Food security heavily depends on sufficient crop production primarily from a few key crops such as maize, wheat, rice, and sorghum which make up most of human caloric intake

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded Prairie View A&M University $300,000 on December 15, 2025, under the 1890 Institution Capacity Building Grants program (CFDA 10.216) to investigate the physiological and molecular mechanisms of reduced tillering in drought-tolerant stay-green sorghum genotypes, with the goal of deploying this trait to enhance crop adaptation and yield across various ecosystems. Work will be performed in Prairie View, Texas, with a period of performance extending through December 14, 2028.

The project addresses the yield gap between potential and actual crop production under rainfed conditions, where water stress typically limits actual yields to approximately 50 percent of potential. Recent research has identified drought-tolerant stay-green sorghum varieties that maintain photosynthesis during severe water stress by delaying leaf senescence, distinguishing them from non-stay-green genotypes. Reduced shoot branching has emerged as a key trait linked to drought tolerance in these varieties. The award funds examination of the underlying physiological and molecular mechanisms driving reduced tillering in stay-green sorghum, with application to broader crop adaptation strategies needed to meet global food production demands as the population approaches 10 billion by 2050.

The 1890 Institution Capacity Building Grants program is designed to strengthen research, Extension, and teaching capacity at the 1890 land-grant universities, historically Black institutions established under the Second Morrill Act of 1890.

Tomeet the demands of a growing global population estimated to reach 10 billion by 2050, crop production must be increased. However, expanding arable land presents ecologicalchallenges making IT crucial to focus on increasing crop yields per unit area. Crop yield is categorized into potential yield which occurs under ideal highly controlled growing conditions and actual yield which is what farmers achieve in the field.there is a significant yield GAP as actual yields for major field crops cultivated under rainfed conditions typically reach around 50% of their potential due to water stress. With exacerbating drought conditions, improving crop drought tolerance is essential for increasing yields and enhancing food production to ensure food security. Sorghum, known for its drought tolerance, has been utilized as a model in research focused on crop responses to drought. Studies have identified drought-tolerant stay-green sorghum genotypes that delay leaf senescence and maintain photosynthesis during severe water stress distinguishing them from non-stay-green genotypes. Recent findings indicate that reduced tillering (shoot branching) is a key trait linked to drought tolerance in these stay-green varieties. We propose to investigate the physiological and molecular mechanisms behind reduced tillering in the stay-green genotypes aiming to deploy the trait to enhance crop adaptation and yield in various ecosystems.