SorghumBase blog

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

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

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.”

PAG33 Highlights: Advancing Genomic Resources, FAIR Data, and Crop Trait Discovery

The International Plant and Animal Genome conference (PAG33) took place on January 9-14, 2026 in San Diego, California. The meeting focused on fostering an opportunity to exchange ideas and share recent developments and future plans for plant & animal genome projects through technical presentations, poster sessions, exhibits and workshops. This conference brought together over 3000 leading plant and animal scientists and researchers, and over 100 exhibits, 200 workshops, 700 posters.

Genetic Architecture and Breeding Implications of Partial Fertility in Sorghum Cytoplasmic Male Sterile Lines

Partial fertility in sorghum cytoplasmic male sterile lines is a complex, environmentally sensitive quantitative trait controlled by many minor-effect loci, which constrains genetic diversity in female parent lines and poses a major challenge for hybrid breeding.

Machine Learning–Enabled GWAS Dissects the Genetic Architecture of Grain Mold Resistance in Sorghum

Machine learning–driven GWAS reveals novel candidate genes and pathways underlying the complex, polygenic architecture of grain mold resistance in sorghum.

Identification, Evolutionary Analysis, and Stress-Responsive Roles of the Dirigent (DIR) Gene Family in Sorghum bicolor

Liu et al. systematically identified and characterized 53 DIR genes in Sorghum bicolor, revealing their evolutionary diversification, tissue-specific expression, and key roles in lignin biosynthesis and abiotic stress tolerance, with SbDIR39 and SbDIR53 highlighted as promising targets for crop improvement.

High-Throughput, Nondestructive Grain Quality Analysis in Sorghum

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

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

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.

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