Advances in Understanding Salt Stress Effects on Growth and Productivity in Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench)

Salinity is a growing problem for cereal cultivation because it causes multiple stresses, such as osmotic, ionic, nutritional, and oxidative, on the crop. Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) is considered a climate-smart C4 cereal to grow for food, feed, fodder, forage, and bioenergy, but recent studies have indicated that salinity continues to hinder establishment, biomass, reproductive growth, and yield. This review compiles the latest literature on the impacts of salinity on sorghum from 2021 to 2026 with a focus on germination, vegetative growth, physiological and biochemical responses, ion homeostasis, genetic control, productivity, mitigation, and future breeding priorities. The 160 records found in the structured search were screened, with 44 recent sources included. Salt stress has been shown to lower germination rate, rate of root and shoot elongation, expansion of leaves, stability of chlorophyll, gas exchange, dry matter accumulation, panicle fertility, and grain filling. Tolerant genotypes have a higher K: Na ratio, greater antioxidant potential, greater osmotic adjustment, more stable photosynthetic systems, and stronger root systems. Recent omics and genome-wide association studies suggest that tolerance to salinity in sorghum is polygenic and consists of genes involved in ion transport, stress signalling, antioxidant regulation, osmolyte metabolism and growth maintenance. The review suggests a shift from descriptive trait lists to full-cycle field validation, as well as the use of multi-trait selection indices and a convergence of breeding with seed priming, soil-water management, amendments, and beneficial microorganisms. Sorghum shows great potential in salt-affected systems; however, sustainable productivity will require the matching of tolerant varieties with agronomic packages that have been locally tested.