Sorghum Bicolor Research Articles

Co-application of biochars and Piriformospora indica improved the quality of coastal saline soil and promoted the growth of forage.

Soil quality is defined as the ability of soil to maintain the soil environment and the biosphere. Due to the limitation of salt and alkali stress, soil quality can be reduced, which in turn affects agricultural production. Biochar is widely used in saline-alkali land improvement because of its special pore structure and strong ion exchange ability, while Piriformospora indica is widely used in saline-alkali land improvement because it can symbiose with plants and improve plant stress resistance. However, the synergistic effect of combined biochar application and inoculation of P. indica on the quality of saline-alkali soil and plant development is uncertain. Hence, we investigated the combined influences of biochar and P. indica on the soil physicochemical characteristics, as well as the growth and chlorophyll florescence of sorghum-sudangrass hybrids (Sorghum bicolor × Sorghum sudane) in our study. The results indicated that after applying biochar and P. indica together, there was a considerable drop in soil pH, conductivity, Na+, and Cl- concentrations. Meanwhile, the soil organic matter (SOM), available phosphorus (AP), and alkaline hydrolyzable nitrogen (AN) increased by 151.81%, 50.84%, and 103.50%, respectively, when the Bamboo biochar was combined with 120 ml/pot of P. indica. Eventually, sorghum-sudangrass hybrid biomass, transpiration rate, and chlorophyll content increased by 111.69%, 204.98%, and 118.54%, respectively. According to our findings, using P. indica and biochar together can enhance soil quality and plant growth. The results also provide insights to enhance the quality of saline-alkali soils and the role of microorganisms in nutrient cycling.

Comparative analyses suggest a link between mRNA splicing, stability, and RNA covalent modifications in flowering plants

BackgroundIn recent years, covalent modifications on RNA nucleotides have emerged as pivotal moieties influencing the structure, function, and regulatory processes of RNA Polymerase II transcripts such as mRNAs and lncRNAs. However, our understanding of their biological roles and whether these roles are conserved across eukaryotes remains limited.ResultsIn this study, we leveraged standard polyadenylation-enriched RNA-sequencing data to identify and characterize RNA modifications that introduce base-pairing errors into cDNA reads. Our investigation incorporated data from three Poaceae (Zea mays, Sorghum bicolor, and Setaria italica), as well as publicly available data from a range of stress and genetic contexts in Sorghum and Arabidopsis thaliana. We uncovered a strong enrichment of RNA covalent modifications (RCMs) deposited on a conserved core set of nuclear mRNAs involved in photosynthesis and translation across these species. However, the cohort of modified transcripts changed based on environmental context and developmental program, a pattern that was also conserved across flowering plants. We determined that RCMs can partly explain accession-level differences in drought tolerance in Sorghum, with stress-associated genes receiving a higher level of RCMs in a drought tolerant accession. To address function, we determined that RCMs are significantly enriched near exon junctions within coding regions, suggesting an association with splicing. Intriguingly, we found that these base-pair disrupting RCMs are associated with stable mRNAs, are highly correlated with protein abundance, and thus likely associated with facilitating translation.ConclusionsOur data point to a conserved role for RCMs in mRNA stability and translation across the flowering plant lineage.

Nonphotochemical quenching kinetics GWAS in sorghum identifies genes that may play conserved roles in maize and Arabidopsis thaliana photoprotection.

Photosynthetic organisms must cope with rapid fluctuations in light intensity. Nonphotochemical quenching (NPQ) enables the dissipation of excess light energy as heat under high light conditions, whereas its relaxation under low light maximizes photosynthetic productivity. We quantified variation in NPQ kinetics across a large sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) association panel in four environments, uncovering significant genetic control for NPQ. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) confidently identified three unique regions in the sorghum genome associated with NPQ and suggestive associations in an additional 61 regions. We detected strong signals from the sorghum ortholog of Arabidopsis thaliana Suppressor Of Variegation 3 (SVR3) involved in plastid-nucleus signaling. By integrating GWAS results for NPQ across maize (Zea mays) and sorghum-association panels, we identified a second gene, Non-yellowing 1 (NYE1), originally studied by Gregor Mendel in pea (Pisum sativum) and involved in the degradation of photosynthetic pigments in light-harvesting complexes. Analysis of nye1 insertion alleles in A. thaliana confirmed the effect of this gene on NPQ kinetics in eudicots. We extended our comparative genomics GWAS framework across the entire maize and sorghum genomes, identifying four additional loci involved in NPQ kinetics. These results provide a baseline for increasing the accuracy and speed of candidate gene identification for GWAS in species with high linkage disequilibrium.

