Variation In Agronomic Traits Research Articles

Evaluation of genetic diversity in agronomic traits among dual-purpose cowpea genotypes in Kenya

Evaluation of genetic diversity in agronomic traits among dual-purpose cowpea genotypes in Kenya

Evaluation of Agronomic Traits, Total Phenolic Content, and Antioxidant Properties of Sesame Seeds of Different Colors and Origin.

Rising health concerns regarding chronic diseases call for exploring natural sources of antioxidants and factors that influence their activity. This study evaluated the diversity of 112 sesame germplasms from Africa and Asia based on ten agronomic traits (seven quantitative and three qualitative), two antioxidant activities (ABTS and DPPH radical scavenging activities), and the content of one metabolite (TPC). TPC, DPPH, and ABTS were in the ranges of 4.98-87.88 µg GAE/mg DE, 3.97-46.23 µg AAE/mg DE, and 3.42-176.01 µg TE/mg DE, respectively. Statistical analyses revealed significant variations in agronomic traits, TPC, and antioxidant activities among the sesame germplasms (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the individual and interaction effects of seed color and the continent of origin on the levels of the quantitative traits, TPC, ABTS, and DPPH were analyzed, and the correlation among the traits was further evaluated. Diversity in TPC, ABTS, and DPPH was significantly associated with seed color and most of the quantitative agronomic traits (p < 0.05) but not with continent of origin. Principal component analysis revealed TPC, ABTS, DPPH, and five quantitative traits as the most discriminant traits. In general, six sesame accessions with high TPC and antioxidant activities (IT194356, IT170094, IT29971, IT185998, IT104246, and IT169623) as well as important agronomic traits were identified and, hence, could be used for developing improved sesame varieties.

Genetic performance, heritability, and correlation of traits in new plant type of rice lines for highland ecosystem

Rice cultivation is crucial in providing global food needs, particularly in highland areas with distinct environmental conditions. Adapting promising rice lines suitable for highland ecosystems is essential to ensure sustainable rice production in such regions. This study assesses the agronomic performance, heritability, and correlation of traits in new promising rice lines adapted to highland ecosystems. The latest promising rice lines are designed with the unique environmental conditions of highland regions in mind. This research was conducted in Buntu Barana’ Village, Tikala Sub-district, with an elevation of 858.4 m above sea level. The study was carried out in rain-fed semi-irrigated paddy fields. The research was conducted from May 2023 to January 2024. The research methodology involves testing various agronomic traits for yield production components of the new type of promising rice lines at different highland locations. The research procedures included the selection of viable seed strains, seeding, fertilization, balanced irrigation, control of plant pest organisms, harvesting, and post-harvesting. Evaluated agronomic traits encompass plant height, days to maturity, number of productive tillers, length of panicles, number of filled grains per panicle, and grain yield. Additionally, heritability analysis is performed to assess the extent to which observed trait variations are attributed to genetic factors. Research findings reveal significant variations in agronomic traits among the new type of promising rice lines. The highest grain yield is achieved in genotype UKIT102-2-056, which is 8.3 tons per hectare of paddy rice. These lines exhibit objective adaptation to the highland ecosystem, with some lines demonstrating superior performance in specific parameters, especially early maturity, namely 97 days after planting. Heritability analysis indicates that certain traits have high heritability levels, suggesting a significant role of genetic factors in controlling these traits. Furthermore, this study unveils correlation patterns among the observed agronomic traits. Significant positive and negative correlations among several traits indicate complex interrelationships among these agronomic characteristics. These findings offer further insights into the relationships between these traits and can be utilized to develop more adaptive rice lines in highland environments.

IIIVmrMLM Provides New Insights into the Genetic Basis of the Agronomic Trait Variation in Chickpea

