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To support the search for alternate chemical-free strategies to enhance plant growth and control plant diseases, we present an overview of the potential use of Biochar (BC) a product synthesized through pyrolysis from organic and agricultural waste used as a soil amendment, in suppressing broad range plant pathogens. A broad-spectrum BC effect contributes to the control of soil and foliar pathogens by altering the root exudates mechanism of the host plant, soil health and nutrient mobilization that affect the colonization of antagonistic microorganisms. Induction of plant defense mechanism by adding BC in potting medium to reduce foliar pathogens by the activation of defensive responses and induction of reactive oxygen species signaling in the plant system. Although few reports have been found for controlling oomycetes, viruses and bacterial pathogens through the application of BC, reports indicated that adding BC has potentially changed the soil microbiota colonization which contributes to disease suppression. BC also controls nematodes and harmful insects of plants. In addition, the main mechanisms of action for plant parasitic nematodes are changes in soil structure and could increase the biocontrol microorganism in the rhizosphere which resists nematodes colonizing and penetrating the plant system. Using BC-based amendments is a promising strategy with a carbon sequestration strategy, created on zero waste, as part of the integrated management of pathogens and parasites. Comprehensively, it is needed to be standardized the dosage and feedstock of BC in terms of sustainable production and disease control.

The basic principle of GWAS is to integrate genotype and phenotype data through general linear models or mixed linear models (MLM). Genome-wide association study (GWAS) is an efficient method to discover genomic regions associated with traits of interest and has been successfully implemented in various crops, including sorghum. Bibliometric analysis is a method that quantitatively evaluates scientific research by measuring the knowledge conveyed through scientific publications within a specific field. A total of 227 scholarly articles on sorghum and genome-wide association studies (GWAS) were examined within the Web of Science database, spanning the years 2000 to 2022. All of the articles, written by 1117 authors from 27 publishers, 347 institutes, and 48 countries and published in 91 journals, were written in English. The five most prominent journals in the field were identified as Theoretical and Applied Genetics (8.37%), G3 Genes Genomes Genetics (7.04%), Frontiers in Plant Science (6.60%), Plant Genome (6.60%), and Plant Physiology (4.40%), with each having published more than 10 papers. The five countries that ranked highest in terms of paper publications were the United States, the People's Republic of China, India, Australia, and Germany. According to the available data, the leading publishers in the field were Springer Nature, Wiley, Oxford University Press, Frontiers Media SA, and MDPI. The authors, who have published the highest number of papers, exceeding twelve in quantity, are Morris GP, Kresovich S, Hu ZB, Perumal R, and Upadhyaya HD. The set of keywords was partitioned into six distinct clusters, each corresponding to a unique area of the research query. Visualizations provide a means of exploring the current state of a scientific field or discipline and can also suggest potential future directions. The identification of primary research concepts and areas in this study may prove beneficial for forthcoming research endeavors and policy-making processes concerning the enhancement of sorghum.

Sorghum plays a pivotal role as a dietary staple for a significant population in the Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and South Asia (SA) regions. Projected climate variations in these major sorghum production zones are expected to give rise to irregular instances of abiotic stressors, posing a substantial risk to crop production. Breeding strategies tend to be geographically specialized, focusing on enhancing responses to specific biotic and abiotic challenges prevalent in distinct regions. This necessitates the development of adaptations to factors such as day-length patterns. The article presents a summary of the main breeding goals for sorghum, followed by an overview of essential genetic and genomic resources. It further analyzes the current and potential marker-assisted approaches in sorghum breeding. Advancements in sorghum breeding are moving beyond traditional techniques, incorporating a diverse range of methodologies. The integration of genomic selection and other marker-assisted breeding approaches is facilitated by the comprehensive genotyping of important germplasm collections, made possible through the utilization of cost-effective single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping platforms. Furthermore, the inclusion of pertinent sociological perspectives on demand-driven breeding, which acknowledges the significance of local value chains involving farmers, dealers, retailers, and consumers, plays a crucial role in the progress of sorghum breeding approaches.

