Panicum Miliaceum Research Articles

Relationship between nutrient accumulation in broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) and microbial community under different salinity soils

Relationship between nutrient accumulation in broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) and microbial community under different salinity soils

Seed-Specific Dynamics: Unraveling Progeny Emergence Patterns in <em>Tribolium castaneum</em> (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) Infestations

Edible seeded crops are important nutrient source for both human and animals. Among the various causes of grain losses before consumption, stored-product pests claim an important place. Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) damages a wide array of food commodities including grains, during storage, but the information on progeny emergence on certain commodities still remains unexplored. A laboratory experiment was conducted to evaluate the progeny development of T. castaneum in commonly used edible seeds during storage. Twenty, one-month-old T. castaneum adults were introduced to 30 g samples of each seed type, with four replicates tested. Except for dhal and groundnut, all the other edible seed types were used only as whole seeds. Test samples of dhal and groundnut were used in their whole form as well as 50% broken seeds. Samples were maintained at 30±1°C and 65±1% relative humidity. After 7 days, adults were removed, and samples were kept for progeny development. Progeny adults and larvae were counted at 30 and 60 days. The adult progeny emergence was highest in oats, sesame and proso millet (Meneri). Larval emergence was higher in dhal (50% broken), groundnut (50% broken), barley and proso millet (Meneri). These findings provide important insights into the infestation of edible seeds by T. castaneum and opens-up avenues for adopting suitable methods to protect these during storage. As the presence of broken seed enhances the progeny development of T. castaneum, preventing such occurrences during grain processing and maintaining cleanliness are important practices during postharvest operations.

Human diet and social complexity during the middle and late Dawenkou period at the Jiaojia Site, China

Scholars have usually examined social complexity of the Dawenkou culture, Neolithic China through mortuary rituals, and have long assumed that there was graduated development of both social stratification and gender inequality. The newly discovered Jiaojia cemetery dated to the middle and late Dawenkou period, provides us a valuable opportunity to investigate the development of social complexity with a different perspective. We carried out stable isotopic analysis of human and animal bones from the Jiaojia site to explore the relationship between human diet and social complexity. The results indicate that Jiaojia people’s diets are dominated by C4 foods (i. e. foxtail and broomcorn millet), and the contribution of C4 foods increased significantly over time, suggesting the further development of millet farming. In addition, there were signs of food-based social stratification in the late phase of the Jiaojia site, more C3 foods and meat were consumed by some elites. However, the dietary difference between males and females was not significant. This study demonstrates that dietary studies can be a valuable lens to examine the development of social complexity, and it also confirms that social complexity should be examined through multiple dimensions, mortuary practice is only one of them.

Improvement of Gluten-Free Sponge Cake with A Combination of Chia Seed Flour and Millet Flour

Background: Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder in which the patient is permanently intolerant to proteins containing gluten, and the only treatment is to use a gluten-free diet. The present study is designed to investigate physicochemical, antioxidant activity, textural, and sensory properties attributes of developed gluten-free sponge cake containing chia seed (Salvia hispanica L.) flour (CHF) along with millet (Panicum miliaceum) and corn flour. Methods: The cake was produced using CHF (4, 8, 12, 16%; w/w) with the replacement of millet flour (MF), and 50% corn flour (CF) was used equally in all the samples. Results: Applied CHF significantly increased moisture, ash, protein, and fat content of gluten-free cakes (P<0.05). Replacement of CHF with MF reduced specific volume (using colza grains) and porosity (using image processing method) by 64% and 76%, respectively. Texture analysis showed an increase in hardness in all the three-storage times with the addition of CHF. Color measurement indicated that CHF significantly reduced the amount of a*, and L* values of the crusts. Radical scavenging activity by DPPH was improved in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.05). The lowest amount of CHF in cake formula had the highest score in sensory evaluation with verbal hedonic scale. Conclusion: Based on the results, the samples containing 4% CHF, 46% MF, and 50% CF had the most desirable texture and palatability with reasonable radical scavenging activity among developed gluten-free sponge cakes.

