The Effect of Elevated Carbon Dioxide and Drought on Carbon Sink, Dhurrin, and Sugar Dynamics in Sorghum bicolor

Sorghum is the fifth most important food crop in the world. It is known for its resilience and tolerance in stressful environments. The planet is trending towards higher temperatures, prolonged drought occurrences, and increased carbon dioxide concentrations. It is imperative to evaluate how these factors will influence sorghum traits and characteristics. Recent studies have shown that dhurrin, a cyanogenic glycoside, is heavily involved in sorghum growth and development. Furthermore, this relationship is even stronger in sorghum early growth stages. In order to test the effects of drought and carbon dioxide, we involved multiple sorghum lines that vary in dhurrin content to establish a comprehensive study to see if these dynamics might change. We took agronomic data, physiological data, and biochemical data to understand these relationships so that we might better understand our crops in future climates.