Pearl Millet Cultivars Research Articles

Antidiabetic, antioxidant, and phytochemical profile of Pennisetum glaucum cultivated in central-southern Morocco and imported from India

Alternative methods of producing food sustainably are being considered due to rapid expanding population, increasing food needs, declining agricultural soils fertility, and ongoing drought. To achieve that, we examined the pharmacological, functional, and nutritional characteristics of two cultivars of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum), which are distinguished by their ability to tolerate a variety of climates compared to other cereal grains. In this study, we evaluated the antioxidant and antidiabetic effects of two seeds cultivars: one cultivated in Morocco and the other grown in India. In addition to having a higher energy value (403.91 Kcal), higher protein (9.13 %) and lipid content (7.11 %), and a lower capacity for self-oxidation than the Indian variety due to its fatty acid composition, the content of phenolic compounds of Moroccan millet is well concentrated in its seeds, making it more powerful as an antioxidant and hypoglycemic plant. The ethanolic extract of Moroccan pearl millet showed the greatest total phenolic content (36.278 mg GAE/g extract), DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity (IC50 = 152.286 and 252.480 μg/mL respectively), α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity (IC50 = 84.439 μg/mL and 224.103 μg/mL respectively). The evidence gathered in this study indicates that P.glaucum possesses characteristics that qualify it as a food, medicinal, and productive plant.

Growth and yield attributes of pearl millet as influenced by cultivars and fertility levels under rainfed condition of Jammu Region

A field experiment entitled “Growth and yield potential of Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) cultivars as influenced by fertility levels” was conducted during kharif season of 2020 at Rakh Dhinsar, SKUAST, Jammu. In this experiment three cultivars (Puas composite 383, MBC-2 & local variety) was combined with five fertility levels. Totally there were fifteen treatment combinations and laid out in Factorial Randomized Block Design with three replications. Pearl millet cultivar MBC-2 recorded significantly higher growth parameters viz., dry matter accumulation (615.37), number of tillers/m2 (23.47), leaf area index (2.41) and crop growth rate (3.95) and yield attributes viz., ear head/m2 (22.13), 1000 grain weight (7.05g), number of grains/ear head (1593.41) as compared to Pusa Composite-383 and local variety. Whereas, among the fertility levels F5 - 80:50:25 kg/ha of N:P2O5:K2O + 25 kg N through FYM to recorded significantly higher growth parameters and yield attributes over lower fertility levels but remained at par with fertility level F4 (65:40:20 kg/ha of N:P2O5:K2O + 25 kg N through FYM). Hence, On the basis of one year finding it is concluded that under rainfed conditions of Jammu, pearl millet cultivar MBC 2 when fertilized with F4 marked its superiority by recording higher growth parameters and yield attributes statistically at par with fertility level F5.

Produção de gases “in vitro” de cultivares de milheto sob doses de nitrogênio

ABSTRACT This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro gas production from three pearl millet cultivars submitted to four nitrogen levels. The treatments consisted of three pearl millet cultivars (ADR 500, ADR 7020, and LABH 70732) and four nitrogen levels (0, 50, 100, and 200 kg/ha), using urea as the nitrogen source. A 3 x 4 factorial experimental design, employing a randomized block setup, was used to assess both gas production and digestibility. No interaction was observed between nitrogen doses and fermentative parameters on in vitro gas production from the dry matter of pearl millet cultivars. Nitrogen had no impact on the dry matter content or chemical composition of the cultivars. Consistency prevailed in the chemical composition across the various cultivars, a trend that extended to the gas production rates for both soluble and insoluble contents. Notably, nitrogen fertilizer exerted an influence on the fermentation pattern of organic matter, gas production, and lag time for the cultivars. Nitrogen fertilization is advised solely for enhancing fermentative attributes in the case of the cultivar ADR 7020.

