Pearl Millet

Changes in India's seed regulations during the 1990s favored the growth of privatelyas compared to publicly-funded sectors. Most advances have been made in the major millet crops, sorghum and pearl millet, as compared to finger millet and other minor millet crops, which in many ways dependent on local markets for seed purposes. In this study, we have analyzed the evolving interactions between formal systems related to the delivery of modern varieties and informal systems for maintaining traditional seeds in the semi-arid regions of India. It is evident that in these marginal environments, crop and variety use decisions, and the crop biodiversity levels take place within the context of local seed markets and a national seed industry. The outcome of the study would help to identify potential entry points for millet crop improvement and related seed system interventions for marginal environments of India.

Three commercial formulations of strobilurins, viz., azoxystrobin, kresoxim-methyl, and trifloxystrobin were evaluated for their efficacy against pearl millet downy mildew disease caused by Sclerospora graminicola. In vitro studies revealed inhibition of S. graminicola sporulation, zoospore release, and zoospore motility at 0.1-2 lg ml À1 of all the three fungicides. The fungicides were evaluated for phytotoxic effects on seed quality parameters and for their effectiveness against downy mildew disease by treating pearl millet by: (1) seed dressing, (2) seed dressing followed by foliar spray, and (3) also by foliar spray alone. The highest non-phytotoxic concentrations of 5, 10, and 10 lg ml À1 for azoxystrobin, trifloxystrobin, and kresoxim-methyl, respectively, were selected for further studies. Under greenhouse conditions, these fungicides showed varying degrees of protection against downy mildew disease. Among the three fungicides, azoxystrobin proved to be the best by offering disease protection of 66%. Further, seed treatment along with foliar application of these fungicides to diseased plants showed enhanced protection against the disease to 93, 82, and 62% in treatments of azoxystrobin, kresoxim-methyl and trifloxystrobin respectively. Foliar spray alone provided significant increase in disease protection levels of 91, 79, and 59% in treatments of azoxystrobin, kresoxim-methyl, and trifloxystrobin, respectively. Disease curative activity of azoxystrobin was higher compared to trifloxystrobin and kresoximmethyl. Tested fungicides showed weaker translaminar activity, as the disease inhibition was marginal when applied on adaxial leaf surface. Partial systemic activity of azoxystrobin was evident by root uptake, while trifloxystrobin and kresoxim-methyl showed lack of systemic action in pearl millet. A trend in protection against downy mildew disease similar to greenhouse results was evident in the field trials. Grain yield was significantly increased in all strobilurin fungicide treatments over control and maximum increase in yield of 1673 kg ha À1 was observed in combination treatments of seed treatment and foliar spray with azoxystrobin.

The study relates village seed systems to biological diversity of millet crops grown by farmers in the semi-arid lands of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, India. In these subsistence-oriented, semi-arid production systems the environment is marginal for crop growth and often there is no substitute for millet crops. Across communities, farmers grow 13 different combinations of pearl millet, sorghum, finger millet, little millet, and foxtail millet varieties, but individual farmers grow an average of only 2–3 millet varieties per season. The “village seed system” in this study refers to all channels through which farmers acquire genetic materials, separate from or in interaction with the commercial seed industry, observed at the local level. Data are compiled through household surveys and interviews with traders and dealers in village and district markets. Based on the concept of the seed lot, several seed system parameters are defined and measured by millet crop. Most seed transactions, including gifts of seed, appear to be monetized. Seed supply channels differ by improvement status of the genetic material. Regression results confirm that seed system parameters are statistically significant determinants of the spatial diversity of millet crops measured at the village level. Furthermore, both the trade through weekly village markets (shandies) and through the formal seed supply channel contribute positively to the breadth of genetic materials in these communities. Ways should be found to strengthen and improve the overall efficiency of the seed system, including both formal and informal channels, in order to reduce the costs to farmers of procuring and managing diverse crop varieties.