Assessing the applicability of protein residues in combination with lipid residues to reconstruct Indus foodways from Gujarat

When extracted and analysed in tandem, proteomics and lipid residue analysis can provide high resolution identification of ancient foodstuff. Here, we apply lipid residue and shotgun proteomic analyses to 11 ceramic vessel sherds from the Gujarat, India-based Indus Valley Civilization site of Kotada Bhadli. Our results demonstrate variable success. Lipids were successfully recovered from each ceramic vessel and suggest the presence of dairy and meat from cattle/buffalo, and meat from sheep/goat and monogastric animals, such as pigs and birds. Additionally, we were also able to identify the presence of plant products such as leafy vegetables, oils and broomcorn millets. In contrast, none of the extracted proteins could be confidently traced to specific foods or ingredients and were thus unable to contribute to broader interpretations of foodways at Kotada Bhadli. Nevertheless, our results present an opportunity to discuss pathways for improving proteomic methods, and advocate for the need to report negative results as well as positive ones. We support continued efforts to apply multi-proxy approaches to the study of ancient ceramics and consider future applications of shotgun proteomics in this rapidly evolving field.

Porous activated carbon electrodes derived from Eleusine coracana biowaste in electric double layer capacitors: Nanoarchitectonics and performance

The development of high-performance supercapacitors from biowaste is crucial for advancing sustainable and renewable energy storage technologies. In this study, we report the fabrication of electrodes for high-performance supercapacitors using porous carbon derived from red millet (Eleusine coracana) straw. Porous carbon was synthesized via a two-step chemical activation process using KOH, resulting in a hierarchical pore structure comprising macro-, meso-, and micropores. The red millet-based porous carbon electrodes, assembled in a two-electrode symmetrical supercapacitor, exhibited a specific capacitance of 68 Fg⁻1 at a current density of 0.5 Ag⁻1 in a 1 M Na₂SO₄ aqueous electrolyte. At a mass loading of 5 mg per electrode, the system demonstrated a specific capacitance of 300 Fg⁻1 at 1 Ag⁻1, with an energy density of 9.1 Whkg⁻1 and a power density of 1.86 kWkg⁻1, as determined from galvanostatic charge-discharge measurements. Additionally, the supercapacitor showed excellent cyclic stability, retaining 98.78% of its initial capacitance after 5000 cycles at 10 Ag⁻1. These findings highlight the potential of porous carbon derived from agricultural biowaste for scalable applications in electric double-layer capacitors.

Fermentation Performance of Carob Flour, Proso Millet Flour and Bran for Gluten-Free Flat-Bread.

Sourdough fermentation is rarely used for gluten-free flatbread (GFFB), a product that is challenging to produce, especially when using high-fiber ingredients that bring nutritional benefits but lead to physical deterioration. The aim of this study was therefore to evaluate the fermentation performance of carob flour (CSPF), proso millet flour (PMF), and proso millet bran (PMB) individually and in combination with Limosilactobacillus fermentum and Kluyveromyces marxianus (LF + KM) and to compare the performance of LF + KM with a commercial starter (LIVENDO® LV1). A mixture design (n = 13) was used to evaluate the fermentation performance of LF + KM (total titratable acidity (TTA); lactobacilli and yeast growth; acetic and lactic acid, fructose, glucose, and saccharose content) at 35 °C for 16 h. The comparison of LF + KM with LV1 fermentation was based on the acidity rate, fermentation quotient, TTA, and finally by determining the physical properties (texture, shape, color) of a rice-corn GFFB in which 10% of flour was supplemented with the sourdoughs. PMB promoted the growth of lactobacilli and the production of organic acids, especially in combination of CSPF and PMF. The optimum flour ratio was 2.4:1:1.2 (PMB:PMF:CSPF). LF + KM shortened the sourdough fermentation time by 2.5 times compared to LV1. The use of LF + KM sourdough reduced the hardness (32%) and chewiness (28%) of the GFFB, while the volume (35%) was increased compared to LV1 sourdough. This study shows the potential of using local alternative flours in sourdough fermentation for the production of GFFB.

Gene isolation and expression analysis of galactinol synthase from proso millet (Panicum miliaceum L.)

Abstract Drought is the major devastating stress affecting plant growth and development. The plant develops some physiological and biochemical changes to withstand drought. The raffinose family of oligosaccharides (RFOs) are sugars that have a significant role in abiotic stress tolerance. Galactinol synthase (EC 2.4.1.123; GolS) initiates the primary step of the RFOs synthesis. Their accumulation implies a role for RFOs in abiotic stress adaptation. The galactinol synthase gene from proso millet was isolated and characterized. Full length proso millet galactinol synthase gene of size ~1,200 bp having 3 exons with 2 introns was isolated and predicted using bioinformatics tools. A high sequence similarity was observed at 97.2, 95.6, 91.8 and 85.4% with Panicum hallii, Panicum virgatum, Setaria italica and Zea mays mRNA, respectively. PmGolS gene expression pattern with respect to drought stress was evaluated in proso millet. PmGolS gene was highly expressed, 40.3 and 23.7-fold in vegetative and reproductive stages of drought-stressed plants respectively compared to control. It suggested that PmGolS gene has an active role in drought stress tolerance.

