Using a stereoscope and a semi-automated image processing algorithm, the researchers are able to produce finite element models of plant stalks in under a day with a relatively low equipment cost
Sorghum grown under favorable conditions has high production potential. Photoassimilate production at the source (leaf) and transport to the sink (grain) are primary determinants of the yield. Mapping Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) for source-sink relationships is of interest to biologists
Ananda et al. identified genes key to dhurrin synthesis that were highly expressed in S. bicolor, opening up the opportunity to introgress traits from S. macrospermum into domesticated species to create acyanogenic, livestock safe sorghum lines.
Lozano et al. performed whole-genome resequencing to analyze approximately 13 million variants from 499 sorghum lines, compared the genetic variants with 25 million variants previously identified among 1,218 maize lines, and found that while maize analysis results were in line with the domestication-cost hypothesis, sorghum’s were not.