Two pearl millet cultivars (Gazira and Gadarif) were processed (grinding, soaking, autoclaving, germinating and debranning). The processed grains were fermented for 12 and 24hrs. Phytic acid, polyphenols and tannin contents were determined. Results obtained showed that phytic acid content was 987.19 and 952.51 mg/100g for Gazira and Gadarif cultivars, respectively. Processing treatments were observed to decrease phytate content significantly (P = 0.05) for both cultivars with a maximum reduction observed when the grains of the cultivars were germinated. Polyphenols and tannin were also decreased significantly after processing of both cultivars. Further reduction in antinutritional factors was obtained when the processed grains were fermented for 12 and 24 hrs. The rate of reduction differs between the cultivars and the processing treatments.

This paper continues the presentation of archaeobotanical remains from Kursakata, northeast Nigeria, with a more detailed discussion on Pennisetum (part 1) and the catalogue of the fruits and seeds (part 2). The settlement mound of Kursakata was introduced in an earlier publication . An important topic is the morphological criteria for separating domesticated pearl millet grains from those of wild species. Very small naked grains of Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br. (pearl millet) were noticeable among the rich archaeobotanical remains in deposits at least from 800 cal B.C. and younger. The question is raised whether these grains really derived from domesticated Pennisetum glaucum or from wild Pennisetum species. The club-shaped outline and the thickness to breadth (T/B) index which correspond to modern domesticated caryopses are the main features which led to the conclusion that they belong to a domesticated type. The catalogue comprises all identified taxa from this archaeological site. As descriptions are rarely available for most of these West African species, it gives their morphological portraits which are particularly outstanding in African archaeobotany.

The current status and trends of salinization in Central Asia are discussed with waterlogging of marginal land/plant and water resources problems. The discussion here includes strategies for development of integrated biosaline crop-livestock based system on food-feed crops and forage legumes for better livelihood of poor farmers. Transfer of technologies and/or methodology of ICBA in planting of both perennial and annual valuable halophytes are a new approach that should be tested in Central Asia. Yield data of new varieties of sorghum and pearl millet ICBA/ICRISAT germplasm indicates considerable adaptability of introduced genetic material to saline soil conditions.

Genetic improvement of crops has traditionally been achieved through sexual hybridization between related species, which has resulted in numerous cultivars with high yields and superior agronomic performance. Conventional plant breeding, sometimes combined with classical cytogenetic techniques, continues to be the main method of cereal crop improvement. More recently, through the introduction of new tools of biotechnology, crossing barriers have been overcome, and genes from unrelated sources have become available to be introduced asexually into plants. Cereal crops were initially difficult to genetically engineer, mainly due to their recalcitrance to in vitro regeneration and their resistance to Agrobacterium infection. Systematic screening of cultivars and explant tissues for regeneration potential, development of various DNA delivery methods and optimization of gene expression cassettes have produced transformation protocols for the major cereals, although some elite cultivars still remain recalcitrant to transformation. Most of the transgenic cereals developed for commercial purpose exhibit herbicide and/or insect resistance; traits that are often controlled by a single gene. In recent years, more complex traits, such as dough functionality in wheat and nutritional quality of rice have been improved by the use of biotechnology. The current challenges for genetic engineering of plants will be to understand and control factors causing transgene silencing, instability and rearrangement, which are often seen in transgenic plants and highly undesirable in lines to be used for crop development. Further improvement of current cereal cultivars is expected to benefit greatly from information emerging from the areas of genomics, proteomics and bioinformatics.

The seeds of thirteen varieties of Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.)) were evaluated for enzyme activity in response to sulphate base salinity. Sterilized seeds were safely maintain in filter paper lined Petri dishes and irrigated with water or salt solution (00, 40, 80, 120 m.eq/L). Practice was maintained for the filter paper kept moist by periodic additions of salt solution or water for the required treatments. The research carried out on sulphate dominant salinity. Enzymatic study protease and peroxidase activity increased with increase in salinity, while in case alfa amylase activity, it decreased with increasing salinity level. There was significant interacting effect between salinity treatments and varieties of pearl millet with respect to enzyme activities.

