Scientists unveil key genetic mechanism that improves drought tolerance in Sorghum
A research team from the Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG)
led by Ana I. Ca?o-Delgado has identified a molecular mechanism that enables
sorghum plants to thrive under water-scarce conditions. This discovery could
pave the way for developing drought resistant crops to help secure global
food supplies in the face of increasing climate crisis.
Sorghum is a vital crop for millions of people living in regions prone to
drought, such as Africa, Southeast Asia, and Central America. Despite being
naturally more drought-resistant than other cereals, extreme droughts still
cause considerable reductions in sorghum yield. The CRAG-led research team
focused on understanding how plants respond to drought at a molecular level,
and identified key genes that could be modified to boost drought resilience.
The research focused on the plant steroid hormones called brassinosteroids
and their receptor BRASSINOSTEROID-INSENSITIVE 1 (BRI1). The team discovered
that by modifying the BRI1 receptor of sorghum (known as SbBRI1), sorghum
plants can significantly improve their drought tolerance.
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