Harnessing genomics and transcriptomics to explore the genetic and molecular basis of abiotic stress tolerance in minor millets - a comprehensive review.
Gobika SJ, Nathan B, Samykannu G, Raman R, Periasamy M
Climate Adaptation
Finger millet, foxtail millet, and their relatives have fed dry-land farmers for millennia — and the stress-survival genes scientists are now mapping could soon help breeders grow food where conventional crops simply fail.
Minor millets are a group of small-seeded grains that thrive in hot, dry, and nutrient-poor conditions where wheat or rice would wither. Researchers dug through mountains of genetic data to map the molecular switches these plants flip when stressed, identifying dozens of gene families that control survival. The ambition is to transfer those insights into breeding programs that could produce crops capable of feeding people in the harshest climates on Earth.
Key Findings
More than 35 gene families linked to drought, salt, and nutrient-stress tolerance were catalogued across minor millet species.
Minor millets use a highly efficient C4 photosynthetic pathway and accumulate iron, zinc, dietary fiber, and bioactive compounds at levels above common cereals.
Advances in high-throughput DNA sequencing now allow researchers to identify differentially expressed genes and regulatory networks underpinning stress adaptation, opening a path to precision breeding and marker-assisted selection.
chevron_right Technical Summary
Scientists reviewed how small, overlooked grain crops called minor millets survive drought, salty soils, and poor nutrients — and identified over 35 gene families that help them do it. The goal is to use this knowledge to breed tougher, more nutritious crops for a warming world.
Abstract Preview
Minor millets represent a promising avenue for addressing food security challenges through their unique C4 photosynthetic pathway and inherent resilience to harsh environmental conditions. These cr...
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Finger millet is an annual herbaceous plant. It is a tetraploid and self-pollinating species probably evolved from its wild relative Eleusine africana.