Local signal from Trichoderma afroharzianum T22 induces host transcriptome and endophytic microbiome leading to growth promotion in sorghum.

Trichoderma, a highly abundant soil fungus, may benefit plants, yet it remains understudied in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor). In this study, sorghum plants were cultivated for five weeks in soil pots with or without the inoculation of T. afroharzianum T22. We found that plants inoculated with T. afroharzianum T22 exhibited significant increases in growth parameters and nutrient levels, demonstrating its beneficial role in sorghum. The split-root assay demonstrated that T. afroharzianum T22 is essential in both compartments of soil pots for promoting plant growth. This suggests that local signals from this fungus drive symbiotic benefits in sorghum. The RNA-seq analysis revealed the induction of genes responsible for mineral transport (such as nitrate and aquaporin transporters), auxin response, sugar assimilation (hexokinase), and disease resistance (thaumatin) in the roots of sorghum inoculated with T. afroharzianum T22. Microbial community analysis further unveiled the positive role of T. afroharzianum T22 in enriching Penicillium (ITS) and Streptomyces (16S) while reducing disease-causing Fusarium in the roots. The microbial consortium, consisting of enriched microbiomes from bacterial and fungal communities, showed disrupted morphological features in plants inoculated with T. afroharzianum T22 in the absence of S. griseus. However, this disruption was not observed in the absence of P. chrysogenum. These results suggest that S. griseus may act as a helper microbe in close association with T. afroharzianum T22 in the sorghum endosphere. This study provides the first comprehensive explanation of how T. afroharzianum T22 modulates host molecular determinants and endophytic helper microbes, thereby collectively promoting sorghum growth. These findings may encourage the formulation of a synthetic inoculum dominated by T. afroharzianum T22 to enhance growth and stress resilience in sorghum and other similar crops.

Adoption of the Improved Sorghum Variety (Melkame) in the West Hararghe, Mieso District

Sorghum bicolor, also known as sorghum, is a type of grass that is grown for its grain. This grain is used for various purposes, such as human consumption, animal feed, and ethanol production. The study aims to identify the factors that influence the adoption of the Melkam sorghum variety in the Mieso district by collecting primary data from 160 randomly selected respondents through a structured questionnaire. Econometric models were then employed to analyze the relationship and determine the adoption factors of the Melkam Sorghum variety using STATA 13 software. The study utilized frequencies, percentages, correlation, and regression to analyze the data. The findings indicated that the use of improved sorghum (Melkam) resulted in a positive correlation with the availability of an active working labor force in the household. Farmers were more inclined to adopt new technologies when they frequently interacted with extension agents. The size of the family and the frequency of contact with extension agents significantly influenced farmers' decisions to adopt the improved sorghum (Melkam) variety (t = 5.07, P>0.005) and (t = 6.73, P>0.005) at 1 percent, respectively. The study recommends that the government should increase their contact with farmers to at least once a month through extension agents to promote the adoption of improved sorghum (Melkam). Therefore, to improve communication with farmers, extension agents should utilize local community organizations and effective traditional knowledge-sharing methods in conjunction with modern extension systems. It is recommended that extension agents prioritize households with larger family sizes as potential adopters of new technologies, while also paying special attention to households with smaller family sizes.

Adoption of the Improved Sorghum Variety (Melkame) in the West Hararghe, Mieso District

Sorghum bicolor, also known as sorghum, is a type of grass that is grown for its grain. This grain is used for various purposes, such as human consumption, animal feed, and ethanol production. The study aims to identify the factors that influence the adoption of the Melkam sorghum variety in the Mieso district by collecting primary data from 160 randomly selected respondents through a structured questionnaire. Econometric models were then employed to analyze the relationship and determine the adoption factors of the Melkam Sorghum variety using STATA 13 software. The study utilized frequencies, percentages, correlation, and regression to analyze the data. The findings indicated that the use of improved sorghum (Melkam) resulted in a positive correlation with the availability of an active working labor force in the household. Farmers were more inclined to adopt new technologies when they frequently interacted with extension agents. The size of the family and the frequency of contact with extension agents significantly influenced farmers' decisions to adopt the improved sorghum (Melkam) variety (t = 5.07, P>0.005) and (t = 6.73, P>0.005) at 1 percent, respectively. The study recommends that the government should increase their contact with farmers to at least once a month through extension agents to promote the adoption of improved sorghum (Melkam). Therefore, to improve communication with farmers, extension agents should utilize local community organizations and effective traditional knowledge-sharing methods in conjunction with modern extension systems. It is recommended that extension agents prioritize households with larger family sizes as potential adopters of new technologies, while also paying special attention to households with smaller family sizes.

