Search Results (450)

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

Maize (Zea mays L.), a typical thermophilic crop originating from tropical regions, exhibits an inherent sensitivity to low-temperature stress. Cold stress severely restricts maize seed germination, seedling growth, the physiological metabolism, and the final grain yield, which greatly limits its geographical cultivation range and sustainable industrial development. Elucidating the molecular regulatory mechanisms underlying maize cold tolerance and excavating cold-resistant functional genes are essential for the molecular breeding of cold-tolerant maize varieties and expanding maize planting areas in high-latitude and low-temperature-prone regions. In this study, using the strongly cold-tolerant maize inbred line B144 as the experimental material, we cloned the ZmMAPKKKA gene (NCBI accession: LOC103651289) and systematically screened and verified its cold-stress-specific interacting proteins via multiple molecular biological assays. The full-length coding sequence (CDS) of ZmMAPKKKA is 1134 bp, encoding a 377-amino-acid protein with a predicted molecular weight of 40.37 kDa. The quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) results demonstrated that the ZmMAPKKKA expression was significantly upregulated by 16.56-fold in maize roots after 12 h of low-temperature treatment, indicating a tissue-specific and robust cold response in root tissues. A total of 25 interacting proteins were identified through yeast two-hybrid screening, among which three stress-responsive proteins, including a protein kinase (LOC100286253), a protein phosphatase 2C (PP2C) (LOC542176), and a NAC transcription factor (LOC118474710), were selected for subsequent verification. The Pull-Down, Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP), and bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) assays consistently confirmed that ZmMAPKKKA specifically interacts with these three proteins both in vitro and in vivo under cold stress conditions. This study is the first to construct a ZmMAPKKKA-centered protein interaction module in the maize mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade under cold stress, establishing a novel kinase–phosphatase–transcription factor regulatory cascade that improves the current understanding of cold signal transduction mechanisms in maize. Homologous genes of ZmMAPKKKA in gramineous crops including rice (Oryza sativa) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) have been proven to participate in diverse abiotic stress responses, suggesting the conserved functional roles of MAPKKK family genes across gramineous species. Collectively, our findings provide comprehensive insights into the molecular mechanism of the maize MAPK signaling pathway mediating cold stress adaptation and supply valuable functional gene resources for cold-tolerant maize germplasm innovation and molecular breeding. Full article

Soil degradation, nutrient depletion, and persistent weed pressure represent critical challenges in the adoption of sustainable agriculture practices in subtropical organic farming systems. Reliance on conventional inputs threatens long-term soil health and ecosystem resilience, highlighting the need for regenerative alternatives. Cover crops are widely recognized as multifunctional agroecological tools with the capacity to enhance nutrient cycling, perform weed suppression, and improve soil organic matter. To evaluate their effectiveness in South Florida's subtropical climate and organic raised bed systems, a field experiment was conducted as a Randomized Block Design (RBD) at the Florida International University Organic Garden during the 2024 summer season. The six cover crops species that were tested include green gram (Vigna radiata), hibiscus (Hibiscus sabdariffa), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), soybean (Glycine max), sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea), and pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum). Data collected includes plant establishment, biomass accumulation, weed suppression, soil physiochemical properties, and plant nutrient composition. Sorghum and sunn hemp produced the highest fresh and dry biomass, with sorghum achieving the most effective weed suppression with the lowest weed biomass and weed population. Sunn hemp contributed to enhanced nitrogen content in plant tissues, while hibiscus promoted the highest soil P and N concentrations. Pearl millet exhibited the highest total carbon and organic matter content, indicating potential for enhancing soil carbon content and soil fertility. Results show that each cover crop species can provide a specialized or generalized ecosystem service depending on management goals. 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

