Functional Genomic Analyses Reveal Molecular Systems Underlying Chilling Response in Cold-Tolerant and Cold-Susceptible Sorghums

Tropical crops are extremely sensitive to low temperatures, a limiting factor for its cultivation in temperate regions. Our research focused on understanding mechanistic basis of chilling adaptation in tropical origin crops. Therefore, we took advantage of sorghum a C4 tropical grass originated in Africa and is extremely susceptible to cooler temperatures (<10 ⁰C). To decipher mechanisms underlying chilling adaptation mechanisms in sorghum we utilized two functional genomic approaches: transcriptomics and lipidomics. Results from our functional genomics studies indicate lipid remodeling mediated JA signaling possibly leading to activation of CBF regulon to be one of the underlying mechanisms differentiating chilling-tolerant and chilling-susceptible sorghums. The functional genomics data obtained from our research can aid in developing early-season chilling tolerance in tropical crops.