Genetic diversity among Ethiopian sweet sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] accessions using simple sequence repeat markers

Sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) is the only grain and stalk crop that can be used for multipurpose. Despite its global significance and potential, it faced genetic erosion. These are due to low productivity and lower farmers' preferences, which is not considered one of the most important cereal crops in Ethiopia. To utilize and popularize these crops, understanding the genetic diversity and population structure is a pre-request. Therefore, this study was aimed to assess the genetic diversity and population structure of selected 82 Ethiopian sweet sorghum accessions using 10 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers that represent seven geographic regions of Ethiopia. The study revealed a total of 116 alleles with a mean of 11.6 alleles per locus. All used microsatellite loci were highly polymorphic with polymorphic information content (PIC) ranging from 0.75 to 0.90 with an average of 0.82. They showed high gene diversity ranging from 0.59 to 0.81 with an overall mean of 0.70. There was a moderate genetic differentiation (FST = 0.21) showing the presence of high gene flow (Nm = 5.033) where 91 % of the total variation was accounted for within populations genetic variability. The clustering, principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) and population structure did not cluster the studied populations into a separate group according to their geographical origin. In conclusion, the highest intra-population diversity was observed among populations of North Wollo (He = 0.81) and South Wollo (He = 0.79), and hence these areas can be considered as hot spots for the identification of novel traits. Therefore, the present study has generated baseline information for breeders to improve Ethiopian sweet sorghum through breeding, management, and conservation of the available genetic resources.

Tracking the changes and bioaccessibility of phenolic compounds of sorghum grains (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) upon germination and seedling growth by UHPLC-QTOF-MS/MS

In this study, phenolic profile/content was analyzed by high-resolution untargeted metabolomics after short germination (72 h) and seedling growth (144 h), using three sorghum genotypes varying in tannin content (IS 29569, Macia and IS 30400). In vitro antioxidant capacity and phenolic bioaccessibility were determined by microplate-based and INFOGEST methods, respectively. A total of 58 % annotated compounds were found in all genotypes; and phenolic acids and flavonoids represent more than 80 % of sorghum total abundance. PCA analysis showed higher phenolic variability in germination times (72 %) than genotypes (51 %). Germination reduced total ion abundance (−7 %) and free:bound phenolic compounds ratio (2.4–1.1), but antioxidant capacity remained constant. These results indicate the cell matrix-phenolic decomplexation, with the free compounds were quickly consumed after radicle emergence. Germination increased phenolic bioaccessibility (mainly in oral phase) but reduces flavonoids contents in gastric/intestinal digestion steps. This work can stimulate seed germination as a viable option for sorghum-based foods development, with improved nutritional and bioactive properties.

Effects of salt stress on germination, seedling growth, and ion content of sweet sorghum

Salinity is one of the most common abiotic stresses in the world. It negatively affects the growth and development of sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench). It significantly reduces germination and seedling growth parameters. The present study was carried out to evaluate the impact of four salinity levels (0, 100, 200, and 300 mM) on the germination and seedling growth parameters of four sweet sorghum genotypes (Erdurmus, Uzun, Srg 156, and BSS 424) and on their ion content (Na, K, Ca, and Mg). The results indicate that under nonsaline conditions, the germination percentage (GP) of all genotypes was 100%, and Erdurmus was identified as the earliest germinating genotype. The BSS 424 genotype showed a significant reduction in germination index (GI), ranging from 8.33% at 100 mM to 0.89% at 300 mM, while Erdurmus and Srg 156 showed the lowest decreases, with mean values of 15.801 and 13.901, respectively. The highest root fresh weight (RFW) value was observed in the control for all the genotypes, while Erdurmus showed the lowest decrease. Moreover, the highest decrease in Mg (0.24%) and Ca (0.17%) content was observed in Uzun, and the lowest K content was identified in BSS 424 (0.5%), whereas the highest Na content was also determined in Uzun (3.12%). Considering all the results, salt stress above 200 mM significantly affected the germination and seedling growth parameters. Therefore, lower concentrations should be taken into consideration for sustainable sorghum production.

