Abstract:
Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench is a high-biomass crop with major value for food production, forage supply, and renewable bioenergy. Its biomass accumulation is primarily shaped by coordinated variation in plant height, tillering capacity, leaf architecture, stem development, and panicle morphology, making biomass a complex quantitative target for crop improvement. Although
S. bicolor has strong potential for sustainable agriculture and energy-oriented production systems, genetic improvement of biomass-related traits is constrained by narrow genetic backgrounds, incomplete knowledge of trait-regulatory networks, and insufficient application of molecular breeding strategies. In particular, the limited identification and functional validation of key genes controlling biomass formation have hindered the transition from conventional selection to precise, genomics-assisted improvement. Accordingly, integrating research on the genetic regulatory mechanisms underlying biomass accumulation in
S. bicolor with innovations in breeding technology is essential for achieving targeted improvement of biomass-related traits. This review summarizes recent advances in the genetic architecture, regulatory pathways, and candidate genes associated with biomass-related traits in
S. bicolor. It further evaluates how these genetic insights can be integrated with emerging molecular breeding approaches to accelerate targeted improvement of biomass yield. Finally, future research directions and priorities are proposed. This review provides a framework for advancing high-yield
S. bicolor breeding and accelerating both mechanistic discovery and practical application in
S. bicolor biomass improvement.