Advances in Molecular Breeding of Pearl Millet

Abstract

Pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] (2n = 2 × = 14) is the sixth most important global cereal crop (after rice, wheat, maize, barley, and sorghum) which is grown in the hottest and driest regions of sub-Saharan Africa and the Indian subcontinent. It produces grains with high nutritive value even under hot, dry conditions, and on infertile soils of low water-holding capacity, where other cereal crops fail. This makes pearl millet a highly desirable crop for farmers in such harsh environments. Pearl millet became the focus of genome research almost at the same time as other major crops but then lagged behind as major crops dominated the genomics era. However, in the last decade, several efforts were initiated to rekindle the genomic research of this orphan crop resulting into generation of vast amounts of genomic information. Particularly, the recent whole-genome sequencing efforts taken for pearl millet by an international pearl millet genome sequencing consortium are remarkable. This chapter reviews the advances made in generating the genetic and genomics resources in pearl millet and their integration into molecular breeding. A successful example of marker-assisted selection (MAS) culminating in a product release is cited.