Genome-wide SNPs and candidate genes underlying the genetic variations for protein and amino acids in pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) germplasm.

A total of 544 significant marker-trait associations and 286 candidate genes associated with total protein and 18 amino acids were identified. Thirty-three candidate genes were found near the strong marker trait associations (- logP ≥ 5.5).

Genotype-by-environment interactions for starch, mineral, and agronomic traits in pearl millet hybrids evaluated across five locations in West Africa.

Introduction: Pearl millet is a staple cereal grown in the harshest environments of arid and semi-arid regions of Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. It is the primary source of calories for millions of people in these regions because it has better adaptation to harsh environmental conditions and better nutritional traits than many other cereals. By screening the pearl millet inbred germplasm association panel (PMiGAP), we earlier reported the best genotypes with the highest concentration of slowly digestible and resistant starch in their grains.

Genotype-by-Environment Interaction Analysis of Metabolites in Pearl Millet Genotypes with High Concentrations of Slowly Digestible and Resistant Starch in Their Grains.

Genotype × environment interactions (GEIs) should play an important role in the selection of suitable germplasm in breeding programmes. We here assessed GEI effects on pearl millet ( L.) genotypes, selected to possess a high concentration of slowly digestible starch (SDS) and resistant starch (RS) in their grains.

Metabolite Diversity and Metabolic Genome-Wide Marker Association Studies (Mgwas) for Health Benefiting Nutritional Traits in Pearl Millet Grains.

As efforts are made to increase food security, millets are gaining increasing importance due to their excellent nutritional credentials. Among the millets, pearl millet is the predominant species possessing several health benefiting nutritional traits in its grain that are helpful in mitigating chronic illnesses such as type-2 diabetes and obesity. In this paper, we conducted metabolomic fingerprinting of 197 pearl millet inbred lines drawn randomly from within the world collection of pearl millet germplasm and report the extent of genetic variation for health benefitting metabolites in these genotypes.

Genome-Wide Association Studies and Genomic Selection in Pearl Millet: Advances and Prospects.

Pearl millet is a climate-resilient, drought-tolerant crop capable of growing in marginal environments of arid and semi-arid regions globally. Pearl millet is a staple food for more than 90 million people living in poverty and can address the triple burden of malnutrition substantially. It remained a neglected crop until the turn of the 21st century, and much emphasis has been placed since then on the development of various genetic and genomic resources for whole-genome scan studies, such as the genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and genomic selection (GS).

Discerning combining ability loci for divergent environments using chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs) in pearl millet.

Pearl millet is an important crop for arid and semi-arid regions of the world. Genomic regions associated with combining ability for yield-related traits under irrigated and drought conditions are useful in heterosis breeding programs. Chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs) are excellent genetic resources for precise QTL mapping and identifying naturally occurring favorable alleles.

Root imaging showing comparisons in root distribution and ontogeny in novel populations and closely related perennial ryegrass varieties.

The incorporation of new sophisticated phenotyping technologies within a crop improvement program allows for a plant breeding strategy that can include selections for major root traits previously inaccessible due to the challenges in their phenotype assessment. High-throughput precision phenotyping technology is employed to evaluate root ontogeny and progressive changes to root architecture of both novel amphiploid and introgression lines of over four consecutive months of the growing season and these compared under the same time frame to that of closely related perennial ryegrass () varieties. Root imaging using conventional photography and assembled multiple merged images was used to compare frequencies in root number, their distribution within 0-20 and 20-40 cm depths within soil columns, and progressive changes over time.

Mapping Grain Iron and Zinc Content Quantitative Trait Loci in an Iniadi-Derived Immortal Population of Pearl Millet.

Pearl millet is a climate-resilient nutritious crop requiring low inputs and is capable of giving economic returns in marginal agro-ecologies. In this study, we report large-effect iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) content quantitative trait loci QTLs) using diversity array technology (DArT) and simple sequence repeats (SSRs) markers to generate a genetic linkage map using 317 recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from the (ICMS 8511-S1-17-2-1-1-B-P03 × AIMP 92901-S1-183-2-2-B-08) cross. The base map [seven linkage groups (LGs)] of 196 loci was 964.

Towards Defining Heterotic Gene Pools in Pearl Millet [ (L.) R. Br.].

Pearl millet is a climate resilient crop and one of the most widely grown millets worldwide. Heterotic hybrid development is one of the principal breeding objectives in pearl millet. In a maiden attempt to identify heterotic groups for grain yield, a total of 343 hybrid parental [maintainer (B-) and restorer (R-)] lines were genotyped with 88 polymorphic SSR markers.