Influence of Different Fertility Levels on Growth and Quality of Pearl millet in Mid Hills of Himachal Pradesh, India

The present study was conducted at Shoolini University, Solan during the kharif season 2022 to evaluate the influence of Different Fertility Levels on Growth and Quality of Pearl millet in Mid Hills of Himachal Pradesh. The soil of the experimental site was fertile with uniform sandy loam texture, medium in N and K but high in phosphorus availability. The experiment was laid out in RBD comprising of ten treatments (T1) Control, (T2) 100% RDF, (T3) 120% RDF, (T4) 50% RDF + FYM @ 10 t ha-1, (T5) 75% RDF + FYM @ 5 t ha-1), (T6) 100% RDF + FYM @ 5 t ha-1, (T7) 50% RDF + Vermicompost @ 2.5 t ha-1, (T8) 75% RDF + Vermicompost @ 2.5 t ha-1, (T9) 100% RDF + Vermicompost @ 2.5 t ha-1 and (T10) 75% RDF + FYM @ 5 t ha-1 + Vermicompost @ 2.5 t ha-1 and and replicated thrice. Pearl millet cultivar PHB-2884 was sown at spacing of 45 × 15 cm with the seed rate of 4 Kg ha-1. Plant population, plant height, nitrogen content & uptake and protein yield were recorded significantly higher with application of (T3) 120% RDF which was statistically at par with (T9) 100% RDF + Vermicompost @ 2.5 t ha-1, (T6) 100% RDF + FYM @ 5 t ha-1 and (T2) 100% RDF. However, least values of these characters were recorded under (T1) control treatment. Findings can be concluded as the significantly higher Growth, and quality produce by pearl millet were observed with application of (T3) 120% RDF and was at par with (T2) 100% RDF, (T9) 100% RDF + Vermicompost @ 2.5 t ha-1 and (T6) 100% RDF + FYM @ 5 t ha-1 over rest of the treatments. Thus, application of (T3) 120% RDF was found to be most promising treatment in enhancing the growth and quality of pearl millet.

Characterization and Trait Association Analysis of 27 Pearl Millet Landraces in Southern Tunisia

Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br., 2n = 2x = 14, Poaceae), is a cross-pollinated, warm-season crop grown worldwide. To select genotypes for breeding pearl millet cultivars that adapt to drought condition in southern Tunisia, we evaluated the grain yield (GY) and yield-related traits using a set of 27 landraces at two locations in southern Tunisia for two grown seasons (2019 and 2020). The genetic variability, phenotypic and genotypic association, and path coefficient (PC), based on grain yield (GY) and different yield-related agronomic traits, were evaluated. Analysis of variance and BLUPs value revealed a wide range of variability and the possibility of genetic selection for traits that are advantageous. Broad sense heritability (H) for all the traits ranged from 24.10% for grain yield (GY) to 57.11% for spike length (SL), indicating low to moderate inheritability. Genetic advance as a percentage of the mean (GAM) ranged from high (29.56%) for principal panicle weight (PPW) to moderate for all the traits except from plant high (PH) (7.31%). For all the traits, the phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was higher than genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV), indicating the magnitude of environmental conditions. GY was significantly correlated with all the traits at the genotypic and phenotypic level. According to the path coefficient, the traits PPW and SL displayed the highest direct effects on GY. Heatmap analysis demonstrated a clear segregation between the early and late genotypes based on their geographic origin. Based on the cluster analysis and FAI-BLUPS analysis, genotypes G11, G13, G12, G17 and G18 were selected as the best-performing genotypes with the shortest cycle.

Effect of different dates of sowing on the severity of blast disease of pearl millet under field conditions

Pearl millet is infected by many diseases, which cause yield reduction and economic losses to the grower. Among several diseases, blast disease has emerged as a serious one, affecting both forage and grain production of pearl millet. The research work has been carried out at the Center for Crop Improvement, S. D. Agricultural University, S. K. Nagar, during the Kharif seasons of 2018 and 2019. The experiment comprising susceptible cultivars of pearl millet was conducted on varied planting dates (D1: 27th June, D2: 4th July, D3: 11th July, and D4: 18th July) to find out the appropriate date of sowing for management of blast under natural conditions. The minimum disease intensity (63.27%) was observed in the 4th July sown crop, followed by the 11th July sown crop (70.47%). The next treatment in merit was the 27th June sown crop (70.77%). The maximum intensity (72.49%) was recorded in the 18th July sown crop.

