SorghumBase blog

SorghumBase Release 10

• 13 February 2026

We are pleased to announce the 10th major release of SorghumBase. Highlights of this release include the addition of 31 new genomes from the JGI SorghumPan project

The Biology of Genomes Conference from May 5-9, 2026 at CSHL, Abstracts Due Feb 13

• 09 February 2026

The 39th annual Biology of Genomes meeting will take place at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory May 5-9, 2026. The conference will explore how DNA sequence variation shapes molecular evolution, population genetics, complex disease biology, and comparative genomics, as well as findings from large-scale gene and protein expression studies and genomic analyses of ecological systems.

CSI Global Conference Announcement and SorghumBase, Nick Gladman, Andrew Olson and Doreen Ware Feb 10 at 11 AM CT

• 06 February 2026

The Center for Sorghum Improvement (CSI) will host a virtual Global Conference Announcement and SorghumBase seminar on Tuesday, February 10 at 10:45 AM CT. The meeting will begin with announcements and the seminar will start at 11:00 AM CT. Nick Gladman, Andrew Olson and Doreen Ware will speak on behalf of SorghumBase with their talk, “SorghumBase: a central KnowledgeBase for Sorghum Stakeholders.”

SbWRKY51 Positively Regulates Sorghum Salt Tolerance Through Coordinated Control of ROS Homeostasis and Lignin Biosynthesis

• 13 February 2026

SbWRKY51, a group II WRKY transcription factor in sorghum, enhances salt tolerance by maintaining ion and ROS homeostasis and promoting lignin biosynthesis to strengthen cell wall integrity under salt stress.

Adaptive Rhizosphere Nitrogen Strategies in Andropogoneae Grasses: Insights for Sustainable Cereal Crop Agriculture

• 12 February 2026

Hsu et al., identified distinct rhizosphere nitrogen cycling strategies across diverse Andropogoneae grasses, revealing genetic and ecological mechanisms that could inform more sustainable nitrogen use in cereal crops.

Fine-Mapping Aphid Resistance in Sorghum: Discovery of qMsa-6 and Candidate R Genes for Sustainable Breeding

• 11 February 2026

Researchers identified a novel sorghum aphid resistance QTL (qMsa-6) overlapping RMES1 and highlights SbiRTX2783.06G018400 as a key candidate gene, providing molecular targets for breeding durable, aphid-resistant sorghum.

High-Throughput, Nondestructive Grain Quality Analysis in Sorghum

• 09 January 2026

Understanding sorghum grain quality is essential for breeding, food innovation, and industrial applications. Traits such as protein, starch composition, oil content, tannins, and phenolic compounds directly influence nutritional value, processing behavior, and end use. However, traditional laboratory assays are slow,

Sorghum in Fermentation: New Insights into Genetics, Grain Traits, and Microbial Interactions from Baijiu to African Traditional Beers

• 05 August 2025

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) has long played a central role in the production of fermented beverages across continents, from West African dolo and pito to Chinese baijiu and emerging gluten-free craft beers in the West. A wave of recent research is shedding light on how sorghum’s grain properties, microbial interactions during fermentation, and genetic diversity influence the quality and sustainability of these beverages.

Unlocking Sorghum’s Potential in Skin Care and Antioxidant Applications: A New Frontier for Kafirin Peptides

• 15 July 2025

In recent years, sorghum has gained increasing attention not just as a climate-resilient staple crop, but also as a source of high-value bioactive compounds with applications beyond the food and feed sectors. A growing body of research highlights the potential of sorghum storage proteins—particularly kafirins—as a sustainable source of antioxidant peptides and cosmeceutical ingredients.