Chickpea is a staple crop for many nations worldwide. Modeling genotype-by-environment interactions and assessing the genotype’s ability to contribute adaptive alleles are crucial for chickpea breeding. In this study, we evaluated 12 agronomically important traits of 159 accessions from the N.I. Vavilov All Russian Institute for Plant Genetic Resources collection. These included 145 landraces and 13 cultivars grown in different climatic conditions in Kuban (45°18′ N and 40°52′ E) in both 2016 and 2022, as well as in Astrakhan (46°06′ N and 48°04′ E) in 2022. Using the IIIVmrMLM model in multi-environmental mode, we identified 161 quantitative trait nucleotides (QTNs) with stable genetic effects across different environments. Furthermore, we have observed 254 QTN-by-environment interactions with distinct environment-specific effects. Notably, five of these interactions manifested large effects, with R2 values exceeding 10%, while the highest R2 value for stable QTNs was 4.7%. Within the protein-coding genes and their 1 Kb flanking regions, we have discerned 22 QTNs and 45 QTN-by-environment interactions, most likely tagging the candidate causal genes. The landraces obtained from the N.I Vavilov All Russian Institute for Plant Genetic Resources collection exhibit numerous favorable alleles at quantitative trait nucleotide loci, showing stable effects in the Kuban and Astrakhan regions. Additionally, they possessed a significantly higher number of Kuban-specific favorable alleles of the QTN-by-environment interaction loci compared to the Astrakhan-specific ones. The environment-specific alleles found at the QTN-by-environment interaction loci have the potential to enhance chickpea adaptation to specific climatic conditions.

Morphological and cytological assessments reveal pollen degradation causes pollen abortion in cotton cytoplasmic male sterility lines

BackgroundUnderstanding the mechanism of male sterility is crucial for producing hybrid seeds and developing sterile germplasm resources. However, only a few cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) lines of cotton have been produced due to several challenges, like inadequate variation of agronomic traits, incomplete sterility, weak resilience of restorer lines, and difficulty in combining strong dominance. Therefore, the morphological and cytological identification of CMS in cotton will facilitate hybrid breeding.ResultsTwo F2 segregating populations of cotton were constructed from cytoplasmic male sterile lines (HaA and 01A, maternal) and restorer lines (HaR and 26R, paternal). Genetic analysis of these populations revealed a segregation ratio of 3:1 for fertile to sterile plants. Phenotypic analysis indicated no significant differences in traits of flower bud development between sterile and fertile plants. However, sterile plants exhibited smaller floral organs, shortened filament lengths, and anther atrophy on the flowering day in comparison with the fertile plants. When performed scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the two F2 populations revealed morphological variations in the anther epidermis. Cellular analysis showed no significant differences in pollen development before pollen maturation. Interestingly, between the pollen maturation and flowering stages, the tapetum layer of sterile plants degenerated prematurely, resulting in abnormal pollen grains and gradual pollen degradation.ConclusionThe results of this study suggest that fertility-restoring genes are controlled by a single dominant gene. Sterile plants exhibit distinctive floral morphology, which is characterized by stamen atrophy and abnormal anthers. Pollen abortion occurs between pollen maturity and flowering, indicating that premature tapetum degradation may be the primary cause of pollen abortion. Overall, our study provides a theoretical basis for utilizing CMS in hybrid breeding and in-depth investigation of the dominant configuration of cotton hybrid combinations, mechanisms of sterility, and the role of sterile and restorer genes.

Development and characterization of an EMS-mutagenized population of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) for agronomic trait variation and increased micronutrients content

Development and characterization of an EMS-mutagenized population of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) for agronomic trait variation and increased micronutrients content

Dissecting Genotype by Environment Interactions in Moroccan Wheat: An Advanced Biplot and Heatmap Analysis Unveiling Agronomic, Quality Traits, and Genotypic Stability for Tailored Breeding Strategies.

This five-year study (2016-2021) across diverse Moroccan agro-climatic zones investigated genotype by environment (G × E) interactions in wheat, focusing on variations in agronomic traits and quality attributes such as protein and gluten content. Significant environmental effects were observed on key traits, like yield, thousand kernel weight (TKW), and spikes per square meter (Spk/m2), highlighting environmental factors' role in wheat yield variability. In the Tassaout (TST) location, notable genotypic effects emerged for traits like biomass, underscoring genetic factors' importance in specific contexts, while in Sidi El Aidi (SEA) and Marchouch (MCH), genotypic effects on yield and its components were predominantly absent, indicating a more substantial environmental influence. These findings illustrate the complexity of G × E interactions and the need for breeding strategies considering genetic potential and environmental adaptability, especially given the trade-offs between yield enhancement and quality maintenance. Insights from the biplot and heatmap analyses enhanced the understanding of genotypes' dynamic interactions with environmental factors, establishing a basis for strategic genotype selection and management to optimize wheat yield and quality. This research contributes to sustainable wheat breeding in Morocco, aligning with global efforts to adapt wheat breeding strategies to changing climatic conditions.

