South African researchers from the department of science and innovation National Research Foundation (DSTI-NRF) Centre of Excellence in Food Security (CoE-FS) have published a study in Scientific Data, offering insights into developing drought and heat-tolerant sorghum varieties.
Co-authored by Professor Ndiko Ludidi and Dr Ali Elnaeim Elbasheir Ali, the study addresses climate change challenges affecting agricultural productivity, particularly in South Africa.
Sorghum is a crucial crop, serving as a staple food for over 500 million people across more than 30 countries. It is also a key source of animal feed and biofuel and ranks as the fifth most important cereal grain globally, following rice, wheat, corn, and barley. Given its significance, enhancing sorghum’s resilience to environmental stressors is vital for food security and sustainable agriculture.
“By identifying proteins that play a key role in sorghum responses to drought, heat, and combined stresses, the study can help identify specific targets for breeding and engineering sorghum varieties with better tolerance and this improvement is particularly important to ensure global food security and nutrition,” said Ali.
Insights into stress adaptation
Ali explained that the research team identified crucial proteins, pathways, and biological processes linked to sorghum’s ability to withstand drought, heat, and combined stress conditions.
Notably, the study revealed unique changes in protein expression when sorghum was exposed to both drought and heat stress simultaneously – responses that were distinct from those triggered by either stress individually.
Ali said this discovery highlights the complexity of plant responses to multiple stressors. “These findings provide valuable insights into sorghum adaptation at the molecular level and serve as a foundation for further exploration and new questions.”
Moreover, the study found that responses varied significantly between leaves and roots, emphasising the specialised roles these plant tissues play in adapting to environmental stress.
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Implications for climate-resilient agriculture
In South Africa, sorghum is not only vital for animal feed and biofuel but is also widely consumed as mabele, a staple stiff porridge similar to pap. The findings of this study could significantly contribute to breeding more resilient sorghum varieties, ensuring stable yields in the face of increasing climate variability.
“Our findings provide valuable resources for developing sorghum varieties which can withstand drought and heat better by targeting key proteins and pathways involved in drought and heat responses, this tolerance improvement can ensure stable yields and support food security in the region,” Ali explained.
The study brought together expertise from multiple institutions, integrating plant physiology, proteomics, and bioinformatics. Contributing researchers included Professor Robert Sharp, Dr Laura Greeley, and Professor Scott Peck from the University of Missouri, along with Professor David Tabb from the Institut Pasteur in Paris, France.
“This multidisciplinary approach ensured a comprehensive understanding of sorghum responses to single and combined drought and heat stress,” added Ali.
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