Abiotic stresses, including heavy metal contamination, can severely impair plant growth and antioxidative defense. However, their adverse effects may be mitigated through sustainable strategies such as biostimulant application. This study investigated the effects of humic substances (HSs), alone or combined with mycorrhizal inoculation (M), on oxidative stress and antioxidative responses in Cannabis sativa, Sorghum sudanense × bicolor, and Miscanthus × giganteus grown under field conditions on metal-contaminated agricultural soil exceeding regulatory thresholds for Zn, Pb, and Cd. Plant growth, lipid peroxidation, stress-related metabolites (proline, sugars), antioxidative enzyme activities (catalase, CAT; ascorbate peroxidase, APX; guaiacol peroxidase, GOPX; glutathione reductase, GR, and superoxide dismutase, SOD), and leaf metal concentrations were analyzed. Biostimulants increased proline and sugars in Sorghum (by up to 55% and 80%, respectively), accompanied by reduced oxidative stress indicators and improved biomass (by 26%). In Cannabis, higher Cd and Pb concentrations following biostimulant treatments were associated with increased SOD, APX, and GR activities (by 33–267%), without affecting growth. In Miscanthus, increased lipid peroxidation (by 37–60%) occurred alongside enhanced GR and APX activities. These results indicate strong species-specific responses and absence of consistent synergistic effects of HSs and M, highlighting distinct physiological strategies of stress adaptation and antioxidative defense on metal-contaminated soils. Future research should address physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying these responses. Full article

Intercropping systems involving sorghum, grasses, and legumes can enhance forage production and improve sustainability under no-tillage systems. In the context of agricultural systems, the effective selection of rotational species is essential, as they contribute to soil system dynamics and provide feed for livestock. In this study, the dry matter production of grain sorghum (GS: cultivar A 9902), forage sorghum (FS: cultivar Volumax), and dual-purpose sorghum (DPS: cultivar Rancheiro) intercropped with Urochloa brizantha and dwarf pigeon pea was evaluated at five sowing densities (0 to 24 seeds m⁻¹) over two growing seasons (2018 and 2019), conducted in a randomized complete block design under autumn growing conditions. Biometric and productive traits of sorghum were assessed, as well as the dry matter production of the companion species, in order to understand interspecific interactions within the system. Sorghum dry matter yield was not affected by pigeon pea density, indicating high stability of the main crop. Grain sorghum (GS) and forage sorghum (FS) showed higher production in the first season (20,428 and 18,210 kg ha⁻¹, respectively), whereas dual-purpose sorghum (DPS) performed best in the second season (25,388 kg ha⁻¹). GS exhibited the highest panicle production, exceeding the other cultivars by up to 55%. Increasing pigeon pea density enhanced its biomass production but reduced Urochloa production by up to 50%; however, Urochloa showed better performance when intercropped with GS and FS. Sorghum morphological traits were not affected, and overall, the intercropping system maintained sorghum productivity while increasing total biomass, demonstrating potential for silage production and pasture establishment. 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.) is an environmentally friendly crop known for its nutritional and bioactive properties. This study investigated the effects of sorghum on the antioxidant properties and consumer acceptance of nurungji, a traditional Korean snack. To understand the antioxidant contribution of ferulic acid in sorghum during non-enzymatic browning, the antioxidant activity of ferulic acid was evaluated using a sugar (glucose or fructose)–lysine Maillard reaction model system. Nurungji samples were prepared with varying sorghum blending ratios (SN0, SN25, SN50, SN75, and SN100) and heating durations (0, 1, 3, and 5 min). The total polyphenol and total flavonoid contents of nurungji increased significantly in a sorghum concentration- and heating duration-dependent manner. Antioxidant activities, including DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and reducing power, exhibited trends similar to those of the antioxidant components. In the isolated model system, the addition of ferulic acid significantly enhanced the antioxidant capacity of the Maillard reaction products (MRPs), with the fructose–lysine–ferulic acid solution exhibiting the highest activity. These results support the proposed mechanism that during the thermal processing of nurungji, complex polymeric phenolic compounds within the sorghum are degraded, releasing free ferulic acid that actively boosts the overall antioxidant properties of the resulting MRPs. Although the antioxidant properties of nurungji increased with higher sorghum concentration, the consumer acceptance evaluations indicated that SN0 and SN25 received significantly higher scores for overall acceptance, taste acceptance, and purchase intention (p < 0.05). Full article

