Gene Expression during Stem Development of two sorghum genotypes

The stem of sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is a rich source of lignocellulose that represents a promising bioenergy resource especially for sorghum genotypes developed as biomass feedstocks. In the present study, RNA-seq technology was utilized to examine gene expression in nodal segments along the stem of two sorghum genotypes. Transcriptome profiling of nodal regions from the base to the apical region of the stem allowed an examination of the changes in gene expression that occur as secondary wall formation progresses in a developmental manner from the newly developed upper nodal segments to the more mature nodal segments at the stem base. This research was supported by Texas AgriLife Research, the USDA-ARS, and the Department of Horticultural Sciences at Texas A&M University.