Sorghum Bicolor Research Articles

This research examines the influence of exogenous indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) on growth parameters and cadmium stress resistance in Sorghum bicolor (L. Moench). The plants were grown in pots, each filled with 4.5kg of sand. After 21days, root treatment with indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) was applied using five concentrations (0, 50, 100, 150, and 200µM) under three cadmium (Cd) levels (0, 40, and 80ppm). Applied Cadmium stress significantly reduced plant growth, with reductions in root length (12.73-15.88%), shoot length (17.60-19.25%), and plant height (10.62-14.88%). All growth parameters were improved with the application of 200µM IAA, increasing root length (20.25-28.25%), shoot length (35.68-45.68%), and plant height (20.37%). The highest level of cadmium stress (80ppm) was the most detrimental, while the 200µM IAA treatment produced the most favorable results. Under cadmium stress, IAA application reduced the uptake of Na+, K+, and Ca2+ ions by 7.69-9.52%, 3.70-7.31%, and 6.66-7.69%, respectively, as well as Cd2+ by 2.50-5.26%. Despite these reductions, IAA application significantly enhanced antioxidant activities, including catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and peroxidase (POD). At 200µM IAA, antioxidant enzyme activities were increased by 4.65% (SOD), 8.82% (POD), 10.06% (CAT), and 17.9% ascorbate peroxidase (APX). The treatment also boosted chlorophyll content (17.46-22.85%), while reducing oxidative stress markers such as H2O2 (29.4-40.8%) and malondialdehyde (38.9-42.1%). These findings suggest that IAA effectively mitigates cadmium-induced stress by improving growth parameters and physiological responses. Future research should explore the molecular mechanisms underlying IAA-mediated cadmium stress alleviation.

Stunting remains a pressing public health issue in Indonesia, with East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) recording a prevalence of 37% in 2024- nearly twice the national average. The challenge lies less in calorie deficiency and more in poor diet quality driven by limited dietary diversity. While Indonesia has reduced its national stunting rate to 19.8%, progress in high-burden provinces like NTT remains slow, hindered by inadequate resource allocation and continued reliance on water-intensive rice cultivation in a predominantly dry climate. Locally resilient crops such as sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) and moringa (Moringa oleifera) present viable solutions. Both crops thrive in semi-arid conditions and offer nutrient-dense alternatives to rice, addressing protein, iron, and vitamin A deficiencies that contribute to stunting. Recent studies in NTT show that sorghum- and moringa-based foods improve child growth indicators, demonstrating their potential as scalable interventions. Promoting diversified, locally rooted food systems can not only combat stunting but also reduce wasting and underweight, making food diversification a cornerstone of sustainable nutrition strategies in NTT.

Climate change poses a significant threat to crop production, particularly in tropical and semi-arid regions. Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench), a resilient C4 cereal, has high photosynthetic efficiency and abiotic stress tolerance, making it a key crop for food, fodder, and feed security. This study evaluated agronomic and physiological traits influencing the yield performance of 20 sorghum varieties under field conditions in Kerala, India. The data were analyzed using a randomized block design (RBD) in GRAPES software, and a principal component analysis was performed in R. Variety CSV 17 exhibited the highest grain yield (GY) (3760 kg ha−1) and harvest index (HI) (43), with early flowering, early maturity, a high chlorophyll content (CHL), and minimal nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium uptake. Conversely, CSV 20 produced the highest stover yield (22.5 t ha−1), associated with greater leaf thickness (LT), lower canopy temperature, taller plant height (PH), increased leaf number (LN), and extended maturity. Leaf temperature (Tleaf) was negatively correlated with the quantum yield of photosystem II (ΦPSII) and panicle length (PL), which were strong predictors of grain weight. The principal component analysis revealed that PC1 and PC2 explained 21% and 19% of the variation in the grain and stover yield, respectively. Hierarchical partitioning identified the potassium content (K%), CHL, Tleaf, leaf area index (LAI), ΦPSII, and LT as key contributors to the GY, while the SY was primarily influenced by the LN, nitrogen content (N%), maturity duration, PH, and ΦPSII. These findings highlight the potential of exploiting physiological traits for enhancing sorghum productivity under summer conditions in Kerala and similar environments.

Allelopathic effects of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) and nitrogen management on weed reduction and yield enhancement of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.)

