Unraveling the genetic basis of resistance traits for fungal diseases in sorghum

Abstract Sorghum is a versatile and resilient cereal crop known for its adaptability to a wide range of climatic conditions. In recent years, sorghum has gained attention in modern research due to its potential in bioenergy production and resilience to climate change. However, sorghum is susceptible to several fungal diseases, which pose significant threats to its productivity and profitability. Understanding the genetic control of disease resistance is essential for developing resistant sorghum cultivars to sustain global food production. Genetic and genomic resources play crucial roles in identifying and comprehending the genes responsible for disease resistance. This review delves into the available resources to elucidate fungal resistance mechanisms for crop improvement. The identification of fungal resistance genes forms the bedrock of breeding programs aimed at developing robust and sustainable crop varieties. Through quantitative trait loci mapping studies, numerous genomic regions linked to fungal disease resistance have been reported, providing crucial insights for targeted breeding strategies. Recent advancements in genotyping-by-sequencing, bioinformatics, and associated statistical methodologies have revolutionized genome-wide association studies, ushering in a new era of precision and efficiency in genetic research. Additionally, functional genomics techniques, such as transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, have played pivotal roles in sorghum research, enabling the identification of key genes and pathways implicated in defense responses against fungal pathogens. Genome editing of identified resistance genes holds promise for developing high-performing varieties to achieve food and nutritional security.