Genotypic and phenotypic variability, heritability, genetic advance for grain yield and different quantitative characters
were conducted in ten genotypes of pearl millet. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance for plant height,
grain yield and panicle length revealed the influence of additive gene effect is important in determining these
characters. High heritability with low genetic advance for number of tillers per plant, inter nodal length and days to
50% flowering indicated the influence of dominant and epistatic genes for these attributes. Grain yield had positive and
significant correlation with number of tillers per plant and panicle length.

Sorghum [Sorghum bicolar (L.) R. Br.] is a drought-tolerant crop that may serve as an alternative summer crop in the dry region of Zimbabwe. A field experiment was conducted in 2002 at Matopos Research Station, Makoholi Research station, Kadoma Research station, Mlezu, and Gwebi variety testing center to determine the yield response of sorghum varieties to sowing date. Three sowing dates were used: (i) early, (ii) medium, and (iii) late, and the dates were 6 December 2002, 20 December 2002 and 03 January 2003 respectively. Red Swazi, SV-1, SV-2, SV-3, SV4 which are improved early maturing varieties and Chibonda which is late maturing and local variety were used in the trial. There was significant differences(p<0.05) between the three sowing dates which were used in the experiment with the first sowing giving an average of 890kg/ha and subsequent second and third sowing resulting in 574kg/ha and 399kg/ha respectively. There was also significant differences with P<0.05 in stover yield due to sowing date, the highest yield was 5 577 kg/ha from the second sowing than first and third sowing yields of 4 335 kg/ha and 3972 kg/Ha respectively.

A study was conducted to develop pearl millet-based extruded snacks with whey protein concentrate (WPC) to enhance its acceptability and nutritional value. Pearl millet grits (841 l) was extruded with different levels (0%, 2.5%, 5.0% and 7.5%) of WPC at constant feed rate (10.5 kg h À1 ) and moisture content (14%). Addition of whey protein at 7.5% level significantly (P ≤ 0.05) increased T g from 75.1 AE 0.26°C to 120.5 AE 1.28°C and T m from 89.1 AE 1.51°C to 158.7 AE 1.37°C, which resulted in less expanded and harder extrudates. The expansion index of extrudates was negatively correlated (P ≤ 0.05) with protein (r = À0.940), bulk density (r = À0.949), hardness (r = À0.971) and breaking strength (r = À0.921), while positively correlated (P ≤ 0.05) with overall acceptability (OAA; r = 0.988). Keeping in view the nutritional, textural and consumer's acceptability, incorporation of 5% WPC in pearl millet grits (841 l) was recommended for preparation of acceptable expanded snacks.

The influence of farmer management on pearl millet landrace diversity was determined by evaluating variation in individual farmers' populations from two villages in north-eastern Nigeria. The variability within and between landrace samples was estimated using variation at 163 amplified fragment length polymorphism marker (AFLP) loci. The data indicated that individual farmers' husbandry practices result in the isolation of their own group of ideotypes each in their own unique genetic backgrounds, thereby rendering landrace names inappropriate as indicators of a generic genetic identity. The implications of these findings for sampling strategies for genebanks and regional genetic evaluations are discussed.

Rabadi, prepared by fermenting pearl millet (Pennisetum typhoideum (L.)) (PM) flour with butter milk, is a traditional popular beverage of North-Western states of India. A process for PM based Rabadi-like fermented milk beverage was attempted. Skim milk and flour of 24 h germinated PM grains (FGG-24 h) were used as sources of solids. FGG-24 h was mixed in skim milk before fermentation and level of flour and water were determined using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) with central composite rotatable design (CCRD). The product developed using 5.3% flour and 72% water on the basis of curd gave the most acceptable product. For further stabilization during storage, pectin and/or carboxy methyl cellulose were tried at different levels and a level of 0.6% pectin was selected. The standardized product was packaged in glass bottles and stored under refrigeration (5-7°C). The shelflife of the product was 7 days.

