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Drought is a significant factor that causes yield loss in essential cereal crops such as sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench], necessitating the development of drought-tolerant varieties adaptable to various water conditions. This study aimed to pinpoint drought-tolerant sorghum lines and genomic regions for tolerance by utilizing 216 sorghum accessions in stressed and non-stressed environments at two locations. Genetic diversity was evident among accessions in terms of grain yield under different watering regimes. Drought stress indices such as the stress tolerance index, mean productivity, geometric mean productivity, harmonic mean productivity, yield stability index, and yield index were identified as effective measures for selecting drought-tolerant sorghum. Cluster analysis classified genotypes into four groups based on their association with grain yield, highlighting Acc. #28546 and Acc. #216739 as highly drought tolerant across environments. This study identified 32 and 22 quantitative trait nucleotides (QTNs) for drought indices and grain yield under stress and non-stress conditions, respectively, at two locations, with five common QTNs linked to multiple drought indices. Colocation analysis revealed that these QTNs were associated with known stay-green-related quantitative trait loci (QTLs), and 47 putative genes near these QTNs potentially influenced drought tolerance traits. It is suggested that accession selection considers multiple indices for robust evaluation. Understanding the identified genes and their functions provides insights into the genetic mechanisms governing plant responses to drought stress, offering prospects for developing improved drought-resistant sorghum varieties through further genetic research., (© 2024 The Author(s). The Plant Genome published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Crop Science Society of America.)

Proper understanding of the nature of seed exchange among farming communities is fundamental to achieving a sustainable seed system and maintaining crop genetic resources. The objective of this study was to investigate sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) seed sources and analyse their network flow among farmers in Tigray in Northern Ethiopia. A survey was conducted using a semi-structured questionnaire, involving 153 sorghum household farmers selected randomly from six villages; namely Gezaadara, Medabe, Gezameker, Waekel, Munira and Gandostela. Farmers who plaid major roles in the sorghum seed exchange network were identified using social seed network analysis. Results showed that bartering and own-saved seeds were the dominant sources of sorghum seed for farmers throughout the study area; and sorghum seed flow was more confined within villages than beyond. Social capital such as cultural norms, trust and farmers' desire to increase sorghum production in the communities were the fundamental drivers for farmer sorghum seed exchange. Individuals distinguished as nodal farmers who had high bridging roles could also act as entry points for improved sorghum seed exchange interventions in Tigray. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]