Traditional Vrikshayurveda practices yielded equally to modern scientific agricultural practices in Proso millet (Panicum miliaceum L.)

Traditional Vrikshayurveda practices yielded equally to modern scientific agricultural practices in Proso millet (Panicum miliaceum L.)

Changes in spectra of cultivated and gathered plants in the Bronze Age

The Bronze Age (BA) in Central Europe witnessed significant transformations in various aspects of human activities. This study focuses on changes in subsistence strategies during the BA, represented by the assortment of edible plants. We examined charred macroremains from 39 archaeological sites in the Czech Republic. Our aims include providing an overview of crop records, determining the dating of new crop introductions, and identifying spatial patterns of the assortment changes. The results indicate a complex agricultural transformation. Emmer and einkorn dominated in the Early Bronze Age (EBA), while the broomcorn millet was widespread in the Middle Bronze Age (MBA). The Late Bronze Age (LBA) saw increased cereal and pulse diversity, whereas the Final Bronze Age (FBA), characterised by coexisting cereals, represented a terminal stage of the process of gradually evolving subsistence strategies. The study highlights the sudden introduction of broomcorn millet in the MBA and expanding the range of crops, which allowed more flexible responses to local conditions and a better distribution of field work throughout the year.

Comparative Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals Domestication and Improvement Patterns of Broomcorn Millet (Panicum miliaceum L.).

Broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) is one of the earliest crops, domesticated nearly 8000 years ago in northern China. It gradually spread across the entire Eurasian continent, as well as to America and Africa, with recent improvement in various reproductive and vegetative traits. To identify the genes that were selected during the domestication and improvement processes, we performed a comparative transcriptome analysis based on wild types, landraces, and improved cultivars of broomcorn millet at both seeding and filling stages. The variations in gene expression patterns between wild types and landraces and between landraces and improved cultivars were further evaluated to explore the molecular mechanisms underlying the domestication and improvement of broomcorn millet. A total of 2155 and 3033 candidate genes involved in domestication and a total of 84 and 180 candidate genes related to improvement were identified at seedling and filling stages of broomcorn millet, respectively. The annotation results suggested that the genes related to metabolites, stress resistance, and plant hormones were widely selected during both domestication and improvement processes, while some genes were exclusively selected in either domestication or improvement stages, with higher selection pressure detected in the domestication process. Furthermore, some domestication- and improvement-related genes involved in stress resistance either lost their functions or reduced their expression levels due to the trade-offs between stress resistance and productivity. This study provided novel genetic materials for further molecular breeding of broomcorn millet varieties with improved agronomic traits.

Study on Formulation and Sensory Evaluation of Vermicelli Made from Proso Millet

Millets have been considered wholesome snack option and they are also gaining popularity as dietary supplements for people with diabetes and other metabolic problems. Proso millet is rich in nutrients such as protein, potassium and dietary fibre that help to regulate blood pressure levels. People from all walks of life prefer vermicelli, an easy-to-make, ready to make food product that is popular despite changing tastes and lifestyles. Therefore, an effort was undertaken to create value-added vermicelli based on proso millet by replacing half of the processed proso millet flour in the typical vermicelli recipe. To enhance the functional qualities of vermicelli, additional experiments were conducted wherein black gram dhal flour was substituted for wheat semolina. In an attempt to enhance the nutritional value of prepared vermicelli, fenugreek seed powder was added at a level of one percent. It was discovered that vermicelli containing one percent fenugreek seed powder was satisfactory. The organoleptic and cooking qualities of prepared vermicelli were recorded and evaluated with that of control. Thus proso millet can be successfully incorporation as an ingredient in making of healthy vermicelli that can be suitable for people with metabolic disorders.

Evolution of plant cell-type-specific cis-regulatory elements.