The bacteriocinogenic strain Lactobacillus plantarum 2.9 isolated from the traditional pearl millet-based African fermented food ben saalga was tested for inhibition of food poisoning and pathogenic bacteria in MRS broth and in a malted millet flour slurry. In MRS broth, strain 2.9 completely eliminated Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella enterica cells within 48 h incubation at 22-30°C. A much lower inhibition was observed at 15°C. The inhibitory effect of strain 2.9 on the above-mentioned target bacteria was corroborated in the malted millet flour slurry, reducing viable cell counts below detection levels after 8 h storage for B. cereus or after 24 h for S. enterica and 48 h for E. coli. An Enterobacter aerogenes strain was only moderately inhibited in the slurry. Results from the present study suggest that strain 2.9 could be used as starter culture to improve the microbiological safety of fermented ben saalga.

Increasing population density and food needs in the Sahel are major drivers behind the conversion of land under natural vegetation to arable land. Intensification of agriculture is a necessity for farmers to produce enough food. As manure is scarce and fertilizers expensive, this study looks into the potential role of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) and short duration fallow in maintaining soil fertility and productivity and in reducing the major weed problem Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth. The research was carried out 'on-farm' in a traditional millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.Br.) growing area in the Malian Sahel, near Bankass. The four year experiment combined 0, 2, 5, and 7 years of preceding fallow with (i) 4 years of millet, (ii) 1 year of cowpea + 3 years of millet, and (iii) 1 year of cowpea + 3 years of millet/cowpea inter-cropping.

Agriculture was introduced into the Central African rainforest from the drier West African savanna, in concert with a major climatic change that amplified seasonality just after 2500 BP. The savanna crop pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum), dated to 2400e2200 BP, could only be cultivated due to the development of a distinct dry season. Increasing seasonality and the replacement of mature forests by pioneer formations is indicated by Trema orientalis in the pollen diagram of Nyabessan after 2400 BP. However, charcoal data do not point to the existence of savannas in South Cameroon during this period, but rather to a mosaic of mature and pioneer forests. The early rainforest farmers combined the cultivation of pearl millet with the exploitation of wild oil-containing tree fruits, such as oil palm and Canarium. The existence of pioneer formations that can be easily cut favoured the establishment of shifting cultivation. The archaeobotanical finds fit into a linguistic scenario of West-Bantu speakers making the cultivation of pearl millet one of their food production strategies before expanding further to the South. The reconstructed inherited pearl millet vocabulary for the early phases of Bantu language history provides strong circumstantial evidence for an overlap of the major stages of the Bantu expansion with the dispersal of food production.

Sixteen translocation stocks developed in pearl millet, Pennisetum typhoides (Burm.) S.&H. (2 n = 14) were inter-crossed and the meiotic configurations of f1&#39;s analysed. A translocation tester set comprising five translocation stocks, each involving two non-homologous chromosomes has been developed.

A field experiment was conducted at A1CRPDA Centre, S.D. Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar to find
out the effect of integrated nutrient management practices in pearl millet crop under rainfed condition. The
results showed that the effect of bio-fertilizers were not found significant in increasing the yield as well as soil
available nutrients after harvest of the crop during all the years and on pooled basis. The treatment 50% N
through urea + 50% N through FYM gave significantly higher seed yield of 1239, 822, 868, 972 and 975 kg ha-
1 during years 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 as well as in pooled, respectively. The similar trend was also observed in
fodder yield. In terms of soil available nitrogen, phosphorus and potash, the treatment 50% N through urea +
50% N through FYM obtained significant improvement in soil fertility status of available N (174 kg/ha), phosphorus
(48 kg/ha) and potash (204.8 kg/ha).