Mapping QTLs Controlling Flowering Time and Important Agronomic Traits in Pearl Millet.

Pearl millet [ (L.) R. Br.

Draft genome sequence of , the pearl millet downy mildew pathogen.

pathogen is the most important biotic production constraints of pearl millet in India, Africa and other parts of the world. We report a whole genome assembly and analysis of pathotype 1, one of the most virulent pathotypes of from India. The draft genome assembly contained 299,901,251 bp with 65,404 genes.

Mapping Quantitative Trait Loci Controlling High Iron and Zinc Content in Self and Open Pollinated Grains of Pearl Millet [ (L.) R. Br.].

Pearl millet is a multipurpose grain/fodder crop of the semi-arid tropics, feeding many of the world's poorest and most undernourished people. Genetic variation among adapted pearl millet inbreds and hybrids suggests it will be possible to improve grain micronutrient concentrations by selective breeding. Using 305 loci, a linkage map was constructed to map QTLs for grain iron [Fe] and zinc [Zn] using replicated samples of 106 pearl millet RILs (F) derived from ICMB 841-P3 × 863B-P2.

Genomic Tools in Pearl Millet Breeding for Drought Tolerance: Status and Prospects.

Pearl millet [ (L) R. Br.] is a hardy cereal crop grown in the arid and semiarid tropics where other cereals are likely to fail to produce economic yields due to drought and heat stresses.

Dietary Interventions for Type 2 Diabetes: How Millet Comes to Help.

Diabetes has become a highly problematic and increasingly prevalent disease world-wide. It has contributed toward 1.5 million deaths in 2012.

Exploring potential of pearl millet germplasm association panel for association mapping of drought tolerance traits.

A pearl millet inbred germplasm association panel (PMiGAP) comprising 250 inbred lines, representative of cultivated germplasm from Africa and Asia, elite improved open-pollinated cultivars, hybrid parental inbreds and inbred mapping population parents, was recently established. This study presents the first report of genetic diversity in PMiGAP and its exploitation for association mapping of drought tolerance traits. For diversity and genetic structure analysis, PMiGAP was genotyped with 37 SSR and CISP markers representing all seven linkage groups.

Further evidence that a terminal drought tolerance QTL of pearl millet is associated with reduced salt uptake.

Earlier, we established that a major drought tolerance QTL on linkage group 2 of pearl millet is also associated with reduced salt uptake and enhanced growth under salt stress. Present study was undertaken to re-assess the performance of drought tolerant (PRLT 2/89-33) and drought sensitive (H 77/833-2) parents along with two QTL-NILs (ICMR 01029 and ICMR 01040), under salinity stress specifically imposed during post-flowering growth stages when plants had developed their ion sinks in full. Time course changes in ionic accumulation and their compartmentalization in different plant parts was studied, specifically to monitor and capture changes conferred by the two alleles at this QTL, at small intervals.

Integration of gene-based markers in a pearl millet genetic map for identification of candidate genes underlying drought tolerance quantitative trait loci.

Background: Identification of genes underlying drought tolerance (DT) quantitative trait loci (QTLs) will facilitate understanding of molecular mechanisms of drought tolerance, and also will accelerate genetic improvement of pearl millet through marker-assisted selection. We report a map based on genes with assigned functional roles in plant adaptation to drought and other abiotic stresses and demonstrate its use in identifying candidate genes underlying a major DT-QTL.

Results: Seventy five single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and conserved intron spanning primer (CISP) markers were developed from available expressed sequence tags (ESTs) using four genotypes, H 77/833-2, PRLT 2/89-33, ICMR 01029 and ICMR 01004, representing parents of two mapping populations.

Using genetic mapping and genomics approaches in understanding and improving drought tolerance in pearl millet.

Drought at the reproductive stage is a major constraint to pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.

Terminal drought-tolerant pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] have high leaf ABA and limit transpiration at high vapour pressure deficit.

It was previously shown that pearl millet genotypes carrying a terminal drought tolerance quantitative trait locus (QTL) had a lower transpiration rate (Tr; g cm(-2) d(-1)) under well-watered conditions than sensitive lines. Here experiments were carried out to test whether this relates to leaf abscisic acid (ABA) and Tr concentration at high vapour pressure deficit (VPD), and whether that leads to transpiration efficiency (TE) differences. These traits were measured in tolerant/sensitive pearl millet genotypes, including near-isogenic lines introgressed with a terminal drought tolerance QTL (NIL-QTLs).