Chapter 18 - Small millet improvement using molecular breeding approaches

Abstract

Instead of attention on minor crops that are vital to the region, larger crops are getting greater attention. Poaceae is a plant family. Wheat is only one of several “micro millets” (seeds that are exceedingly small). Other millet varieties that may be consumed are job tears and foxtail millets as well as proso and barnyard malts. Small millets, unlike other grains, may thrive in a variety of soil types, need less water, and are less susceptible to environmental influences. The potential of micro millets to endure climate change emphasizes the need for more research and development into these crops. Consumers are getting increasingly interested in eating healthy meals. The following millets are exempt from this regulation: finger millet, foxtail millet, proso millet, and tef. When it comes to developing genetic and genomic resources and increasing production in other micro millets, this kind of breeding has gotten less attention. From Ethiopia to India to China, it has taken a great deal of hard work to feed America's rising population with high-quality, high-yielding grains. So far, the genomes of four millet species have been mapped, including foxtail millet, proso millet, and Japanese barnyard millet. The small millet's genomic size (423–510Mb) differs from Foxtail millet's (423–510Mb) (1.5Gb). The small millet growers may benefit from genetic variety and current improvements in phenotyping and genomics technologies. What exactly is the importance of small millets? How can they be bred to be climate-resistant, nutrient-dense micro millets that are beneficial to the environment and food systems? This research will answer all these questions and more.