Cold stress limits sorghum productivity, yet the temporal organization of its molecular response remains incompletely understood. In this study, a multi-layered transcriptomic approach was employed to analyze the cold response of sorghum across 6 h, 12 h, and 24 h. By integrating differential expression, weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), and alternative splicing (AS) profiling, a phase-dependent regulatory model was proposed. Quantitatively, the network was initially resolved into 17 co-expression modules, which were subsequently consolidated into 10 final modules. A core set of 147 transcription factors (predominantly AP2/ERF and NAC families) was consistently associated with the response across time points. During the early shock phase (6 h), the broad repression of energy-associated transcripts suggests rapid intracellular stabilization. The transition phase (12 h) was characterized by transcriptomic shifts suggestive of chromatin-level regulation and post-transcriptional adjustments. By late acclimation (24 h), the reorganization of stress-associated modules indicates a progression toward a stabilized regulatory state. Furthermore, the identification of dynamic AS events across multiple regulatory families suggests that isoform diversification is a crucial parallel regulatory layer. Moving beyond static expression profiling, this study provides a comprehensive temporal framework of sorghum cold acclimation and identifies phase-specific candidate genes for future experimental validation in C4 crops. 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

PYL proteins are core components of the abscisic acid (ABA) signaling pathway and are involved in plant responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. In this study, a total of 19, four, and eight PYL genes were identified in Saccharum spontaneum, the Saccharum spp. hybrid R570, and Sorghum bicolor, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis classified these PYL genes into three distinct groups. Cis-acting element analysis, Gene Ontology annotation, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment and gene expression profile indicated that members of the PYL gene family are mainly associated with hormone signaling and stress-related biological processes. The ScPYL8 gene (GenBank accession number: OR838856) was isolated from sugarcane cultivar QT3. Expression of the ScPYL8 gene was induced under stresses of cold, PEG, SA, MeJA, ABA, and brown stripe disease (Bipolaris setariae). The gene was expressed in roots, stems and leaves, with the highest expression level in leaves. Subcellular localization analysis showed that the ScPYL8 protein localized to the cytoplasm and nucleus. ScPYL8 overexpression in tobacco activated the reactive oxygen species defense system and regulated the ABA and jasmonic acid signaling pathways, enhancing its resistance against Fusarium solani var. coeruleum. These findings provide insights into the expression, function, and evolutionary characteristics of the PYL gene family in sugarcane, offering valuable genetic resources for future molecular breeding. Full article

It is estimated that at least 16.1% of croplands in China are polluted with heavy metals, and cadmium (Cd) is a typical toxic element inhibiting plant growth. Sorghum bicolor × S. sudanense, a C4 plant with high biomass and stress tolerance, has potential for phytoremediation, but its Cd tolerance mechanism remains unclear. In this study, physiological and transcriptomic responses of Cd-tolerant (S6) and sensitive (2190A/201900131) cultivars were analyzed under 25 mg/L Cd stress. The results showed that S6 exhibited milder phenotypic inhibition (leaf yellowing, growth retardation) than the sensitive cultivar. Cd was mainly accumulated in roots (S6: 4988.37 mg/kg; sensitive: 7030.06 mg/kg at 7 d), with S6 having a lower translocation factor. Physiologically, S6 maintained higher chlorophyll content, stable photosynthetic efficiency (Fv/Fm, PI), and lower malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation, while antioxidant enzyme (SOD, CAT, APX) genes were significantly upregulated. Transcriptomic analysis identified 47,797 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), enriched in glutathione metabolism, ABC transporter-mediated transport, metal chelation, and antioxidant defense pathways. Genes related to cell wall biosynthesis, metal transporters (ZIP, HMA), and transcription factors (MYB, WRKY) were synergistically upregulated in S6, enhancing Cd sequestration and detoxification. These findings clarify the physiological and molecular mechanisms of Cd tolerance in Sorghum bicolor × S. sudanense, providing a basis for its application in Cd-contaminated soil phytoremediation. Full article

