethanol yield (1690.7 L ha⁻¹), whereas ‘Nutrihang’ led output under rain-fed conditions. While these site-specific trends offer valuable insights into local bioenergy stability, further multi-location trials are necessary to confirm these patterns on a broader scale. The findings conclude that feedstock selection must be categorized by water availability to optimize sweet sorghum-based bioenergy systems in water-limited environments. Full article

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) is an essential food, forage, and bioenergy crop that plays an irreplaceable role in modern agricultural supply systems and daily life. However, the traditional cultivation varieties, characterized by tall stems, low planting density and large panicles, are incompatible with the requirements of modern intensive agriculture for high-density planting, mechanized harvesting, and efficient resource utilization. Therefore, cultivating an ideotype suitable for mechanized harvesting is the most urgent and practical need for sorghum breeding. This paper systematically reviews the key components of the sorghum ideotype and their physiological basis, focusing on traits such as canopy structure, stalk characteristics, panicle traits, and root systems. Then, the major genes and molecular mechanisms that regulate plant height, stem strength, leaf morphology, and panicle type are described in detail. Additionally, current breeding challenges, including gene pleiotropy, trade-offs among traits, narrow genetic diversity, and limitations in phenotypic identification techniques, are summarized. Finally, we propose modern breeding strategies involving multi-omics approaches, high-throughput phenotyping, gene editing, and computational modeling to advance sorghum breeding into the design era. This will enable the simultaneous improvement in light use efficiency, lodging resistance, and adaptation to mechanized production. Full article

Drought stress significantly constrains crop productivity and yield stability. Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench), a C4 cereal widely cultivated in arid and semi-arid regions, exhibits high water-use efficiency and remarkable drought tolerance. Understanding both the impacts of drought and the plant’s response mechanisms is essential for enhancing drought resilience in this crop. In this study, physiological changes and differential protein accumulation were analyzed in leaves of the sorghum inbred line BT × 623 under 10% PEG-6000-induced drought stress. The physiological adaptation to drought was characterized by improved water retention and mitigation of oxidative damage through the synergistic action of antioxidant enzymes. Using two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) and MALDI-TOF-TOF mass spectrometry, 43 protein spots were successfully identified, corresponding to 38 unique proteins differentially expressed under osmotic stress. These proteins function in diverse biological processes, including protein synthesis, processing, and degradation; photosynthesis; carbohydrate and energy metabolism; transcriptional regulation; stress and defense; lipid and membrane metabolism; and amino acid metabolism. Proteomic profiling revealed that the coordinated modulation of multiple functional groups, such as those involved in photosynthesis, energy metabolism, transcriptional adjustment, ROS scavenging, and protein turnover, underpins sorghum’s osmotic stress adaptation. These findings provide key insights into the drought resistance mechanisms of sorghum at both physiological and proteomic levels. Full article

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) is one of the most important cereal crops in Mexico due to its extensive cultivation and use in human nutrition, livestock production, and the biofuel industry. However, its productivity is severely affected by the sorghum aphid, Melanaphis sorghi Theobald, 1904 (Hemiptera: Aphididae), a major pest of this crop. Its control relies primarily on synthetic chemical insecticides, whose intensive use has led to environmental impacts and health risks, prompting the search for more sustainable alternatives. In this study, the insecticidal activity of root extracts from Bessera elegans was evaluated against apterous adults of M. sorghi using artificial diet bioassays at different concentrations and exposure times. Chemical characterization of the extracts and the active fraction was carried out using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The methanolic extract exhibited the lowest LC₅₀ value (2562 ppm), indicating the highest insecticidal potency, while the acetone extract achieved the highest maximum mortality (98%) at the highest tested concentration. Fractionation of the methanolic extract allowed the identification of fraction BeF1 as the most active, with 94% mortality at 1000 ppm. Chemical characterization indicated a predominance of polyphenolic secondary metabolites, mainly flavonoids and lignans. These results highlight the potential of B. elegans as a natural alternative for the integrated management of the sorghum aphid. Full article

Objectives: Peduncle length (PL) is a critical agronomic trait in sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench], influencing mechanical harvesting efficiency. Exploration of the PL genetic mechanism and the PL major genes of sorghum can provide a reference for breeding of sorghum suitable for mechanization and PL genetic research of other graminaceous crops. Methods: Here, we conducted genetic analysis, transcriptome analysis, and candidate major gene screening of PL using long-peduncle (KY133B) and short-peduncle (KY123B) parents, as well as their constructed F2 segregated populations. Results: Genetic analysis revealed that PL trait may be controlled by two major genes with additive-dominant effects, showing a heritability of 69.638%. At the early stage of sorghum peduncle elongation, the young panicle of the parents was sampled and performed transcriptome analysis. DEGs 3603 genes were obtained. With the short peduncle parent (F) as the control, 2204 upregulated genes and 1399 downregulated genes were expressed in the long peduncle parent (M). We compared the 1161 genes obtained by BSA-seq from the laboratory in the early stage with the DEGs obtained by RNA-seq, and obtained 148 co-localized genes. Through the high DEGs screening criteria (|Log₂FC(M/F)| ≥ 5, p < 0.0001), we further identified 36 genes with highly significant expression differences between parents. Functional annotation identified four candidate major genes strongly associated with PL: LOC8056900 (MIZU-KUSSEI 1), LOC8065075 (ethylene-responsive transcription factor WIN1), LOC8083493 (GDSL esterase/lipase), and LOC8085367 (auxin-responsive protein IAA21). qPCR validated their expression trends, corroborating RNA-seq results. Conclusions: The comprehensive information presented here provides a reference for understanding the PL mechanism of sorghum and provides some important candidate major genes related to PL. This study laid the foundation for subsequent gene functional verification and mechanism analysis of sorghum peduncle length major genes. Full article