Cis-regulatory elements (CREs) are critical in regulating gene expression, and yet understanding of CRE evolution remains challenging. Here, we constructed a comprehensive single-cell atlas of chromatin accessibility in Oryza sativa, integrating data from 103,911 nuclei representing 126 discrete cell states across nine distinct organs. We used comparative genomics to compare cell-type resolved chromatin accessibility between O. sativa and 57,552 nuclei from four additional grass species (Zea mays, Sorghum bicolor, Panicum miliaceum, and Urochloa fusca). Accessible chromatin regions (ACRs) had different levels of conservation depending on the degree of cell-type specificity. We found a complex relationship between ACRs with conserved noncoding sequences, cell-type specificity, conservation, and tissue-specific switching. Additionally, we found that epidermal ACRs were less conserved compared to other cell types, potentially indicating that more rapid regulatory evolution has occurred in the L1-derived epidermal layer of these species. Finally, we identified and characterized a conserved subset of ACRs that overlapped the repressive histone modification H3K27me3, implicating them as potentially silencer-like CREs maintained by evolution. Collectively, this comparative genomics approach highlights the dynamics of plant cell-type-specific CRE evolution.

Impact of eight extruded starchy whole grains on glycemic regulation and fecal microbiota modulation

We selected an array of whole grains (WGs), including highland barley, buckwheat, coix seed, foxtail millet, barley, oats, proso millet and sorghum to determine their carbohydrates profile before and after extrusion-expansion, estimated glycemic index (GI) and fermentation characteristics. Our findings reveal that the extrusion processing can significantly influence the structural properties and digestibility of starch. A notable rise in the total dietary fiber (TDF) content was found in foxtail millet, barley and sorghum (p < 0.05) after extrusion. Digestion results of extruded whole grains (EWGs) suggested that coix seeds, oats, and sorghum after extrusion can better manage glycemic index (GI) values due to low starch hydrolysis degree and higher resistant starch (RS) and slowly digestible starch (SDS) content. EWGs with higher TDF content (HE, FE, SE, OE and BE) demonstrated greater SCFA yield, with extruded highland barley exhibiting a superior capacity for generating propionic acid and butyric acid. Extruded barley, buckwheat, oats, and proso millet significantly boosted microbial diversity. All eight EWGs notably curtailed Bilophila growth and fostered beneficial bacteria such as Prevotella, Megamonas, Megasphaera, Bifidobacterium, Parabacteroides and Phascolarctobacterium. This study provides a robust scientific foundation for the application of extrusion technology in functional WGs products.

The Genetic Diversity Assessment of Broomcorn Millet (Panicum miliaceum) and the Construction of a Mini-Core Collection

The Genetic Diversity Assessment of Broomcorn Millet (Panicum miliaceum) and the Construction of a Mini-Core Collection

Investigating the cis-regulatory basis of C3 and C4 photosynthesis in grasses at single-cell resolution

While considerable knowledge exists about the enzymes pivotal for C4 photosynthesis, much less is known about the cis-regulation important for specifying their expression in distinct cell types. Here, we use single-cell-indexed ATAC-seq to identify cell-type-specific accessible chromatin regions (ACRs) associated with C4 enzymes for five different grass species. This study spans four C4 species, covering three distinct photosynthetic subtypes: Zea mays and Sorghum bicolor (NADP-dependent malic enzyme), Panicum miliaceum (NAD-dependent malic enzyme), Urochloa fusca (phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase), along with the C3 outgroup Oryza sativa. We studied the cis-regulatory landscape of enzymes essential across all C4 species and those unique to C4 subtypes, measuring cell-type-specific biases for C4 enzymes using chromatin accessibility data. Integrating these data with phylogenetics revealed diverse co-option of gene family members between species, showcasing the various paths of C4 evolution. Besides promoter proximal ACRs, we found that, on average, C4 genes have two to three distal cell-type-specific ACRs, highlighting the complexity and divergent nature of C4 evolution. Examining the evolutionary history of these cell-type-specific ACRs revealed a spectrum of conserved and novel ACRs, even among closely related species, indicating ongoing evolution of cis-regulation at these C4 loci. This study illuminates the dynamic and complex nature of cis-regulatory elements evolution in C4 photosynthesis, particularly highlighting the intricate cis-regulatory evolution of key loci. Our findings offer a valuable resource for future investigations, potentially aiding in the optimization of C3 crop performance under changing climatic conditions.

Viromes of Monocotyledonous Weeds Growing in Crop Fields Reveal Infection by Several Viruses Suggesting Their Virus Reservoir Role.