Principal Component Analysis for Yield and Yield Related Traits in Pearl Millet Cultivars

A set of 40 pearl millets genotypes were evaluated with a view of studying genetic parameters for eight quantitative characters. In the experimental materials, analysis of variance revealed significant differences for all analyzed traits. The study identified 3 Principal Components (PCs) with Eigen value greater than 1.00 which accounted for 82.3% of the total variation for discriminating the lines. From principal component analysis, PC1 showed highest amount of variance (36.2%) with mostly related to traits like yield per plant, productive tillers per plant, and fodder yield per plot. As a result, the first component mainly identifies the characters responsible for yield. PC2 showed second highest amount of variance (29.9%) with cumulative variance (66.1%) with mostly related to traits like days to maturity, days to 50% flowering, and panicle diameter. Third highest variance (16.2%) with cumulative variance (82.3%) with mostly related to traits plant height and panicle length was observed in PC3. Elbow type line is seen after PC3 showing little variation after PC3. Highest Eigen value is shown by PC1. From biplot, PC1 components showed negative relationship with plant height and Days to 50% flowering, days to maturity showed slightly negative with PC1. PC2 had negative relationship with traits like productive tillers per plant and slightly negative yield per plant and both components showed positive relation with panicle diameter, panicle length and fodder yield per plot.

Loss-of-function of triacylglycerol lipases are associated with low flour rancidity in pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.

Pearl millet is an important cereal crop of semi-arid regions since it is highly nutritious and climate resilient. However, pearl millet is underutilized commercially due to the rapid onset of hydrolytic rancidity of seed lipids post-milling. We investigated the underlying biochemical and molecular mechanisms of rancidity development in the flour from contrasting inbred lines under accelerated aging conditions. The breakdown of storage lipids (triacylglycerols; TAG) was accompanied by free fatty acid accumulation over the time course for all lines. The high rancidity lines had the highest amount of FFA by day 21, suggesting that TAG lipases may be the cause of rancidity. Additionally, the high rancidity lines manifested substantial amounts of volatile aldehyde compounds, which are characteristic products of lipid oxidation. Lipases with expression in seed post-milling were sequenced from low and high rancidity lines. Polymorphisms were identified in two TAG lipase genes (PgTAGLip1 and PgTAGLip2) from the low rancidity line. Expression in a yeast model system confirmed these mutants were non-functional. We provide a direct mechanism to alleviate rancidity in pearl millet flour by identifying mutations in key TAG lipase genes that are associated with low rancidity. These genetic variations can be exploited through molecular breeding or precision genome technologies to develop elite pearl millet cultivars with improved flour shelf life.

Three-Way Top-Cross Hybrids to Enhance Production of Forage with Improved Quality in Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.)

Three-way top-cross hybrids of pearl millet were evaluated along with a popular single- cross check hybrid (PAC 981) for forage yield and quality traits under a multi-cut (three cuts) system across multiple years, seasons and sites in India. Total green forage yield (TGFY) varied from 36 to 53 t ha−1, and two hybrids outyielded the check hybrid for both total dry forage yield (TDFY) and forage quality (CP; Crude protein, and IVOMD; In vitro organic matter digestibility) traits. A set of promising three-way top-cross hybrids evaluated along with a set of promising open-pollinated varieties (OPVs) and top-cross hybrids for forage-related traits over two years under a multi-cut system revealed that the mean TDFY of three-way top-cross hybrids was higher than the mean TDFY of top-cross hybrids, followed by OPVs. Also, three-way top-cross hybrids had higher/or at par forage quality traits such as CP and IVOMD in comparison to other types of cultivars. TDFY had no correlation with CP and IVOMD across cuts in three-way top-cross hybrids, indicating that forage quantity and quality traits can be improved independently of each other. Overall, three-way top-cross hybrids were found to be a better pearl millet cultivar option than other types of cultivars.