In the present world, human fraternity looking for the production of quality food in a very sustainable way. The arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), the nature’s own biofertilizer, are one of the sustainable tools that aids in growth and development of plants. However, there are several limitations in obtaining large amount of inoculums. Therefore, a pot experiment was carried out under polyhouse pot conditions, to evaluate the efficacy of Valeriana wallichi residue as substrate with three host plant species viz. Sesbania aculeata, Sorghum bicolor and Zea mays on mass production of Glomus mosseae. The results in the present investigation showed that AM fungal endophyte was significantly influenced using different concentration of substrate with various host plant species utilized. Comparatively, maize was proved to be most suitable host as it increased mycorrhizal root colonization and spore population to a maximum level with 180gm. concentration of substrate. These findings present AM fungi as one of the most promising tools capable of reducing usage of hazard causing chemicals thereby playing an utterly important role in the direction of sustainable agriculute. The present study was done with an aim to enhance the production of AM fungi.

Sorghum is an important staple and commodity crop for West Africa, however, its production rarely meet demand. Due to its importance, efforts should focus on extension of sorghum production frontiers beyond the current ecological boundaries (the savannas of West Africa). Field experiments were conducted to evaluate the influence of sowing date on the performance of sorghum varieties in a rainforest zone of Nigeria. Sowing dates were: 15th July, 2nd and 20th August and 5th September, 2017 and 18th July, 5th and 17th August and 7th September, 2018 while sorghum varieties were Improved Deko, CSR-01, SK5912, 121 CKSV-180 and SAMSORG 17. Sowing dates were coded: SD1 (Mid July), SD2 (early August), and SD3 (mid August) and SD4 (early September) for each year experiment (2017 and 2018). Sowing dates differed in growing season lengths and weather conditions. Early maturing varieties (121 CKSV-180, CSR-01 and SAMSORG 17) gave highest yield gain for mid August and early September sowing dates while the late maturing varieties (SK 5912 and Improved Deko) gave highest grain yields for mid July, early and mid August sowing dates. SAMSORG 17 and Improved Deko produced heaviest grain yields and CSR-01, SK5912 the lowest. Early and mid August (SD2 and SD3) dates are the best sowing dates and SAMSORG 17 and Improved Deko are the best varieties in the rainforest zone of Nigeria. The study highlighted the relevance of sowing date and cultivar choice as location-specific management strategy for sustainable sorghum production in the rainforest zone of southern Nigeria.

Sorghum virgatum (Sv) is a wild subspecies of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor ssp. Verticilliflorum (L.) Moench). We employed Hi-C sequencing and HiFi technology in this study, successfully assembly a high-quality genome for Sv. This assembled genome is 795 Mb in total and scaffold N50 is 62.47 Mb. Within the Sv genome, 27,851 protein-coding genes were predicted. Repeat annotation detected 563.96 Mb of repetitive elements, making up 71.86% of the genome. This chromosome-level sv genome offers valuable insights to support comparative genomic studies within the Poaceae family, and it will aid genome-driven breeding and germplasm enhancement for modern sorghum.

The effect of the cadmium-resistant rhizobacterium Bacillus sp. Sn14 on the physiological and biochemical parameters of Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench. under cadmium stress was studied. We assessed the effects of heavy metal and bacterization on dry biomass production, photosynthetic pigment content, plant antioxidant enzyme activity (catalase, superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and glutathione-S-transferase), and cadmium accumulation in sorghum plants. The effect of cadmium was manifested by the inhibition of plant growth, decrease in the content of photosynthetic pigments, and increase in the protein content and activity of antioxidant enzymes in shoots, but not in roots. Bacterization of plants with the Bacillus sp. Sn14 strain contributed to overcoming cadmium stress by the plant: an increase in sorghum root biomass, protein, and photosynthetic pigments content was observed. The rhizobacterium Bacillus sp. Sn14 enhanced the phytoaccumulation of cadmium, increasing its translocation from roots to shoots by 63%, which led to an increase in the purification of soil by bacterized plants up to 31% compared to non-bacterized plants (9%). Thus, the use of the Bacillus sp. Sn14 strain to reduce the phytotoxic effect of cadmium and enhance its phytoaccumulation by sorghum was demonstrated.

In this study,carried out to evaluate the gastrointestinal tolerance of the aqueous extract of Sorghum bicolor leaf sheath used in the treatment of anemia in Côte d'Ivoire. An aqueous extract of whole Sorghum bicolor seeds was prepared using cold maceration method. Segments of rabbit duodenum were used for the experiment. Aqueous extracts of Sorghum bicolor induce a dose-dependent reduction in duodenal muscle contractions. Aqueous extracts of Sorghum bicolor inhibit acetylcholine-induced tonic concentrations by 94% at a concentration of 1000 µg/mL. The aqueous extract of Sorghum. bicolor had intestinal muscle relaxant properties. These results support its pharmacological potential as an antispasmodic agent.

