Impact of soaking, sprouting on antioxidant and anti-nutritional factors in millet grains

Commonly consumed millet types viz., Little millet, foxtail millet, pearl millet, finger millet, and Kodo millet were tested under two processing methods of soaking and germination at a different time point. Most popular processing practices adopted by Indian households were studied for their influence on the biochemical properties, antioxidant profile, and anti-nutritive factors. The results showed that the sprouting process showed a maximum influence on the antioxidant and anti-nutritive factors. The comparative analysis of the five millets suggested 24h soaking and 24h germination was found to be best for producing nutritionally enriched millet products. Tannin content decreases with an increase in germination. The reduction in tannin was about 50% in little millet (0.347 mg/g) and the highest was recorded in finger millet (2.07 mg/g). The highest amount of saponin content was found in pearl millet( 39.53 mg/g) followed by finger millet ( 34.86 mg/g) with 24 hr soaking and  24 hr germination. The phytase activity was found to be higher in little millet (61.520 u/kg) when prolonged soaking and germination. The DPPH assay showed sprouted foxtail millet grains contain more antioxidant activity (81.13%) when extent the period of soaking and germination

Gene effects and heterosis for grain Fe and Zn content in barnyard millet (Echinochloa frumentacea (Roxb.) link)

Barnyard millet (Echinochloa frumentacea) is an unexplored nutri-rich crop that thrives well in harsh environments and supports many small farmers in Southern and Eastern Asia. Although it has rich sources of micronutrients, the genetic studies are very limited which further impedes in its genetic improvement. Therefore, we attempted to assess the genetic diversity for Fe and Zn content in 40 barnyard millet germplasm and to evaluate the combining ability and heterosis in sixteen F1 cross combinations through line × tester model. The Mahalanobis D2 analysis grouped the 40 genotypes into nine different clusters. Cluster III and I were the largest groups containing 22 and 6 genotypes, respectively and the rest of seven clusters were the lowest group containing one or two genotypes. Positive correlation was observed between Fe and Zn content though both had a non-significant association with grain yield. This indicate that there would not be any compromise on increase or decrease of grain yield while breeding for varieties high in micronutrient content. Combining ability analysis revealed that lines, testers, and their interaction components are significant. The predictability ratio indicated the predominance of additive variance for Fe and Zn content and non-additive variance in the inheritance of yield components. Genotypes, ACM 331, ACM 333, ACM 335 and MA 10 exhibited positive gca effects for Fe and Zn content and grain yield. Two cross combinations, ACM 331 × ACM 335 and ACM 331 × MA 10 involved one or both the parents with good gca effects exhibited, high mean, positive mid-parent heterosis and sca effects for Fe, Zn content and yield components. Thus, the present investigation provided a significant understanding of the gene action and the possibility of utilizing the selected parents and cross combination for exploiting micronutrient traits in barnyard millet crop

Genetic and genomic resources, and breeding for accelerating improvement of small millets: current status and future interventions

Current agricultural and food systems encourage research and development on major crops, neglecting regionally important minor crops. Small millets include a group of small- seeded cereal crops of the grass family Poaceae. This includes finger millet, foxtail millet, proso millet, barnyard millet, kodo millet, little millet, teff, fonio, job’s tears, guinea millet, and browntop millet. Small millets are an excellent choice to supplement major staple foods for crop and dietary diversity because of their diverse adaptation on marginal lands, less water requirement, lesser susceptibility to stresses, and nutritional superiority compared to major cereal staples. Growing interest among consumers about healthy diets together with climate-resilient features of small millets underline the necessity of directing more research and development towards these crops. Except for finger millet and foxtail millet, and to some extent proso millet and teff, other small millets have received minimal research attention in terms of development of genetic and genomic resources and breeding for yield enhancement. Considerable breeding efforts were made in finger millet and foxtail millet in India and China, respectively, proso millet in the United States of America, and teff in Ethiopia. So far, five genomes, namely foxtail millet, finger millet, proso millet, teff, and Japanese barnyard millet, have been sequenced, and genome of foxtail millet is the smallest (423-510 Mb) while the largest one is finger millet (1.5 Gb). Recent advances in phenotyping and genomics technologies, together with available germplasm diversity, could be utilized in small millets improvement. This review provides a comprehensive insight into the importance of small millets, the global status of their germplasm, diversity, promising germplasm resources, and breeding approaches (conventional and genomic approaches) to accelerate climate-resilient and nutrient-dense small millets for sustainable agriculture, environment, and healthy food systems

Variability and trait‐specific accessions for grain yield and nutritional traits in germplasm of little millet ( Panicum sumatrense Roth. Ex. Roem. & Schult.)