Genetic variation and association of yield, yield components, and carbon storage in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor [L.] Moench) genotypes

Trait heritability and the response to selection depend on genetic variation, a prerequisite to developing sorghum varieties with desirable agronomic traits and high carbon sequestration for sustainable crop production and soil health. The present study aimed to assess the extent of genetic variability and associations among agronomic and carbon storage traits in selected sorghum genotypes to identify the best candidates for production or breeding. Fifty genotypes were evaluated at Ukulinga, Bethlehem and Silverton sites in South Africa during the 2022/23 growing season. The following agronomic and carbon storage traits were collected: days to 50% heading (DTH), days to 50% maturity (DTM), plant height (PH), total plant biomass (PB), shoot biomass (SB), root biomass (RB), root-to-shoot biomass ratio (RS), grain yield (GY), harvest index (HI), shoot carbon content (SCc), root carbon content (RCc), grain carbon content (GCc), total plant carbon stock (PCs), shoot carbon stock (SCs), root carbon stock (RCs), and root-to-shoot carbon stock ratio (RCs/SCs), and grain carbon stock (GCs). Higher genotypic coefficient of variations (GCVs) were recorded for GY at 45.92%, RB (39.24%), RCs/SCs (38.45), and RCs (34.62). Higher phenotypic coefficient of variations (PCVs) were recorded for PH (68.91%), followed by GY (51.8%), RB (50.51%), RS (41.96%), RCs/SCs (44.90%), and GCs (41.90%). High broad-sense heritability and genetic advance were recorded for HI (83.76 and 24.53%), GY (78.59 and 9.98%), PB (74.14 and 13.18%) and PCs (53.63 and 37.57%), respectively, suggesting a marked genetic contribution to the traits. Grain yield exhibited positive association with HI (r = 0.76; r = 0.79), DTH (r = 0.13; r = 0.31), PH (r = 0.1; r = 0.27), PB (r = 0.01; r = 0.02), RB (r = 0.05; r = 0.06) based on genotypic and phenotypic correlations, respectively. Further, the path analysis revealed significant positive direct effects of SB (0.607) and RB (0.456) on GY. The RS exerted a positive and significant indirect effect (0.229) on grain yield through SB. The study revealed that PB, SB, RB, RS, RCs, and RCs/SCs are the principal traits when selecting sorghum genotypes with high yield and carbon storage capacity.

Effect of neem cake manure and foliar application of nano-urea on growth and yield of grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.)

Effect of neem cake manure and foliar application of nano-urea on growth and yield of grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.)

Exploring the impact of cover crops in integrated pest management: pest and natural enemies population dynamics in no-tillage cotton production.

Conservation agriculture plays an important role in the sustainability of production systems, notably for globally significant crops such as cotton. This study explores the integration of the no-tillage system (NTS) with integrated pest management (IPM) by incorporating cover crops. The aim is to assess the impact of these living or dead covers on the management of insect populations, the indices diversity of phytophagous insects and natural enemies, and to investigate the population fluctuation of these arthropods, considering a variety of crops in the NTS before and after cotton planting. The trial, conducted over two consecutive cropping seasons in Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil, employed a randomised block design with four repetitions. The treatments included cover crops with the highest potential for use in the region, such as millet (Pennisetum glaucum glaucum L.), corn (Zea mays L.), brachiaria (Urochloa ruziziensis), black velvet bean (Stizolobium aterrimum), forage sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.), and white oats (Avena sativa L.) and a mix of white oats with brachiaria. The results indicated that the black velvet bean stands out as the most effective cover crop, providing the best performance in terms of non-preference to the attack of the evaluated pest insects. Conversely, brachiaria proves to be more susceptible to infestations of Dalbulus maidis (DeLong and Wolcott) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), and Diabrotica speciosa (Germar, 1824) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). The study underscores the relevance of the judicious choice of cover crops in IPM and in promoting agricultural biodiversity, creating a strategic tool to enhance the sustainability and efficiency of the cotton production system in the context of the NTS.

Impact of Processing on the Phenolic Content and Antioxidant Activity of Sorghum bicolor L. Moench.