Genotypic Variation in Agronomic Traits and Molecular Markers among Chinese Luobuma (Apocynum spp.) Germplasm Accessions

Apocynum spp., known as Chinese Luobuma species, are perennial herbaceous plants that not only have good ecological characteristics, such as drought resistance, salt resistance, freezing resistance, high-temperature resistance and wind sand resistance, but also have good medicinal and textile value. However, studies on the genetic variation in Chinese Luobuma are rare. In this study, the genotypic variation in the agronomic traits and molecular markers among eight germplasm accessions (referred to as genotypes) of Apocynum spp. was investigated. The accessions were evaluated at two locations in China, Altay and Yuzhong, during a three-year period. Analysis of the variance in yield-related traits revealed significant genotypic variation (p &lt; 0.05) among the eight genotypes at the early flowering and full flowering stages. There were also significant (p &lt; 0.05) genotype × year and genotype × location × year interactions for all the traits except leaf dry weight. In comparison to those evaluated at Yuzhong, the plant height, number of branches, leaf dry weight and stem dry weight at the early flowering stage were greater in Altay, with averages of 991.0 mm, 5.52, 26.41 g and 25.35 g, respectively. There were significant (p &lt; 0.05) differences among genotypes in terms of the quality traits measured at the early and full flowering stages. The crude protein and crude fat content for each genotype at different locations at the early flowering stage in different years ranged from 8.64 to 10.07%. The average flavone (FLA) content was 2.31 mg/100 g. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that the G1 genotype in Altay had a higher neutral detergent fiber content and leaf dry weight, and the G2 genotype had a larger stem thickness, branch number and stem-to-leaf ratio. Five DNA sequences, ITS, matK, psbA-trnH, rbcL and trnL-F, were selected for analysis of the molecular variance in Chinese Luobuma. Analyses of molecular variance (AMOVA) based on the nuclear DNA sequences and chloroplast DNA sequences showed that most of the variation occurred within species. Our study indicated the significant genetic variation in Chinese Luobuma for future cultivar domestication. Genotypes with high leaf dry weights and many branches are beneficial for tea production, while tall plants with long internode lengths are valuable for the production of hemp.

Micropropagation of banana genetic resources adapted to the Argentine environment and generation of new variability for agronomic traits through somaclonal variation

Micropropagation of banana genetic resources adapted to the Argentine environment and generation of new variability for agronomic traits through somaclonal variation

Optimizing Variation in Agronomic Traits of Cymbopogon flexuosus and Cymbopogon winterianus in Different Treatments and Altitude of Uttarakhand, India

Cymbopogon flexuosus and Cymbopogon winterianus are aromatic grasses, valued for essential oils. This study aims to develop propagation protocol for C. flexuosus and C. winterianus also evaluating transplanted seedling performance at altitudes ranging from 400 to 1900 m in Uttarakhand, India. Stumps were sterilized using a solution of 1% tween 20 and 1% bavistin for 20 minutes. Twenty-five stumps in triplicates (10 cm in length) were used for each treatment. Organic fertilizers used were manure, organic compost, vermicompost, organic compost + vermicompost. Inorganic fertilizers used were urea (46 mg N kg-1), NPK (12-32–16 mg kg-1), DAP (18–46-0 mg kg-1), NPK+urea and DAP+urea. Auxins used were IAA, IBA and NAA at concentrations of 250, 500 and 1000 mg L-1. The result indicates, that sprouting was 100% in C. flexuosus and C. winterianus. Plant growth of one year treated with DAP+urea exhibited maximum plant height(121.00, 115.33 cm), tiller/clump (107, 84), leaves/tiller (6.67, 7.33), and herbage weight/plant (1027.96, 990.67 g/plant) in C. flexuosus and C. winterianus respectively. Altitude and treatment showed significant growth response at p ≤ 0.05 in growth of C. flexuosus and C. winterianus. Maximum plant height (125.13, 125.00 cm), tillers/clump (115.33, 95.00), leaf area (4358.67, 5721 mm2), herbage weight/ plant (1200.93, 1227.85 g/plant) and seed number/plant (377.67, 311.33) was observed in DAP+urea at an altitude of 400 m. Root length (73.70; 70.60 cm) was maximum in NAA 250 mg L-1 at an altitude of 400 m in C. flexuosus and C. winterianus respectively. This study recommends use of DAP+urea for mass cultivation of each species at various altitudes and agro-climatic conditions; thereby ensuring efficient protocol for mass cultivation and genetic heterogeneity.