Variation in Phenolic, Mineral, Dietary Fiber, and Antioxidant Activity across Southern Tunisian Pearl Millet Germplasm

Pearl millet crop, reputed as one of the most important food sources cultivated in arid and semiarid parts of Africa and Asia, is known to be a source of many bioactive molecules with potential health-promoting properties. In Tunisia, this crop presented historically rich and diversified germplasm, which is being threatened by genetic erosion. The preservation programs of these species have been held for more than 20 years via participatory breeding schemes. A prospection was undertaken to collect pearl millet cultivars preserved in the last two decades from south-eastern Tunisian farmers to estimate their variability and performances. The aim of this study was to assess the profiles of phenolic compounds, antioxidant capacities, mineral composition, and dietary fiber contents of ten pearl millet cultivars in south-eastern Tunisia. The total phenolics and flavonoids in the free fraction ranged from 506.33 to 1287.71 µg.g−1 DM ferulic acid equivalent (FAE) and 4.17 to 12.53 µg.g−1 DM catechin equivalent (CE), respectively. The highest polyphenolic content from all genotypes was 1134.96 µg·g−1 DM (genotype Med.AG1.3). LC-MS analysis of individual phenol compounds allowed the identification of eight phenolic acids in millet grains. The quinic acid, p-coumaric acid, and caffeic acid were predominant phenolic acids, and six flavonoid compounds with cirsiliol and silymarin were the predominant flavonoids. The ranges of mineral contents variation were 693.10 to 1075.40 and 80.75 to 175.40 μg·g−1 for Ca and Mg, respectively, and 9.55 to 32.80, 0.75 to 8.60, 1.84 to 12.21, and 3.63 to 11.40 μg·g−1 for Na, Zn, Cu, and Fe, respectively. The content of NDF, ADF, and ADL per dry weight varied from 20 to 31%, 1 to 4.2%, and 0.4 to 2.3%, respectively. Overall, considering the variability among the assessed attributes, heatmap analysis showed the association between each of the traits as related to the clustered genotypes.

Water productivity and canopy thermal response of pearl millet subjected to different irrigation levels

Pearl millet is a valuable alternative crop to biomass and forage production. However, water productivity (WP) in this crop under limited water conditions remains unclear in literature. In addition, rapid and reliable techniques to detect water stress spatial variability under field conditions are necessary. The objective of this study was to verify the yield and canopy thermal responses of pearl millet subjected to different water replacement levels (WRL). A rain shelter experiment was conducted using a randomized block design with four replications at University of São Paulo in Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil. Pearl millet cultivar BRS-1501 was subjected to four WRL treatments: WRL40, WRL70, WRL100 and WRL130. The reference WRL treatment, WRL100, was irrigated to maintain soil moisture at field capacity level, whereas the other treatments were a fraction of the irrigation depth applied in WRL100 treatment. The highest dry biomass yield obtained was 12.1 Mg ha−1 under WRL130 treatment, and this value diminished as WRL decreased. On the contrary, WP increased as the WRL decreased, recording the highest WP in WRL40 (9.0 kg m−3). Pear millet canopy showed different thermal responses as a function of WRL treatments imposed, being an alternative tool to detect water stress zones in the field by remote sensing technologies.

Chemical Composition and Antioxidant Profile of Sorghum (Sorghumbicolor (L.) Moench) and Pearl Millet (Pennisetumglaucum (L.) R.Br.) Grains Cultivated in the Far-North Region of Cameroon.

Sorghum and pearl millet are grain crops that can grow in semi-arid climates, with nutritional and bioactive properties superior to those of major cereals such as rice, wheat, and maize. However, these properties vary a lot, depending on the genetic factors, growing conditions, and place of cultivation. Four sorghum and two pearl millet grains cultivars grown in the Far-North region of Cameroon were screened for their chemical composition and antioxidant profile. The proximate and mineral analyses were performed using AOAC standard methods. The antioxidant profile was assayed spectrophotometrically and details on the phenolic compounds were investigated using HPLC. The pearl millet cultivars, especially mouri, showed higher contents of proteins, lipids, ash, calcium, copper, iron, and zinc. The red sorghum specifically exhibited the greatest amounts of total polyphenols (82.22 mg GAE/g DE), total flavonoids (23.82 mg CE/g DE), and total 3-deoxyanthocyanidin (9.06 mg/g DE). The most abundant phenolic compound was gallic acid, while the most frequent were chlorogenic and ferulic acids. The maximum antioxidant activity against DPPH was observed in yellow-pale sorghum (87.71%), followed by red sorghum (81.15%). Among the studied varieties of cereals, mouri pearl millet and red sorghum were the best sources of nutrients and bioactive compounds, respectively. Their consumption should be encouraged to tackle nutrient deficiencies and non-communicable diseases within local populations.