To support the search for alternate chemical-free strategies to enhance plant growth and control plant diseases, we present an overview of the potential use of Biochar (BC) a product synthesized through pyrolysis from organic and agricultural waste used as a soil amendment, in suppressing broad range plant pathogens. A broad-spectrum BC effect contributes to the control of soil and foliar pathogens by altering the root exudates mechanism of the host plant, soil health and nutrient mobilization that affect the colonization of antagonistic microorganisms. Induction of plant defense mechanism by adding BC in potting medium to reduce foliar pathogens by the activation of defensive responses and induction of reactive oxygen species signaling in the plant system. Although few reports have been found for controlling oomycetes, viruses and bacterial pathogens through the application of BC, reports indicated that adding BC has potentially changed the soil microbiota colonization which contributes to disease suppression. BC also controls nematodes and harmful insects of plants. In addition, the main mechanisms of action for plant parasitic nematodes are changes in soil structure and could increase the biocontrol microorganism in the rhizosphere which resists nematodes colonizing and penetrating the plant system. Using BC-based amendments is a promising strategy with a carbon sequestration strategy, created on zero waste, as part of the integrated management of pathogens and parasites. Comprehensively, it is needed to be standardized the dosage and feedstock of BC in terms of sustainable production and disease control.

Climate change poses considerable challenges to global crop production, manifesting in harsh abiotic stresses like drought, high temperatures, and extreme weather events. These adversities exacerbate food insecurity, hunger, and poverty, particularly impacting vulnerable communities in underdeveloped countries. Amid this pressing scenario, a pivotal shift towards resilient crops capable of withstanding such environmental strains is imperative. Sorghum emerges as a promising climate-smart crop, uniquely equipped to endure adverse climatic conditions, and address nutritional needs. This review critically assesses the landscape of sorghum resilience amidst climate change and outlines its multifaceted role in bolstering food security and alleviating hunger. It goes beyond prior studies by emphasizing specific gaps in understanding sorghum’s adaptability to diverse abiotic stresses and its underexplored potential in mitigating food crises. Notably, it delves into novel perspectives, such as the efficacy of biostimulants in enhancing sorghum resilience and the cultivation of sweet sorghum for biofuel production in marginal lands. By elucidating the unmet potentials and highlighting avenues for harnessing sorghum’s resilience, this study aims to catalyze informed strategies for combating the deleterious impacts of climate change on global food security and hunger.

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolorL. Moench) is a genetically diversified grain crop grown throughout the world's semiarid regions. It is a crucial food crop for millions of individuals in semi-arid regions of the world where drought stress severely restricts its production. Even though sorghum is widely regarded as drought resilient crop, drought stress continues to dramatically reduce its productivity and nutritional quality in its major growing regions. Understanding the physiological and molecular mechanisms underpinning sorghum's drought tolerance is becoming more and more important as a result of climate change-induced increases in the frequency and severity of drought. Hence, to achieve food and nutritional security it is necessary to genetically enhance sorghum's drought stress resistance. A great deal of research has been conducted on drought tolerance mechanisms such as stay green and grain production under drought stress. However, novel drought-related traits such as canopy temperature, stomatal conductance, reflectance indices, and chlorophyll fluorescence must be investigated and employed in breeding. To produce drought-tolerant lines, breeding initiatives have targeted specific traits with limited genomic and genetic resources. It is possible to improve drought tolerance through integrating desirable traits into superior breeding lines, screening large sources of germplasm for resistant lines, and developing a deeper understanding of the mechanisms behind tolerance. Molecular techniques such as genome editing, next-generation sequencing, and transciptomics, among others could be utilized to boost drought tolerance in sorghum. This review is intended to broaden our knowledge of drought tolerance and provide new insights into developing drought-tolerant sorghum.

Over the past few decades, the amount of ultraviolet-B radiation (UV-B) reaching the earth’s surface has been altered due to climate change and stratospheric ozone dynamics. This narrow but highly biologically active spectrum of light (280–320 nm) can affect plant growth and development. Depletion of ozone and climate change are interlinked in a very complicated manner, i.e., significantly contributing to each other. The interaction of climate change, ozone depletion, and changes in UV-B radiation negatively affects the growth, development, and yield of plants. Furthermore, this interaction will become more complex in the coming years. The ozone layer reduction is paving a path for UV-B radiation to impact the surface of the earth and interfere with the plant's normal life by negatively affecting the plant's morphology and physiology. The nature and degree of the future response of the agricultural ecosystem to the decreasing or increasing UV-B radiation in the background of climate change and ozone dynamics are still unclear. In this regard, this review aims to elucidate the effects of enhanced UV-B radiation reaching the earth's surface due to the depletion of the ozone layer on plants’ physiology and the performance of major cereals.