Responses of elite sorghum (Sorghum bicolor [L.] Moench) lines developed via gamma-radiation for grain yield, component traits and drought tolerance

Induced plant mutagenesis is a powerful technique to create genetic variation for agronomic traits and drought tolerance selection programs. The objective of this study was to determine the response of elite sorghum (Sorghum bicolor [L.] Moench) lines developed via gamma-radiation for grain yield, component traits, and drought tolerance to select best performing lines for cultivation in water-stressed environments. Ten newly developed mutant lines and four check varieties were evaluated in two growing seasons under drought-stressed (DS) and non-stressed (NS) conditions in Namibia. Mutant lines were evaluated using a factorial experiment laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications in custom-made rainout-shelter facility. Data on grain yield and yield-related traits were collected and drought tolerance selection indices were computed using mean genotype yield under non-stressed condition and drought-stressed condition. Data were subjected to standard analysis of variance, correlation and principal component analyses. The interaction effect of genotype × drought stress × season was non-significant for most assessed traits suggesting the relatively stable performance of the test lines for selection. Grain yield response of test genotypes varied from 0.55 to 2.27 t/ha under DS and 1.84 to 4.05 t/ha in NS conditions. Grain yield positively and significantly (P < 0.05) correlated with harvest index (r = 0.79), panicle weight (r = 0.75) and panicle length (r = 0.37), and negatively correlated with days to flowering (r = −0.35) under DS condition. Principal component (PC) analysis identified two PCs accounting for 96.35 % of total genotypic variation based on drought tolerance selection indices. Biplot analysis using a combination assessed traits allowed selection of drought tolerant mutant lines designated as ML4, ML10, ML6, and ML5 with mean grain yield of 2.27, 2.05, 1.89 and 1.67 t/ha under DS conditions, in that order. The selected lines are recommended for further multi-environment evaluations for release and large-scale production in Namibia or other related agro-ecologies.

A comprehensive lettuce variation map reveals the impact of structural variations in agronomic traits

BackgroundAs an important vegetable crop, cultivated lettuce is grown worldwide and a great variety of agronomic traits have been preserved within germplasm collections. The mechanisms underlying these phenotypic variations remain to be elucidated in association with sequence variations. Compared with single nucleotide polymorphisms, structural variations (SVs) that have more impacts on gene functions remain largely uncharacterized in the lettuce genome.ResultsHere, we produced a comprehensive SV set for 333 wild and cultivated lettuce accessions. Comparison of SV frequencies showed that the SVs prevalent in L. sativa affected the genes enriched in carbohydrate derivative catabolic and secondary metabolic processes. Genome-wide association analysis of seven agronomic traits uncovered potentially causal SVs associated with seed coat color and leaf anthocyanin content.ConclusionOur work characterized a great abundance of SVs in the lettuce genome, and provides a valuable genomic resource for future lettuce breeding.

Plant trait relationships are maintained within a major crop species: lack of artificial selection signal and potential for improved agronomic performance.

The exploration of phenotypic spaces of large sets of plant species has considerably increased our understanding of diversification processes in the plant kingdom. Nevertheless, such advances have predominantly relied on interspecific comparisons that hold several limitations. Here, we grew in the field a unique set of 179 inbred lines of durum wheat, Triticum turgidum spp. durum, characterized by variable degrees of artificial selection. We measured aboveground and belowground traits as well as agronomic traits to explore the functional and agronomic trait spaces and to investigate trait-to-agronomic performance relationships. We showed that the wheat functional trait space shared commonalities with global cross-species spaces previously described, with two main axes of variation: a root foraging axis and a slow-fast trade-off axis. Moreover, we detected a clear signature of artificial selection on the variation of agronomic traits, unlike functional traits. Interestingly, we identified alternative phenotypic combinations that can optimize crop performance. Our work brings insightful knowledge about the structure of phenotypic spaces of domesticated plants and the maintenance of phenotypic trade-offs in response to artificial selection, with implications for trade-off-free and multi-criteria selection in plant breeding.