Zinc and iron biofortification in pearl millet cultivars as influenced by different fertifortification strategies in semi arid tropics

Two field experiments were conducted during Kharif 2018 and 2019 on clay loam soils at Zonal Agricultural and Horticultural Research Station, Babbur farm, Hiriyur, Karnataka to evaluate the performance of pearl millet cultivars by different zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe) fertifortification methods. Micronutrient (Zn and Fe) management strategies were employed in main plots that include application of recommended NPK, along with recommended NPK supply of Fe and Zn through soil, foliar application and FYM enrichment along with plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). Three pearl millet cultivars [Variety - ICTP 8203 Fe (Dhanshakti), Hybrid - ICMH 1202 and local cultivar (variety - WCC 75)] were considered in sub plots laid in split plot design with three replications. Three methods of micronutrient application tested improved the grain Fe and Zn concentrations of both biofortified cultivars Dhanshakti and Hybrid along with grain yield. Enrichment of FYM with Fe and Zn resulted in higher concentration and uptake of Fe and Zn than other modes of micronutrient application. The hybrid ICMH 1202 had obtained significantly higher grain yield (2203 kg ha−1), grain micronutrient concentration of pearl millet (50.52 and 83.88 mg kg−1 Zn and Fe, respectively) with the application of enriched FYM + PGPR along with recommended NPK and found the best.

Breeding Drought-Tolerant Pearl Millet Using Conventional and Genomic Approaches: Achievements and Prospects.

Pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] is a C4 crop cultivated for its grain and stover in crop-livestock-based rain-fed farming systems of tropics and subtropics in the Indian subcontinent and sub-Saharan Africa. The intensity of drought is predicted to further exacerbate because of looming climate change, necessitating greater focus on pearl millet breeding for drought tolerance. The nature of drought in different target populations of pearl millet-growing environments (TPEs) is highly variable in its timing, intensity, and duration. Pearl millet response to drought in various growth stages has been studied comprehensively. Dissection of drought tolerance physiology and phenology has helped in understanding the yield formation process under drought conditions. The overall understanding of TPEs and differential sensitivity of various growth stages to water stress helped to identify target traits for manipulation through breeding for drought tolerance. Recent advancement in high-throughput phenotyping platforms has made it more realistic to screen large populations/germplasm for drought-adaptive traits. The role of adapted germplasm has been emphasized for drought breeding, as the measured performance under drought stress is largely an outcome of adaptation to stress environments. Hybridization of adapted landraces with selected elite genetic material has been stated to amalgamate adaptation and productivity. Substantial progress has been made in the development of genomic resources that have been used to explore genetic diversity, linkage mapping (QTLs), marker-trait association (MTA), and genomic selection (GS) in pearl millet. High-throughput genotyping (HTPG) platforms are now available at a low cost, offering enormous opportunities to apply markers assisted selection (MAS) in conventional breeding programs targeting drought tolerance. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology, micro-environmental modeling, and pearl millet whole genome re-sequence information covering circa 1,000 wild and cultivated accessions have helped to greater understand germplasm, genomes, candidate genes, and markers. Their application in molecular breeding would lead to the development of high-yielding and drought-tolerant pearl millet cultivars. This review examines how the strategic use of genetic resources, modern genomics, molecular biology, and shuttle breeding can further enhance the development and delivery of drought-tolerant cultivars.