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) is a climate-resilient cereal with significant potential as a functional food due to its distinctive polyphenolic profile, including rare 3-deoxyanthocyanidins (3-DXAs). Broader utilisation of sorghum is limited by low protein digestibility and the presence of anti-nutritional factors, such as condensed tannins and phytates. This review consolidates current evidence on germination as a bioprocessing strategy to address these limitations and enhance the bioactivity of sorghum polyphenols. Germination activates endogenous hydrolytic enzymes, such as phytases and esterases, and upregulates the phenylpropanoid pathway through phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, which promotes the release of cell wall-bound phenolic acids and the de novo synthesis of flavonoids. A “germination paradox” is identified, in which qualitative shifts toward lower-molecular-weight, more bioaccessible aglycones enhance antioxidant and anti-inflammatory efficacy, even when total phenolic content fluctuates. The review also examines the effects of germination on digestive release, transepithelial transport, and colonic microbial transformation of phenolics. Finally, genotype- and process-dependent optimisation windows, typically 48–72 h, are delineated to balance anti-nutrient reduction with phytochemical retention, providing a basis for the development of germinated sorghum-based functional foods and nutraceuticals. Full article

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) is a major cereal crop cultivated in semi-arid regions, but its yield is often constrained by soilborne fungal pathogens that affect plant growth and grain quality. This study explored how Trichoderma-based bioinoculants restructure the structure and functional composition of fungal communities in distinct sorghum compartments (soil, root, seed, and stem) using ITS amplicon sequencing. Two cultivars, Kalatur and Foehn, were evaluated under control and inoculated conditions. Alpha diversity indices revealed that inoculation reduced overall fungal richness and evenness, particularly in seed and stem tissues, while selectively enhancing beneficial taxa. Beta diversity analyses (PERMANOVA, p < 0.01) confirmed significant treatment-driven shifts in community composition. LEfSe analysis identified Trichoderma and Mortierella as biomarkers of inoculated samples, whereas Fusarium, Alternaria, and Penicillium predominated in controls. The enrichment of saprotrophic and symbiotrophic taxa in treated samples, coupled with the decline of pathogenic genera, indicates a transition toward functionally beneficial microbial assemblages. These results demonstrate that Trichoderma bioinoculants not only suppress fungal pathogens but also promote the establishment of beneficial ecological groups contributing to plant and soil health. The present work provides insight into the mechanisms through which microbial inoculants modulate host-associated fungal communities, supporting their use as sustainable tools for crop protection and microbiome management in sorghum-based agroecosystems. Full article

In the present context of climate changes, multipurpose and stress-resistant crops tend to be widely grown in areas with severe environmental conditions, such as drought and saline-alkali land. Due to its effective adaptation to high-temperature dry conditions, Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench is a highly resistant and versatile crop. Sorghum is cultivated as a grain, sweet stem, forage material, and broomcorn, and is a source of fuel, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and building materials. Sorghum could be part of an integrated circular economy due to its special manufacturing possibilities. Despite having plenty of beneficial properties, sorghum is not very popular all over the world. Thus, the main purpose of our study is to reveal its benefits and various manufacturing possibilities. Currently known more for being used as animal feed and for biofuel production, once popularized, sorghum could become an important vector of food security. The present study reviews the latest data, highlighting the potential of sorghum to develop new food products, noting the functional and health properties of sorghum in foods and the processing possibilities of sorghum-based products. Full article

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) is increasingly recognized as a sustainable crop due to its adaptability to challenging environmental conditions and its nutritional potential. The present study aimed to characterize the nutritional composition and native microbial species associated with three sorghum hybrids cultivated in Bulgaria. Crude protein was 9.37–10.42%, total carbohydrate content was between 87.4 and 89.6%, and crude fat content was in the range of 3.84–4.9%. Linoleic acid was the predominant fatty acid in all hybrids, accounting for 44.9% to 48.0% of total lipids. Quinic acid emerged as the dominant organic acid in all hybrids, with the highest concentration of 729.37 mg/100 g. The microbiological assessment focused on lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and yeasts. Microbial isolates were subjected to molecular identification through 16S rRNA gene and ITS region sequencing. The predominant LAB species included Levilactobacillus brevis, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, Lactiplantibacillus pentosus, Pediococcus acidilactici, and Pediococcus pentosaceus, while most of the yeast isolates belonged to Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Phylogenetic analysis indicated substantial intraspecies variation, particularly within LAB strains, suggesting the presence of unique genotypic traits. These findings contribute to a better understanding of sorghum’s nutritional value and endogenous microbiota and open opportunities for developing sorghum-based functional products. Full article