Little millet (Panicum sumatrense Roth. Ex. Roem. & Schult.), a member of the grass family Poaceae, is native to India. It is nutritionally superior to major cereals, grows well on marginal lands, and can withstand drought and waterlogging conditions. Two-hundred diverse little millet landraces were characterized to assess variability for agronomic and nutritional traits and identify promising accessions. Highly significant variabilitywas found for all the agronomic and grain nutrient traits. Accessions of robusta were high yielding whereas those of nana were rich in grain nutrients. About 80% of the accessions showed consistent protein and zinc (Zn) contents whereas iron (Fe) and calcium (Ca) contents were less consistent (29.5 and 63.5%, respectively) over 2 yr. Promising trait-specific accessions were identified for greater seed weight (10 accessions), high grain yield (15), high biomass yield (15), and consistently high grain nutrients (30) over 2 yr (R2 = .69–.74, P ≤ .0001). A few accessions showed consistently high for two or more nutrients (IPmr 449 for Fe, Zn, Ca, and protein; IPmr 981 for Zn and protein). Five accessions (IPmr 855, 974, 877, 897, 767) were high yielding and also rich in Ca. Consumption of 100 g of little millet grains can potentially contribute to the recommended dietary allowance of up to 28% Fe, 37% Zn, and 27% protein. Multilocation evaluation of the promising accessions across different soil types, fertility levels, and climatic conditions would help to identify valuable accessions for direct release as a cultivar or use in little millet improvement

Identification and Screening of Restorers and Maintainers for different CMS Lines of Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.Br.)

For the evolution of new pearl millet hybrids with diverse cytoplasmic background suitable for specific areas and condition,there is a need for diversified CMS sources among locally adaptable lines and identification of locally adaptable restorers.The present study was undertaken to screen the male sterile and restorer lines among the crosses of five male sterile lines andthirty inbreds of pearl millet. Five isogenic alloplasmic male sterile lines (ICMA 94111A, 81A, ICMA 88004A, PT 5054Aand 732A) were crossed with thirty inbreds in line x tester design, so as to obtain 150 F1 hybrids. F1’s were categorized asrestorers (>80 % pollen fertility), partial restorers (20 to 79 % pollen fertility), partial maintainers (10-19 % pollen fertility)and maintainers (<10 % pollen fertility). Among the 150 hybrids studied, 43 complete sterile and 24 complete fertile hybridswere identified. The two inbreds namely PT 5259 and PT 5773 recorded sterility with four male sterile lines out of five malesterile lines used. The former expressed sterility with ICMA 88994A, 81A, ICMA 94111A and PT 5054A, the latterexpressed sterility with the male sterile lines 81A, 732A, ICMA 94111A and PT 5054A. In case of 732A, maximum restoreswere observed and 10 inbreds showed complete fertility and only one inbred showed complete sterility. The identifiedrestorers and maintainers could be utilized for development of new restorer lines/hybrids and CMS lines, respectively infuture

Heterosis for fodder yield in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench)

A study was conducted to investigate the possibility of exploiting heterosis in breeding for improved fodder yield insorghum. Seven cytoplasmic male sterile lines and five testers were crossed in a line × tester mating design. A total of thirtyfive F1 hybrids along with twelve parents were evaluated for days to 50 % flowering, plant height, number of tillers, numberof leaves, leaf length, leaf breadth, stem diameter, green fodder yield and dry fodder yield. Among the thirty five hybridcombinations, two hybrids namely, ICSA 547 × PKB 192 (L1 × T5) was high for five traits viz., plant height, number oftillers, leaf length, green fodder yield and dry fodder yield and ICSA 693 × PKB 291(L4 × T1) was high for four traits viz.,plant height, leaf breadth, green fodder yield and dry fodder yield. These two hybrids recorded significant standard heterosisover both CO 27 and COFS 29 for more than one yield contributing characters in addition to that of green fodder yield