RESPONSE OF PEARLMILLET CULTIVARS TO DIFFERENT MOISTURE CONSERVATION PRACTICES UNDER RAINFED CONDITION ON LIGHT TEXTURED SOIL OF CENTRAL UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA

A field experiment was conducted during kharif seasons of 2018 and 2019 at Soil Conservation and Water Management Farm of C.S. Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur, to study the performance of pearlmillet cultivars under varying moisture conservation practices in terms of production, total water use, water use efficiency and root development under rainfed condition. Results revealed that among cultivars, 'Krishna-834' considered to be the most promising in terms of yield, WUE, root development, net return and B:C ratio. One weeding and hoeing + organic residue mulch @ 4 t ha-1 on soil surface at 25 DAS brought out significantly higher production as compared to ridging and furrowing as well as one weeding and hoeing practices. The roots plant-1 , dry weight of roots plant-1, soil moisture status, WUE and net return were also the highest, where mulching practice was taken as moisture conservation practice.

Influence of Seed Priming on Growth, Yield and Fodder Quality of Pearl Millet Cultivars

Influence of Seed Priming on Growth, Yield and Fodder Quality of Pearl Millet Cultivars

Fodder biomass, nutritive value, and grain yield of dual‐purpose improved cereal crops in Burkina Faso

AbstractIn Burkina Faso, availability of quality feed is the major constraint on livestock productivity. Adoption of improved cereal cultivars among farmers could enhance fodder supply. This study assessed the potential for improved cereal cultivars to provide food and feed. The study sites were located in the Köppen climate Zone B (Katchari and Saria) and Köppen climate Zone A (Farakoba) in Burkina Faso (Beck et al., 2018). Five cultivars of pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.], nine cultivars of sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench], and four cultivars of maize (Zea mays L.) were grown during two rainy seasons. Grain yield and forage biomass were assessed, and samples analyzed for nutritive value using near infrared spectrometry (NIRS). For pearl millet, MISARI‐1 produced greatest grain yield (1.7, 2.2, and 2.6 Mg DM ha–1, for Katchari (Zone B), Saria (Zone B), and Farakoba (Zone A), respectively) and its fodder biomass averaged 4.0 Mg DM ha–1 across sites. For sorghum, Sariasso‐14, Sariasso‐16, and ICSV1049, produced the greatest grain yield in Saria (Zone B) (1.2–1.6 Mg DM ha–1) and Farakoba (Zone A) (1.1–1.9 Mg DM ha–1). Sorghum cultivars SF15, M67‐M2, and Ponta negra produced more than 5.0 Mg DM ha–1 of fodder across locations. Maize cultivars only differed in fodder biomass, with cultivar Wari producing 4.3 Mg DM ha–1 in Farakoba. The stover of the three species had high fiber, low digestibility, and crude protein concentration ranged from 40 to 94 g kg–1. Fodders from dual‐purpose cereals are valuable feed resources for crop–livestock systems in the Sahel region. Adoption of improved food–feed cultivars has potential to increase fodder productivity and feed quality for livestock, enhancing livelihood of small‐holder farmers in Burkina Faso.

Isolation and evaluation of bacterial endophytes against Sclerospora graminicola (Sacc.) Schroet, the causal of pearl millet downy mildew

BackgroundPearl millet remains prone to many diseases; among them downy mildew caused by Sclerospora graminicola (Sacc.) Schroet is economically more important. The use of endophytic bacteria for management of downy mildew of pearl millet as eco-friendly approach is increasing attention as sustainable alternative to pesticides. The objective of the present study was to isolate endophytic bacteria from roots of pearl millet cultivars and assess for biocontrol activity against Sclerospora graminicola.ResultsThirty pearl millet root bacterial endophytes (PMRBEs) were isolated and screened in vitro for biocontrol activities such as: siderophore production, hydrogen cyanide (HCN) production and 1-amino cyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase activity. Sixteen isolates possessed siderophore production potential, 3 isolates were found to be HCN producers, and 30% of the bacterial endophytes showed a good growth on ACC supplemented plates. On the basis of biocontrol activities, promising endophyte PMRBE6 was selected for seed treatment as well as a foliar spray to manage downy mildew of pearl millet in screen house experiment. The isolate PMRBE6 was found to be effective in managing downy mildew disease. Grain yield, test weight, plant height and average number of productive tillers were found to be maximum on inoculation of seeds of different pearl millet cultivars with PMRBE6, and the results were statistically significant as compared to control.ConclusionsOn the basis of biochemical characterization and partial 16S rRNA sequencing, the isolate PMRBE6 was identified as Bacillus subtilis strain PD4 (Accession no. MN400209). Pearl millet root bacterial endophyte (PMRBE6) exhibiting biocontrol activities could be exploited in friendly, sustainable organic agriculture.

