PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (Apr. 2, 2026) — From backyard gardens to large-scale farms, how plants grow can make all the difference. A Prairie View A&M University researcher is taking a closer look at that process and how it could help crops become more productive and resilient.

Dr. Tesfamichael Kebrom, a research scientist in the College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources at PVAMU, has been awarded a $300,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

His project focuses on a simple yet powerful question: how does a plant’s branching pattern affect its growth?

In crops like corn, wheat, sorghum and rice, branching, known as “tillering,” plays a major role in how plants use water and nutrients. While more branches might seem like a good thing, they don’t always lead to better results. In some cases, too many branches can actually strain a plant’s resources without increasing yield.

Dr. Kebrom’s research aims to better understand the genetic and physiological processes behind this balance, with the goal of helping crops grow more efficiently while maintaining strong production.

The study will focus on sorghum, a crop widely known for its ability to withstand dry conditions. Often called the “camel crop,” sorghum can thrive with limited water, especially certain “stay-green” varieties that continue photosynthesis during drought.

Building on previous research, the project will explore whether fewer branches help sorghum conserve water, or if they are directly linked to the plant’s natural drought tolerance.

The work brings together a multidisciplinary team at Prairie View A&M University. Dr. Seungchan Kim, professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and director of the Center for Computational Systems Biology, will lead gene expression data analysis. Dr. Sela Woldesenbet, manager of the CAFNR Core Laboratories, will support plant sample analysis.

Beyond the lab, the project will also provide hands-on research opportunities for a group of graduate and undergraduate students, helping prepare future scientists in plant physiology, genomics, and crop improvement.

“This research aligns with the Vision of Excellence in Research at CAFNR Research, the USDA-NIFA Plan of Work and Prairie View A&M University’s Journey to Eminence, reinforcing the University’s commitment to federally competitive research that addresses global challenges in agriculture, sustainability and food security,” stated Dr. Erdogan Memili, executive associate director of CAFNR Research at PVAMU.

As National Garden Month highlights the importance of growing and caring for plants, this research underscores a broader idea: understanding how plants grow – down to their smallest branches – can have a big impact on the future of agriculture, sustainability, and food security.

-PVAMU-