The effect of silicon fertilizers on agronomic performance of bread wheat under drought stress and non‐stress conditions

AbstractDrought is one of the major constraints of wheat production, especially in rainfed wheat production systems. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different silicon fertilizer formulations on the agronomic performance of diverse wheat genotypes under drought‐stressed conditions. Twenty wheat genotypes were evaluated in field and greenhouse environments under non‐stressed and drought‐stressed and two silicon fertilizer formulations (granular and liquid potassium silicate) and untreated control. The four‐way interaction involving genotype, environment, water regime and silicon formulation had a significant effect (p &lt; .05) for aboveground biomass, productive spike number, hundred seed weight and grain yield. Granular silicon application was the most effective treatment both under non‐stressed and drought‐stressed conditions compared to the liquid and control treatments. Under field and drought conditions, the highest yielding genotype was MC18, which exhibited a mean grain yield of 4.17 t ha−1 with granular silicon, 2.56 t ha−1 with liquid silicon and 2.18 t ha−1 without silicon. The yield of genotype MC18 improved by 91.3% using granular silicon under drought‐stressed and by 44.6% under non‐stressed conditions compared with the untreated control. Granular silicon positively affected the drought stress tolerance indices compared to the liquid silicon and untreated control. The principal component biplot analysis revealed that liquid and granular silicon positively impact yield response for all test genotypes under drought‐stressed and non‐stressed conditions compared with the control. Silicon application reduced genotype variation for agronomic traits and enhanced agronomic trait relationships under drought‐stressed conditions. Drought stress tolerance indices are influenced by silicon application. The effect of silicon has a direct and indirect effect on yield and yield components. Silicon fertilization can be considered as a mitigation measure to cope with the adverse effect of drought stress on wheat.

Five improved sesame reference genomes and genome resequencing unveil the contribution of structural variants to genetic diversity and yield-related traits variation.

Five improved sesame reference genomes and genome resequencing unveil the contribution of structural variants to genetic diversity and yield-related traits variation.

Efficacy of transplant insecticides against black cutworm Agrotis ipsilon (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in tobacco

The black cutworm, Agrotis ipsilon (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is a critical soil pest of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) in the early season. Although numerous studies have shown that chemical insecticides through soil-surface or foliar application provide adequate management of black cutworms, relatively little is known about the efficacy of transplant applications. Here, we evaluated the efficacy of insecticide transplant treatment against black cutworm in tobacco in pots and in the field. We also investigated the impact of chlorantraniliprole on tobacco, including dynamic residue concentrations in tobacco and variation in agronomic traits of treated seedlings. Bioassays showed that LC50 of chlorantraniliprole was 0.28 mg AI/L against black cutworm. In a potted plant experiment, chlorantraniliprole treatment at 15, 30, and 75 g AI/ha reduced the number of damaged tobacco seedlings and increased the mortality of black cutworm within 30 d. When tobacco seedlings were treated with chlorantraniliprole 24 h before transplanting in the field, the control efficacy of chlorantraniliprole treatment at 75 g AI/ha was 45.5%–59.6% at 20 d after treatment. The concentration of chlorantraniliprole in tobacco seedlings treated with 15 g AI/ha was found to degrade to 0.033 mg/kg after 28 d (t1/2 = 2.54 d), which affected the height of seedlings but not the number of leaves after 28 d. Chlorantraniliprole treatment of seedlings during transplanting is a practical and effective strategy to manage black cutworm in tobacco.

Assessment of Genetic Diversity in Bupleurum spp. Basing Agronomic Traits, Medicinal Components and ISSR Markers.

Radix bupleuri is one of the bulk medicinal materials in China and it is widely adopted in clinical applications and drug discovery. The investigation of agronomic traits, active component content and genetic diversity in diverse Radix bupleuri germplasms may provide evidence to promote the selection of better strains. In this research, 13 germplasms from various sources were used to investigate the variations between different Radix bupleuri germplasms. Nine biological characteristics were noted in the field, and the levels of the two primary active ingredients were determined using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Moreover, the molecular marker technique of inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) and the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic means (UPGMA) were employed to evaluate the molecular genetic diversity. The findings showed that there was a wide range of variation among the many varieties of Radix bupleuri, with coefficients of variation for agronomic traits and active component content ranging from 7.62% to 41.54% and 36.47% to 53.70%, respectively. Moreover, there are different degrees of relationship between the two. Since there was a significant correlation between root weight and saikosaponin content, it was possible to classify a plant based on its weight and anticipate its saikosaponin content. The 13 species were divided into four groups based on their germplasm by genetic markers-based cluster analysis. This indicated the possibility that the component content would not necessarily be related to germplasm and might easily be influenced by environmental factors. The use of ISSR marker technology made it possible to precisely identify the various Radix bupleuri provenances and its counterfeit products. There may be a way to prevent the misunderstandings caused by the appearance and composition of Chinese medicinal substances. In our study, the germplasm of Radix bupleuri that was widely circulated in the market was comprehensively evaluated in terms of agronomic traits, active components and molecular level, and identified by simple means, to provide a theoretical basis for the evaluation and screening of fine germplasms of Radix bupleuri.