In 2019, random samples of Panicum miliaceum growing as a weed were surveyed to uncover their virus infections at two locations in Hungary. This pilot study revealed infection with three viruses, two appearing for the first time in the country. As follow-up research, in the summer of 2021, we collected symptomatic leaves of several monocotyledonous plants in the same locations and determined their viromes using small RNA high-throughput sequencing (HTS). As a result, we have identified the presence of wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV), barley yellow striate mosaic virus (BYSMV), barley virus G (BVG), and two additional viruses, namely Aphis glycines virus 1 (ApGlV1) and Ljubljana dicistrovirus 1 (LDV1), which are described for the first time in Hungary. New hosts of the viruses were identified: Cynodon dactylon is a new host of BYSMV and LDV1, Echinocloa crus-galli is a new host of BVG, ApGlV1 and LDV1, Sorghum halepense is a new host of ApGlV1, and Panicum miliaceum is a new host of LDV1. At the same time, Zea mays is a new host of ApGlV1 and LDV1. Small RNA HTS diagnosed acute infections but failed to detect persistent ones, which could be revealed using RT-PCR. The infection rates at the different locations and plant species were different. The phylogenetic analyses of the sequenced virus variants suggest that the tested monocotyledonous weeds can host different viruses and play a virus reservoir role. Viral spread from the reservoir species relies on the activity of insect vectors, which is why their management requires an active role in plant protection strategies, which need careful planning in the changing environment.

Millets: a nutritional powerhouse for ensuring food security.

Millets are important food source to ensure global food and nutritional security and are associated with health benefits. Millets have emerged as a nutritional powerhouse with the potential to address food security challenges worldwide. These ancient grains, which come in various forms, including finger millet, proso millet, and pearl millet, among others, are essential to a balanced diet, since they provide a wide range of nutritional advantages. Millets have a well-rounded nutritional profile with a high protein, dietary fiber, vitamin, and mineral content for optimal health and wellness. In addition to their nutritional advantages, millets exhibit remarkable adaptability and durability to various agroecological conditions, making them a valuable resourcefor smallholder farmers functioning in resource-poor regions. Promoting the growth and use of millet can lead to several benefits that researchers and development experts may discover, including improved nutrition, increased food security, and sustainable agricultural methods. Therefore, millets are food crops, that are climate smart, nutritional, and food secured to feed the increasing global population, and everyone could have a healthier, more resilient future.

Genome-wide assessment of population structure and association mapping for agronomic and grain nutritional traits in proso millet (Panicum miliaceum L.)

Proso millet is an important but under-researched and underutilized crop with the potential to become a future smart crop because of its climate-resilient features and high nutrient content. Assessing diversity and marker-trait associations are essential to support the genomics-assisted improvement of proso millet. This study aimed to assess the population structure and diversity of a proso millet diversity panel and identify marker-trait associations for agronomic and grain nutrient traits. In this study, genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified by mapping raw genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) data onto the proso millet genome, resulting in 5621 quality-filtered SNPs in 160 diverse accessions. The modified Roger's Distance assessment indicated an average distance of 0.268 among accessions, with the race miliaceum exhibiting the highest diversity and ovatum the lowest. Proso millet germplasm diversity was structured according to geographic centers of origin and domestication. Genome-wide association mapping identified 40 marker-trait associations (MTAs), including 34 MTAs for agronomic traits and 6 for grain nutrients; 20 of these MTAs were located within genes. Favourable alleles and phenotypic values were estimated for all MTAs. This study provides valuable insights into the population structure and diversity of proso millet, identified marker-trait associations, and reported favourable alleles and their phenotypic values for supporting genomics-assisted improvement efforts in proso millet.

Late Bronze Age crops from Çine-Tepecik, western Anatolia: insights into farming and political economy in the lands of Arzawa

A dearth of published archaeobotanical data from the Late Bronze Age of western Anatolia limits our understanding of agricultural production in this key area. Recent excavations at Çine-Tepecik provide insights into farming and the political economy in the kingdom of Mira within the lands of Arzawa. Archaeobotanical assemblages indicate that farming was structured to meet both domestic and institutional consumption; the former utilising a wide range of crop species while the latter focused on cereals. Plant remains provide further evidence for a ‘hybrid’ suite of farming practices across western Anatolia and contribute to debate around the spread of broomcorn millet cultivation.