Chilling Resistance and Physio -Chemical Changes during Cold Acclimation in Foxtail Millet Genotypes

Abstract

Millets are known as poor man crops, because they grow well in rain-fed or dry land conditions with insufficient soil fertility and water. Food shortages could become more severe in the coming years as the world population rises and arable land is depleted. As a result, various strategies are needed to ensure food security. Millets are also notable for their short growth season. They can reach maturity in as little as 85 days after being sowing. Low temperature is a major environmental factor that can limiting the plant anabolic, metabolic processes and yield globally. Temperature is an extremely important growth limiting factor because it regulates plant physiological and biochemical activity throughout the growth cycle. A field study was scheduled to estimate the low temperatures effect on plant processes such as photosynthesis, respiration, water absorption, chlorophyll stability, and yield. It was done in Rabi’ 2020 and 2021 with factorial randomized block design (FRBD) with three replications. The present study was conducted to determine the low temperature effect on growth analysis and yield of tenai genotypes screening at Agricultural College and Research Institute, Vazhavachanur. Temperature stress, particularly high or low temperatures, can disrupt plant metabolism and shorten the time of distinct plant growth phases. Plants' responses to low temperature exposure can have a significant impact on various growth parameters such as leaf area, leaf area index, crop growth rate, relative water content, photosynthetic efficiency, days to 50% flowering, number of tillers, number of grains per tiller, total dry matter production, and yield. Tenai genotypes TNSi 375 and TNSi 375 recorded higher values of specific leaf area, crop growth rate, specific leaf weight, total chlorophyll content and grain yield than other genotypes under low temperature condition, Tiruvannamali district and Jawathu hill region of Vellore district.