Sorghum, a cereal grain rich in nutrients, is a major source of phenolic compounds that can be altered by different processes, thereby modulating their phenolic content and antioxidant properties. Previous studies have characterised phenolic compounds from pigmented and non-pigmented varieties. However, the impact of processing via the cooking and fermentation of these varieties remains unknown. Wholegrain flour samples of Liberty (WhiteLi1 and WhiteLi2), Bazley (RedBa1 and RedBa2), Buster (RedBu1 and RedBu2), Shawaya black (BlackSb), and Shawaya short black 1 (BlackSs) were cooked, fermented, or both then extracted using acidified acetone. The polyphenol profiles were analysed using a UHPLC-Online ABTS and QTOF LC-MS system. The results demonstrated that combining the fermentation and cooking of the BlackSs and BlackSb varieties led to a significant increase (p < 0.05) in total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activities, as determined through DPPH, FRAP, and ABTS assays. The 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging activity of WhiteLi1, BlackSb, RedBu2, and BlackSs increased by 46%, 32%, 25%, and 10%, respectively, post fermentation and cooking. Conversely, fermentation only or cooking generally resulted in lower phenolic content and antioxidant levels than when samples were fully processed compared to raw. Notably, most of the detected antioxidant peaks (53 phenolic compounds) were only detected in fermented and cooked black and red pericarp varieties. The phenolic compounds with the highest antioxidant activities in pigmented sorghum included 3-aminobenzoic acid, 4-acetylburtyic acid, malic acid, caffeic acid, and luteolin derivative. Furthermore, the growing location of Bellata, NSW, showed more detectable phenolic compounds following processing compared to Croppa Creek, NSW. This study demonstrates that sorghum processing releases previously inaccessible polyphenols, making them available for human consumption and potentially providing added health-promoting properties.

Comparison of the chemical composition of major feed resources between the midland and lowland agro-ecological zones in the Majang zone of southwest Ethiopia

Evaluation of feed chemical composition is essential for predicting nutrient deficiencies and improving feed for optimal livestock productivity. However, variation in agro-ecological zones (AEZs) might affect the chemical composition of feeds. The main objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the chemical composition of major feed resources in the midland and lowland AEZs of the Majang zone in southwest Ethiopia. A total of eight representative samples of feed resources were collected from lowland (Godere district) AEZ (500–1500 m above sea level) and midland (Mangashi district) AEZ (1501–2300 m above sea level). The samples were analysed for dry matter (DM), ash, crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF) and acid detergent lignin (ADL). The result revealed significant differences (p < 0.05) in the chemical composition traits between the two AEZs in the study area. For example, the DM, ash and NDF contents of C. dactylon were higher (P < 0.05) in the lowland AEZ, while the ADF and ADL contents were higher in the midland; D. abyssinica had higher (P < 0.05) ADF content in the lowland, while Z. mays stover had higher (P < 0.05) DM, ash and ADF contents in the lowland. S. bicolor stover showed higher (P < 0.05) DM, ash, ADF and ADL contents in the lowland, while C. gayana had higher (P < 0.05) ash and CP contents in the lowland and higher (P < 0.05) ADF and ADL contents in the midland AEZ; Atella (a traditional alcohol byproduct) had greater (P < 0.05) ash and ADF contents in the lowland. Regardless of the AEZs, the DM, ash, NDF, ADF, EE, CP and ADL contents of the feed samples varied from 89.97 ± 0.33 % in P. purpureum to 92.50 ± 0.01 in Sorghum bicolor stover, 4.27 ± 0.19 in Atella to 12.37 ± 0.42 in elephant grass, 51.66 ± 0.38 in Atella to 66.10 ± 0.25 in D. abyssinica, 32.21 ± 0.29 in D. abyssinica to 42.58 ± 0.44 in D. abyssinica, 0.63 ± 0.15 in Atella to 2.55 ± 0.03 in C. dactylon, 4.77 ± 0.01 in Zea mays stover to 11.83 ± 0.02 in V. unguiculata and 10.31 ± 0.07 in Z. mays stover to 19.41 ± 0.07 % DM in C. dactylon, respectively. From this study it was concluded that variation in AEZ has a significant effect on chemical composition traits of the feeds in the study area. The results of the study revealed that V. unguiculata stands out as a valuable protein source, while crop residues may require additional protein supplementation to meet livestock requirements in the study area.

Effects of sorghum varieties on microbial communities and volatile compounds in the fermentation of light-flavor Baijiu.