Molecular identification and phylogenetics of local pearl millet cultivars using internal-transcribed spacers of nuclear ribosomal DNA

AbstractLocal cultivars of pearl millet in Saudi Arabia are known to tolerate extreme heat and drought stress. In the current study, the sequences of internal-transcribed spacers (ITSs) of six pearl millet cultivars were sequenced and analysed to investigate the genetic diversity among the local cultivars. The nucleotide polymorphism, secondary structures and phylogenetics were analysed for ITS sequences of the six local cultivars. The obtained sequences were 772–774 base pairs (bp) in length, including complete sequences of the ITS1–5.8S–ITS2 region and partial sequences of 18S and 26S rRNA. The nucleotide diversity among cultivars was higher in ITS2 sequences than ITS1 sequences. The ITS2 had four variable nucleotide sites in three native cultivars, whereas the ITS1 contained one base insertion. The secondary structures of the ITS1 and 5.8S region were highly conserved among the six cultivars and contained some motifs that are conserved across Viridiplantae. However, the ITS2 secondary structure for the two native cultivars, Sayah and Jazan, was distinct from the other cultivars, which confirms the applicability of the ITS2 sequence in distinguishing between genetically close taxa. Additionally, the phylogenetic analysis of the six investigated cultivars and 31 pearl millet accessions from the NCBI database showed close relationships between the local accessions and NCBI accessions from India and France. However, the local cultivar Sayah appeared to be distinct from the other cultivars in the phylogenetic trees. This study provides insights into the polymorphism within local pearl millet cultivars which is important for the identification and conservation of these cultivars.

Performance and Stability of Pearl Millet Varieties for Grain Yield and Micronutrients in Arid and Semi-Arid Regions of India.

Pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] is grown under both arid and semi-arid conditions in India, where other cereals are hard to grow. Pearl millet cultivars, hybrids, and OPVs (open pollinated varieties) are tested and released by the All India Coordinated Research Project on Pearl Millet (AICRP-PM) across three zones (A1, A, and B) that are classified based on rainfall pattern. Except in locations with extreme weather conditions, hybrids dominate pearl millet growing areas, which can be attributed to hybrid vigor and the active role of the private sector. The importance of OPVs cannot be ruled out, owing to wider adaptation, lower input cost, and timely seed availability to subsidiary farmers cultivating this crop. This study was conducted to scrutinize the presently used test locations for evaluation of pearl millet OPVs across India, identify the best OPVs across locations, and determine the variation in grain Fe and Zn contents across locations in these regions. Six varieties were evaluated across 20 locations in A1 and A (pooled as A) and B zones along with three common checks and additional three zonal adapted checks in the respective zones during the 2019 rainy season. Recorded data on yield and quality traits were analyzed using genotype main effects and genotype × environment interaction biplot method. The genotype × environment (G × E) interaction was found to be highly significant for all the grain yield and agronomic traits and for both micronutrients (iron and zinc). However, genotypic effect (G) was four (productive tillers) to 49 (grain Fe content) times that of G × E interaction effect for various traits across zones that show the flexibility of OPVs. Ananthapuramu is the ideal test site for selecting pearl millet cultivars effectively for adaptation across India, while Ananthapuramu, Perumallapalle, and Gurugram can also be used as initial testing locations. OPVs MP 599 and MP 600 are identified as ideal genotypes, because they showed higher grain and fodder yields and stability compared with other cultivars. Iron and zinc concentration showed highly significant positive correlation (across environment = 0.83; p < 0.01), indicating possibility of simultaneous effective selection for both traits. Three common checks were found to be significantly low yielders than the test entries or zonal checks in individual zones and across India, indicating the potential of genetic improvement through OPVs.