A gene could double the yield of corn-alternative livestock feed

In 10 seconds? With global food prices up by a third in September 2021, there is a need to find viable solutions to produce more at lower costs. Scientists have recently identified a gene in sorghum that could double the grain numbers in the plant used in food production and animal feed.

Why is sorghum important? Plant breeders always strive to increase the grain yield in crops. Sorghum is important because it is related to several other plants, so this discovery might lead to similar yield improvements in other cash crops. Sorghum is also known to be highly tolerant to abiotic stresses such as drought, heat, and high salinity, so it can be a key plant in the fight against climate change-induced food insecurity.