Light-flavor Baijiu (LFB) fermentation is a representative spontaneous mixed-culture solid-state fermentation process in which sorghum is used as the raw material. Raw materials and microorganisms are crucial to the flavor formation and quality of LFB. However, the microbial and physicochemical dynamics of different sorghum varieties during LFB fermentation, as well as their impact on flavor compounds are still largely unknown. Herein, PacBio single-molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing and headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) were applied to investigate microbial community succession and volatile flavor formation in glutinous/non-glutinous sorghum-based fermented grains during LFB fermentation. Fermented grains made of glutinous sorghum Liangnuo No. 1 (GLN) had higher bacterial α-diversity and lower fungal α-diversity than those with fermented grains prepared with non-glutinous red sorghum (NRS) (p < 0.05). The dominant microbial species were Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Acetobacter pasteurinus, and Lactobacillus helveticus, the latter two of which were the predominant bacteria observed at the end of fermentation in GLN and NRS, respectively. Moisture content and reducing sugar had a more significant impact on the microorganisms in GLN, while amino acid nitrogen, total free amino acids, and residual starch were the main driving factors driving the microbial community in NRS. The correlation network and discriminant analysis indicated that a relatively high content of 4-vinylguaiacol showed a significant positive association with significant differential microbial species in GLN. These results provided valuable insights for improving the quality of LFB.

Microbial fertilizers improve soil quality and crop yield in coastal saline soils by regulating soil bacterial and fungal community structure

Salinization is a global problem affecting agricultural productivity and sustainability. The application of exogenous microbial fertilizer harbors great potential for improving saline-alkali soil conditions and increasing land productivity. Yet the responses to microbial fertilizer application rate in terms of rhizosphere soil biochemical characteristics, soil microbial community, and crop yield and their interrelationships and underlying mechanisms are still unclear. Here, we studied changes to rhizosphere soil-related variables, soil enzyme activity (catalase, sucrase, urease), microbial community diversity, and sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) yield under four fertilization concentration levels (0, 0.12, 0.24, and 0.36 kg m−2) in a saline-alkali ecosystem (Shandong, China). Our results showed that the best improvement effect on soil when the microbial fertilizer was applied at a rate of 0.24 kg m−2. Compared with the control (sweet sorghum + no fertilizer), it significantly increased soil organic carbon (21.50 %), available phosphorus (26.14 %), available potassium (36.30 %), and soil urease (38.46 %), while significantly reducing soil pH (2.21 %) and EC (12.04 %). Meanwhile, the yield of sweet sorghum was increased by 24.19 %. This is mainly because microbial fertilizers enhanced the diversity and the network complexity of bacterial and fungal communities, and influenced catalase (CAT), urease (UE), and sucrase (SC), thereby facilitating nutrient release in the soil, enhancing soil fertility, and indirectly influencing sweet sorghum productivity. Among them, Gemmatimonadota and Verrucomicrobiota may be the key microbial factors affecting sweet sorghum yield, while available potassium, soil urease and available phosphorus are the main soil factors. These findings provide valuable theoretical insights for preserving the health of coastal saline-alkali soils and meeting the agricultural demand for increased yield per unit of land area.

AI-Driven Computer Vision Detection of Cotton in Corn Fields Using UAS Remote Sensing Data and Spot-Spray Application

To effectively combat the re-infestation of boll weevils (Anthonomus grandis L.) in cotton fields, it is necessary to address the detection of volunteer cotton (VC) plants (Gossypium hirsutum L.) in rotation crops such as corn (Zea mays L.) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.). The current practice involves manual field scouting at the field edges, which often leads to the oversight of VC plants growing in the middle of fields alongside corn and sorghum. As these VC plants reach the pinhead squaring stage (5–6 leaves), they can become hosts for boll weevil pests. Consequently, it becomes crucial to detect, locate, and accurately spot-spray these plants with appropriate chemicals. This paper focuses on the application of YOLOv5m to detect and locate VC plants during the tasseling (VT) growth stage of cornfields. Our results demonstrate that VC plants can be detected with a mean average precision (mAP) of 79% at an Intersection over Union (IoU) of 50% and a classification accuracy of 78% on images sized 1207 × 923 pixels. The average detection inference speed is 47 frames per second (FPS) on the NVIDIA Tesla P100 GPU-16 GB and 0.4 FPS on the NVIDIA Jetson TX2 GPU, which underscores the relevance and impact of detection speed on the feasibility of real-time applications. Additionally, we show the application of a customized unmanned aircraft system (UAS) for spot-spray applications through simulation based on the developed computer vision (CV) algorithm. This UAS-based approach enables the near-real-time detection and mitigation of VC plants in corn fields, with near-real-time defined as approximately 0.02 s per frame on the NVIDIA Tesla P100 GPU and 2.5 s per frame on the NVIDIA Jetson TX2 GPU, thereby offering an efficient management solution for controlling boll weevil pests.