Background: The Calcineurin B-like (CBL) and CBL-interacting protein kinase (CIPK) system constitute critical signaling modules mediating plant responses to abiotic stress. Although these families have been studied across various species, their evolutionary dynamics across grasses and the functional plasticity of specific isoforms remain elusive. Methods: A genome-wide analysis of CBL and CIPK families was conducted across five major Poaceae species (Oryza sativa, Triticum aestivum, Zea mays, Sorghum bicolor, and Saccharum spontaneum). Phylogenetic and synteny analyses were analyzed to family expansion and evolution. Cis-regulatory elements analysis in gene promoter regions were examined to predict potential stress-responsive features. Expression profiles of OsCBL and OsCIPK gene families were examined by qRT-PCR under conditions involving PEG-induced osmotic stress, pathogen strain P6 inoculation, and exogenous application of the phytohormones abscisic acid (ABA) and methyl jasmonate (MeJA). Protein–protein interactions between selected CBL (OsCBL4) and CIPK pairs were assessed via Yeast Two-Hybrid (Y2H) and Luciferase Complementation Imaging assays (LCI). Results: Phylogenetic and synteny analyses indicated that segmental duplications have contributed substantially to the expansion of these gene families. Promoter analysis revealed that the majority of CBL and CIPK family members, exemplified by OsCBL4, traditionally characterized as a salt sensor, possesses a cis-element architecture (rich in ABREs and MBS) heavily biased towards dehydration responsiveness. Expression profiling showed that OsCBL4 is significantly hyper-induced by direct osmotic stress (PEG) but exhibits almost no response to exogenous ABA. A subset of kinases genes (e.g., OsCIPK2, 9, 18) displayed PEG-induced expression patterns resembling those of OsCBL4, whereas OsCIPK30 remained transcriptionally unresponsive under the same conditions. Protein interaction assays demonstrated that OsCBL4 physically interacts exclusively with PEG-responsive transcriptionally activated kinases such as OsCIPK9, but failed to interact with the non-responsive OsCIPK30. Conclusions: Our study provides a genomic characterization of CBL and CIPK families across five major Poaceae species. The combined expression and interaction data reveal that OsCBL4-assembles with specific CIPKs into signaling modules during osmotic stress responses in rice, pointing to roles that go beyond salt stress responses. The findings establish a foundation for further functional dissection of CBL-CIPK pathway diversification in abiotic stress adaptation. Full article

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) is a key cereal for food and forage security in arid and semi-arid regions, where climate change is intensifying drought stress and threatening sustainable crop production. Intercropping cereals with legumes is widely promoted as a nature-based solution to improve resource-use efficiency, nitrogen (N) cycling, and drylands’ resilience. We evaluated the performance and interactions of a novel sorghum–legume combination by intercropping sorghum with the drought-tolerant legume serradella (Ornithopus sativus) in a 10-week mesocosm experiment. Cropping systems (sorghum monocrop, serradella monocrop, and strip intercropping) were subjected to moderate or severe water stress, with or without frequent cutting. We investigated how intercropping influenced individual crop growth, N accumulation, and survival, and whether benefits at the plant level translated to the system level. Under severe water stress, sorghum maintained higher biomass and survival than serradella. Intercropping did not increase aboveground biomass or N content at the mesocosm level. However, individual sorghum plants in intercrops accumulated up to 80% more biomass and 100% more aboveground N than in monocropping. In contrast, serradella experienced reduced growth, N accumulation, and survival in intercrops. Our results reveal trade-offs in this intercrop under dryland stress, where individual crop benefits do not translate into system-level gains. Although limited to early growth and controlled conditions, the results provide valuable insights for designing resilient sorghum–legume systems, including optimizing species density, intercrop configuration, and cutting regimes in drought-prone agroecosystems. Full article