Grain size and weight are two of the most important determinants of crop yield. Key genes associated with the grain size and weight have been identified in major crops. However, studies on the genetic basis of the grain size and weight related genes in wild Sorghum are limited. In this study, we analysed the variation of grain size related genes using variant analysis of 15 accessions across one cultivated and six tertiary gen...

Alpine plants in Australia are increasingly exposed to more frequent drought and heatwaves, with significant consequences for physiological stress responses. Acclimation is a critical feature that allows plants to improve tolerance to environmental extremes by directly altering their physiology or morphology. Yet it is unclear how plant performance, tolerance, and recovery are affected when heat and water stress co-occur, and...

Main conclusion Australian native species of sorghum contain negligible amounts of dhurrin in their leaves and the cyanogenesis process is regulated differently under water-stress in comparison to domesticated sorghum species. Abstract Cyanogenesis in forage sorghum is a major concern in agriculture as the leaves of domesticated sorghum are potentially toxic to livestock, especially at times of drought which induces increased...

Main conclusion Developmental and organ-specific expression of genes in dhurrin biosynthesis, bio-activation, and recycling offers dynamic metabolic responses optimizing growth and defence responses in Sorghum . Abstract Plant defence models evaluate the costs and benefits of resource investments at different stages in the life cycle. Poor understanding of the molecular regulation of defence deployment and remobilization hampe...

Aim Separation of regeneration niches may promote coexistence among closely related plant species, but there is little evidence that regeneration traits affect species ranges at broad geographical scales. We address patterns of co‐occurrence within the genus Selaginella , an ancient lineage of free‐sporing, heterosporous, vascular plants. Specifically, we ask whether differences between species in spore size are associated wit...

Globally, cassava is the second most important root crop after potatoes and the fifth most important crop overall in terms of human caloric intake. In addition to its growing global importance for feed, fuel, and starch, cassava has long been vital to food security in Sub‐ S aharan A frica. Climate change is expected to have its most severe impact on crops in food insecure regions, yet little is known about how cassava product...