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench), the world’s fifth most economically important cereal crop, is renowned for its exceptional drought tolerance and water-use efficiency. Hybrid breeding, a cornerstone strategy for yield enhancement through the exploitation of heterosis, has been extensively employed in sorghum improvement. Despite its agricultural importance, the molecular mechanisms driving heterosis remain largely unresolved. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted whole-genome resequencing of two elite parental lines, AJ2055 and RN133, which have contributed to the development of over 30 commercial hybrids. Our objectives were to delineate genomic variations associated with heterosis performance and elucidate their functional implications in yield-related traits. Genomic analyses revealed substantial divergence between the two parental lines: AJ2055 harbored 2,961,777 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and 474,247 insertions and deletions (InDels), whereas RN133 exhibited 54,724 structural variations (SVs) and 36,515 copy number variations (CNVs). Chromosomes 5 and 10 showed the highest SNP densities, with distinct spatial distribution patterns distinguishing the two lines. Notably, RN133 exhibited a broader and more diverse array of genetic variations compared to AJ2055, potentially underlying its superior performance in hybrid combinations. Functional annotation of the variant genes revealed their involvement in essential metabolic pathways, including carbon metabolism, starch and sucrose metabolism, and hormone signaling-related pathways. Key genes encoding enzymes such as phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase, 1,4-alpha-glucan-branching enzyme, and cytochrome P450 were found to harbor non-synonymous mutations, potentially influencing yield-related traits and stress adaptation. These findings provide valuable insights into the genetic basis of heterosis and lay a foundation for the development of molecular markers for sorghum breeding. In conclusion, this study highlights the distinct patterns of genomic variation between AJ2055 and RN133 and their potential candidate genes and pathways involved in heterosis. The identification of yield-related genes and pathways offers a theoretical basis for future research on sorghum genetic improvement and hybrid breeding. Through the integration of multi-omics approaches and advanced breeding technologies, these findings will contribute to the development of high-yielding sorghum varieties.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1038/s41598-025-18320-3.

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) is a climate-resilient C4 cereal and a vital pillar of food and feed security in arid and semi-arid regions worldwide. In China, the development and widespread adoption of hybrid sorghum breeding have revolutionized the crop's productivity, playing a transformative role in enhancing both yield and quality. The success of hybrid sorghum, particularly through the utilization of cytoplasmic male-sterility (CMS) systems, has marked a milestone in agricultural innovation, enabling the large-scale production of high-performing hybrids. The implementation of dwarf breeding and the continuous renewals of sorghum hybrid varieties have been pivotal in driving these improvements. As we commemorate the 60th anniversary of the promotion and application of three-line hybrid sorghum, we recognize the groundbreaking contributions of Chinese researchers in advancing sorghum breeding science. This review highlights key scientific breakthroughs and systematically summarizes the evolution of sorghum breeding in China. By reflecting on both past achievements and prospective opportunities, we aim to inform strategies that will sustain and enhance sorghum's contribution to China's agricultural resilience and global food security.

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) serves as a critical staple cereal, forage crop, and primary raw material for baijiu (Chinese distilled spirits) production and vinegar fermentation. In this study, we performed comprehensive untargeted metabolomic profiling on widely cultivated sorghum accessions exhibiting diverse grain color phenotypes, followed by in-depth characterization of their metabolic signatures. The results demonstrated significant inter-accession variability in metabolite composition, with GL18 showing the most pronounced accumulation of metabolites within the phenylpropanoids and polyketides class. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis revealed substantial divergence in flavonoid biosynthetic pathways among accessions, particularly in the biosynthesis of naringenin, delphinidin, cyanidin, and pelargonidin 3-glucoside—key pigments correlated with grain color variations. Metabolite profiling further identified distinct accumulation patterns of flavor precursors (e.g., β-phenylethanol precursors), amino acids (e.g., tryptophan, L-leucine), and glycosides (e.g., L-rhamnofuranose) that significantly influence baijiu sensory quality attributes. For vinegar fermentation, significant inter-accession differences were observed in carbohydrate (sucrose, mannitol), amino acid (L-proline, arginine), and organic acid (lactic acid, quinic acid) accumulation profiles, which correlated with fermentation efficiency and final product quality. This study provides novel insights into the metabolic basis of sorghum grain color diversity and highlights the potential for tailored sorghum accessions to enhance the quality and diversity of baijiu and vinegar products, thereby contributing to the optimization of crop quality and agricultural resource efficiency.

Photosynthesis induction varies along the canopies of Zea mays and Sorghum bicolor: linking fast responses and non-photochemical quenching relaxation to biomass production.

Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is a vital cereal crop in semi-arid regions, but its productivity is often limited by water scarcity and inefficient nitrogen (N) management. While previous studies have explored the individual effects of irrigation and N application, limited research has examined their combined influence on sorghum growth, phenology, and yield. This study aimed to assess the impacts of four irrigation levels (0, 75, 100, and 125% of irrigation as I0, I75, I100, and I125) and four N application rates (0, 90, 180, and 360 kg N ha−1 as N0, N90, N180, and N360) on sorghum performance to identify optimal water and nutrient management strategies. A field experiment was conducted over two growing seasons, measuring plant height, number of leaves, panicle length, flowering percentage, visual maturity rating, biomass, and grain yield using a split-plot design, with irrigation as the main factor and N rates as subplots with three replications. Key findings revealed that irrigation and N application significantly influenced plant height, number of leaves, panicle length, biomass, and grain yield. The highest plant height (58.06 cm), number of leaves (10.25), and panicle length (26.60 cm) were observed under I125. Compared to the I0 treatment, the increase in visual maturity rating in I75 and I100 was 64.91% and 249.70%, respectively. The highest biomass (3.25 t/ha) was observed for treatment I125, while the highest grain yield (2.40 t/ha) was for I100. Compared to N0, treatments N90, N180, and N360 increased grain yield by 64.8, 66.4, and 81.6%, respectively. The Pearson correlation analysis revealed significant positive relationships among key crop growth, phenology, and yield traits. The maturity rating correlated highest with flowering percentage (0.76). The response to N application was more pronounced under well-watered conditions, with the steepest grain yield increase observed under N360. In water-limited conditions, higher N rates did not improve yield. Based on these results, applying irrigation at 100% of the crop water requirement and at least 180 kg N ha−1 is recommended to enhance sorghum resilience, resource-use efficiency, and sustainable production, particularly in water-scarce regions.

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) is a prominent cereal known for its high photosynthetic efficiency and biomass production, serving as a source of food, animal feed, fiber, and biofuels. This study aims to validate identified meta-genes associated with drought stress in sorghum. Two cultivars, Mansour (drought-tolerant) and Pegah (drought-susceptible), were subjected to drought stress at four levels (25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% of field capacity [FC]( During the 4-5 leaf stage in a greenhouse in 2021. The physiological and molecular responses of the sorghum samples were evaluated at 24, 48, 72, and 96h post-treatment. The expression of five meta-genes was analyzed to validate these candidate genes related to drought stress tolerance in sorghum. Analysis of variance indicated that the main effects of drought, cultivar, and sampling time, as well as their interactions, had highly significant effects (P < 0.01) on most physiological and biochemical traits. The relative expression of the genes SORBI_3002G225100, SORBI_3003G332200, SORBI_3003G368300, SORBI_3010G081800, and SORBI_3004G293500 increased over time under drought stress. Proline levels, ion leakage, soluble sugars, and the activities of catalase, peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase enzymes increased with the intensity of drought stress and over time. Conversely, the levels of chlorophyll a and b, carotenoids, RWC, leaf surface area, and protein content decreased under drought conditions. These results confirm the relevance of these genes in conferring drought stress tolerance in sorghum. This research provides new finding into the physiological processes and biochemical activities, alongside the validation of meta-gene expression involved in drought stress, further advancing our understanding of molecular mechanisms of the reaction of sorghum to drought stress.

Abstract Understanding the genetic control of biomass yield and phenolic composition in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) is crucial for optimizing bioenergy and biomaterial applications. We analyzed publicly available phenotypic and genotypic (192,040 SNPs) data from a diverse panel of 96 sorghum genotypes, including radiation-induced mutants. We compared single-SNP linear regression (RS) with machine learning (ML) models (Bootstrap Forest, BF; Boosted Tree, BT) to identify SNPs associated with four agronomic traits and seven phenolic compound measurements. RS analysis yielded significant SNPs (FDR &lt; 0.01) only for luteolinidin diglucoside. Conversely, the ML models prioritized numerous SNPs across most traits based on importance scores. To understand the collective biological function of these loci, a Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis was performed. This functional analysis revealed a novel and consistent enrichment for processes related to transposable element (TE) activity, such as DNA replication and modification, across both agronomic and phenolic traits. This suggests that TE-induced variation, likely activated by mutagenesis, is a major source of the observed phenotypes in this population. We hypothesize that ML models excel at identifying the complex genetic signals of TE-mediated effects that are often missed by conventional linear models. Integrating ML-based SNP importance ranking with functional genomics offers a promising strategy for refining and identifying novel candidate loci. These findings not only provide a valuable set of candidates for functional validation and targeted breeding efforts but also highlight the critical role of TEs in generating agronomically important variation in mutagenized germplasm.

