SorghumBase blog

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.”

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

• 30 January 2026

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.

Three-Part Data Reproducibility Workshop Series! February 9-11, 2026 ​9:00 AM PST / 12:00 PM EST

• 28 January 2026

The Data Management and Infrastructure and Single-Cell Sequencing committees of the Plant Cell Atlas are organizing a workshop series that aims to equip participants with essential skills and knowledge to achieve the critical goal of ensuring data reproducibility in single-cell research,

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

• 05 February 2026

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

• 04 February 2026

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.

Identification of a Novel Grain Size QTL and Candidate Gene in Sorghum Through Integrated BSA-Seq and RNA-Seq Analysis

• 03 February 2026

Scientists identified a novel grain size QTL (qGS1) in sorghum and proposed Sobic.001G230700 as a candidate gene using integrated BSA-Seq and RNA-Seq analyses, advancing the genetic understanding of yield-related traits.

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.