Uncovering the Genetic Basis of Cold Tolerance in Sorghum

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) is valued for its resilience to heat and drought, making it a promising crop for future climate-resilient agriculture. However, its African origin means that juvenile growth under cool conditions remains a major limitation for temperate cultivation. This project aims to identify and functionally characterise genes and quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with juvenile cold tolerance and root biomass, traits that are critical for early establishment in cooler environments.

By integrating QTL mapping, functional genomics, and detailed root phenotyping in contrasting genotypes and near-isogenic lines, we will explore whether strong root vigour contributes to cold adaptation and how these traits are genetically linked. The results will support breeding strategies to develop sorghum cultivars with enhanced cold resilience, enabling more reliable production in temperate regions and expanding the crop’s global potential.