IntroductionCOBRA-Like (CBL) genes encode glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) -anchored proteins specific to plants that play important roles in cellulose biosynthesis in primary and secondary cell walls.MethodsThis study used a bioinformatics approach to characterize the CBL family genes in Sorghum bicolor (S. bicolor) at the genome-wide level to investigate their potential functions in S. bicolor development.ResultsThe results revealed the identification of 10 CBL genes in the BTx623 and E048 S. bicolor genomes, respectively. A comparative analysis of conserved Motifs revealed that all CBL family genes in S. bicolor possess CCVS conserved structural domains. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the family can be divided into two subfamilies, with genes within each subfamily exhibiting similar gene structures and physicochemical properties. Whole Genome Duplication (WGD) played an important role in the expansion of SbCBL gene family. The tissue-specific expression patterns of SbCBL genes suggest varying expression levels across different organs and tissues in S. bicolor, with SbCBL1, SbCBL5, and SbCBL9 showing significantly higher expression levels in roots. PEG and NaCl treatments significantly affected SbCBL expression levels. SbCBL4 expression increased after PEG treatment, while SbCBL9 expression decreased after NaCl treatment.ConclusionsOverall, this study provides new insights into the role of the CBL gene family in S. bicolor.

Insights into metabolic profile and redox adjustment during ammonium-induced salt acclimation in sorghum plants.

This experiment aims to determine the effect of spacing and nitrogen fertilizer on the growth and yield of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) Samurai 2 variety. The experiment was carried out in Mekarjaya Village, Gantar District, Indramayu Regency - West Java. The time of the research was carried out from July to November 2021. The location is located at an altitude of 493 m above sea level (asl), the soil type is the association of Latosol and Regosol, including type C rain (slightly wet). The experimental method used is the experimental method with a factorial randomized block design (RAK), the treatment consists of two factors, repeated three times. The first factor is nitrogen fertilizer which consists of three levels, namely 100 tons/ha nitrogen fertilizer, 150 tons/ha nitrogen fertilizer, and 200 tons/ha nitrogen fertilizer. While the second factor is the spacing which consists of three levels, namely the spacing of 25 cm x 40 cm, the spacing of 25 cm x 50 cm, and the spacing of 25 cm x 60 cm. The main observation data were processed using linear model statistical tests, analysis of variance, and Scott-knot cluster further test analysis. To determine the correlation between the treatment with the components of growth and yield of sorghum, the correlation used is the Product Moment correlation coefficient. 1 The experimental results showed: (1) The combination of plant spacing and nitrogen fertilizer had an effect on leaf area index at 28 HST, 35 HST and 42 HST, and panicle length, but had no significant effect on plant height, number of leaves, stem diameter, root volume, number of panicles per clump, panicle weight per clump, 1000 seed weight, seed weight per clump and dry seed weight per plot, (2) The highest seed weight per plot was produced by the combination of treatment G, namely 25cm x 60 cm spacing and 100 kg urea fertilizer with an average The average weight was 3.79 kg (equivalent to 6.314 tons/ha), but it was not significantly different from the other treatment combinations, (3) There was a significant correlation between plant height at 42 HST and seed weight per plot in the tall category. However, there was no significant correlation between plant height at 28 HST (very low category) and 35 HST (low category) and the number of leaves at 28 HST (very low category), 35 HST (very low category) and 42 HST (very low category). low category) with dry seed weight per plot

The growing awareness of celiac disease and gluten sensitivities has generated interest in gluten-free products. Whole sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) is an excellent source of nutrients and is gluten-free. However, the absence of gluten makes it technologically challenging to produce leavened products. This research aims to utilize a response surface methodology to optimize the specific loaf volume and crumb firmness of a whole sorghum-based gluten-free bread formulation, evaluating different levels of milk powder, egg white, yeast, sugar, psyllium husk powder, xanthan gum, and soy lecithin. The models fit achieved an . The optimized formulation increased the specific loaf volume from 1.7 to 2.8 cm3 g−1 and decreased crumb firmness from 10.6 to 3.7 N compared to the initial gluten-free bread formulation (C1). Egg white, milk powder, and psyllium contribute to the formation of a gluten-like network, which enables gas retention, dough expansion, and volume increase. In addition, soy lecithin, among hydrocolloids, enhances dough stability and moisture retention, resulting in a softer crumb. Sensory evaluation indicated good consumer acceptability (average score of 7 on a 9-point hedonic scale), particularly for texture and flavor. These findings suggest that optimal formulation of sorghum achieves both technological and sensory properties, supporting its potential as a viable gluten-free bread alternative.