Combined evaluation of agronomic and quality traits to explore heat germplasm in celery (Apium graveolens L.)

Existing celery germplasm resources must be evaluated prior to celery biological research and application of germplasm resources. In this study, 14 agronomic and quality traits, and heat-resistance of 50 celery cultivars were analyzed. The results showed that the coefficients of variation of the 14 traits ranged from 1.73% to 64.69%, 50 samples of celery could be divided into 5 groups by cluster analysis. The primary sources of variation in agronomic traits were petiole color, hollow/solid, and yield per plant, and the primary sources of variation of quality traits were apigenin and cellulose. The photosynthetic parameters and heat damage index was investigated, and the correlation between celery germplasm resources and heat-resistance was analyzed. The result showed that heat-resistance was correlated with its hollow/solid and color. This study analyzed the genetic diversity of celery germplasm resources, screened heat-resistant and heat-sensitive varieties, and performed an association analysis with the germplasm resources, which laid the foundation for the subsequent selection of heat-resistant celery varieties.

Development of 12 sets of chromosome segment substitution lines that enhance allele mining in Asian cultivated rice.

Many agronomic traits that are important in rice breeding are controlled by multiple genes. The extensive time and effort devoted so far to identifying and selecting such genes are still not enough to target multiple agronomic traits in practical breeding in Japan because of a lack of suitable plant materials in which to efficiently detect and validate beneficial alleles from diverse genetic resources. To facilitate the comprehensive analysis of genetic variation in agronomic traits among Asian cultivated rice, we developed 12 sets of chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs) with the japonica background, 11 of them in the same genetic background, using donors representing the genetic diversity of Asian cultivated rice. Using these materials, we overviewed the chromosomal locations of 1079 putative QTLs for seven agronomic traits and their allelic distribution in Asian cultivated rice through multiple linear regression analysis. The CSSLs will allow the effects of putative QTLs in the highly homogeneous japonica background to be validated.

Grain Nutrients Variability in Pigeonpea Genebank Collection and Its Potential for Promoting Nutritional Security in Dryland Ecologies.

Pigeonpea, a climate-resilient legume, is nutritionally rich and of great value in Asia, Africa, and Caribbean regions to alleviate malnutrition. Assessing the grain nutrient variability in genebank collections can identify potential sources for biofortification. This study aimed to assess the genetic variability for grain nutrients in a set of 600 pigeonpea germplasms conserved at the RS Paroda Genebank, ICRISAT, India. The field trials conducted during the 2019 and 2020 rainy seasons in augmented design with four checks revealed significant differences among genotypes for all the agronomic traits and grain nutrients studied. The germplasm had a wider variation for agronomic traits like days to 50% flowering (67–166 days), days to maturity (112–213 days), 100-seed weight (1.69–22.17 g), and grain yield per plant (16.54–57.93 g). A good variability was observed for grain nutrients, namely, protein (23.35–29.50%), P (0.36–0.50%), K (1.43–1.63%), Ca (1,042.36–2,099.76 mg/kg), Mg (1,311.01–1,865.65 mg/kg), Fe (29.23–40.98 mg/kg), Zn (24.14–35.68 mg/kg), Mn (8.56–14.01 mg/kg), and Cu (7.72–14.20 mg/kg). The germplasm from the Asian region varied widely for grain nutrients, and the ones from African region had high nutrient density. The significant genotype × environment interaction for most of the grain nutrients (except for P, K, and Ca) indicated the sensitivity of nutrient accumulation to the environment. Days to 50% flowering and days to maturity had significant negative correlation with most of the grain nutrients, while grain yield per plant had significant positive correlation with protein and magnesium, which can benefit simultaneous improvement of agronomic traits with grain nutrients. Clustering of germplasms based on Ward.D2 clustering algorithm revealed the co-clustering of germplasm from different regions. The identified top 10 nutrient-specific and 15 multi-nutrient dense landraces can serve as promising sources for the development of biofortified lines in a superior agronomic background with a broad genetic base to fit the drylands. Furthermore, the large phenotypic data generated in this study can serve as a raw material for conducting SNP/haplotype-based GWAS to identify genetic variants that can accelerate genetic gains in grain nutrient improvement.