Citric acid treatment inhibits fading of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) by modulating the accumulation of flavonoids

Sorghum seeds can discolor during storage. Treatment of seeds with citric acid improves sensory quality and antioxidant activity. This study compared the differences in phenotypic and antioxidant activity between citric acid-treated and water-treated sorghum seeds. The study used transcriptomics and metabolomics approaches to investigate the regulatory mechanisms. The ∆a, ∆b and ∆l values of citric acid-treated sorghum seeds significantly increased after 6 months of storage. The SOD, POD and CAT enzyme activities of the citric acid-treated group were 1.94, 1.91 and 2.45 times higher than those of the control, respectively. The joint transcriptome and metabolome analysis showed that the citric acid-induced changes were mainly focused on the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway. Citric acid treatment up-regulated CHS, ANR, MYB and bHLH genes and promoted flavonoid accumulation. In conclusion, citric acid treatment promotes flavonoid accumulation, delays sorghum seed discoloration, and enhances antioxidant activity and storage life.

Comparison of Mutations Induced by Different Doses of Fast-Neutron Irradiation in the M1 Generation of Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor).

Sorghum is an important C4 crop with various food and nonfood uses. Although improvements through hybridization and selection have been exploited, the introduction of genetic variation and the development of new genotypes in sorghum are still limited. Fast-neutron (FN) mutagenesis is a very effective method for gene functional studies and to create genetic variability. However, the full spectrum of FN-induced mutations in sorghum is poorly understood. To address this, we generated an FN-induced mutant population from the inbred line 'BTx623' and sequenced 40 M1 seedlings to evaluate the mutagenic effects of FNs on sorghum. The results show that each line had an average of 43.7 single-base substitutions (SBSs), 3.7 InDels and 35.15 structural variations (SVs). SBSs accounted for approximately 90.0% of the total number of small mutations. Among the eight treatment groups, FN irradiation at a dose of 19 Gy generated the highest number of mutations. The ratio of transition/transversion ranged from 1.77 to 2.21, and the G/C to A/T transition was the most common substitution in all mutant lines. The distributions of the identified SBSs and InDels were similar and uneven across the genome. An average of 3.63 genes were mutated in each mutant line, indicating that FN irradiation resulted in a suitable density of mutated genes, which can be advantageous for improving elite material for one specific or a few traits. These results provide a basis for the selection of the suitable dose of mutagen and new genetic resources for sorghum breeding.

Sorghum landraces perform better than a commonly used cultivar under terminal drought, especially on sandy soil

Landraces of sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] have a high potential for drought adaptations to increasingly extreme climates. We investigated the performance of five sorghum genotypes (four landraces and one commonly grown elite line) under water-limited conditions. Plants were grown until maturity in field-like columns on soils of four textures (silty clay, sandy loam, loamy sand, sand), which were dried during flowering stage down to 30 % usable field capacity. Plant transpiration, physiological characteristics, and yield were measured. For most of the measured parameters, the interaction between genotypes and soils was statistically significant. Alongside the gradient in available water between soils, plants had the highest total transpiration, transpiration efficiency (TE), harvest index (HI), and nutrient uptake in silty clay, steadily reduced towards soils with higher sand content. Especially in sandy soil, all measured plant performance parameters were significantly reduced compared to the other soils. There was a significant negative relationship between later flowering time and HI. While the elite cultivar M35–1 showed the highest TE, it suffered from late flowering and yield loss on all soils, especially when growing on sandy soil. The landraces IS 29914 and IS 8348 had a stable HI irrespective of their lowest TE. The shorter the plant, the better it coped with water and nutrient limitation and high transpiration efficiency was not connected to water conservation. The study overall emphasizes the high potential of sorghum landraces to overcome more extreme droughts as imposed by climate change. It also underlines the importance and strong interaction effect of soil texture on plant performance and transpiration efficiency, which is crucial to be considered in crop production. This outlines that specifically regions with sandy soils, characterized by low water-holding capacities, need genotypes that efficiently utilize the limited available water and nutrient resources – a genetic potential hidden in many landraces.