Whole pearl millet, finger millet and decorticated soy bean blended (millet soy) extrudates formulations were designed using a linear programming (LP) model to minimize the total cost of the finished product. LP formulated composite flour was extruded through twin screw food extruder at different feed rate (6.5–13.5 kg/h), screw speed (200–350 rpm, constant feed moisture (14% wb), barrel temperature (120 °C) and cutter speed (15 rpm). The physical, functional, textural and pasting characteristics of extrudates were examined and their responses were studied. Expansion index (2.31) and sectional expansion index (5.39) was found to be was found maximum for feed rate and screw speed combination 9.5 kg/h and 250 rpm. However, density (0.25 × 10−3 g/mm3) was maximum for 9.5 kg/h and 300 rpm combination. Maximum color change (10.32) was found for 9.5 kg/h feed rate and 200 rpm screw speed. The lower hardness was obtained for the samples extruded at lowest feed rate (6.5 kg/h) for all screw speed and feed rate at 9.5 kg/h for 300–350 rpm screw speed. Peak viscosity decreases with all screw speed of 9.5 kg/h feed rate.

To assess the effect of milling speeds on shelf-life and proximate composition of fl our, pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum), one of the most extensively grown type of millet was selected. Pearl millet fl our was prepared using low speed mini fl our mill at 75 and 115 rpm and the results were compared with the fl our prepared using commercial fl our mill. The performance of fl our mill was evaluated on the basis of recovery of fl our, rise in temperature of fl our a er milling, time taken for milling, particle size distribution and diff erent quality parameters viz., moisture, protein, crude fat, ash, fi ber, carbohydrates and free fa y acids (FFA). The whole pearl millet fl our was packed in high density polyethylene (HDPE), lower density polyethylene (LDPE) plastic jars and stored for 50 days at ambient conditions. The recovery of fl our was the the higher (95.26%) at 75 rpm speed than at 115 rpm although the time taken was more i.e. 25 min. but the rise in temperature during milling was very less (13.45 o C) as compared to the commercial mill where the temperature rose upto 36.5 o C. The moisture content and FFA increased signifi cantly (P<0.05), whereas the protein, fat and ash content decreased signifi cantly (P<0.05) with increase in storage time. Further, the moisture content, FFA, crude protein and fat content were aff ected signifi cantly (P<0.05) whereas, the fi ber and ash contents were eff ected non-signifi cant (P<0.05) by both the storage time and packaging material. The pearl millet fl our prepared at low speed (rpm) was light brown in color as compared to higher speed (rpm) which was dark brown. Pearl millet fl our prepared at 75 rpm and stored in low density polyethylene LDPE packaging material of (200 gauge) was found the best in quality among those milled at 115 rpm and 400 rpm, followed by packaging HDPE packs.

The free radical quenching action of finger millet (Eleusine coracana) on l,l'diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (5.407x IO" spins/ml-') and hydroxyl (0.6015x lOr5 spins /ml-') radicals was studied by electron spin resonance (ESR) spectrometry. A 10 ml concentrate of the methanol extract was prepared using 25 g of the cereal grains and all analysis done after 1: 10 dilution. DPPH radical quenching with 50 ~1 of the extracts showed that the brown finger millet quenched 94% whereas the white finger millet quenched only 4%. The phenolic content of brown finger millet was 96% higher than the white variety. Processing of the brown finger millet by germination and/or fermentation decreased the quenching activity. In comparison, foxtail millet, pearl millet and sorghum, quenched 91, 59 and 52 percent respectively, while wheat, rice (dehusked) and rice husk quenched 18, 1.8 and 20 % respectively. Brown finger millet (50 ,ul) also quenched 77% of hydroxyl radicals. The results indicate that finger millet is a potent source of antioxidant compounds.

Imprints of domesticated pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.) spikelets, observed as temper in ceramics dating to the third millennium BC, provide the earliest evidence for the cultivation and domestication process of this crop in northern Mali. Additional sherds from the same region dating to the fifth and fourth millennium BC were examined and found to have pearl millet chaff with wild morphologies. In addition to studying sherds by stereomicroscopy and subjecting surface casts to scanning electron microscopy (SEM), we also deployed X-ray microcomputed tomography (microCT) on eleven sherds. This significantly augmented the total dataset of archaeological pearl millet chaff remains from which to document the use of the wild pearl millet as ceramic temper and the evolution of its morphology over time. Grain sizes were also estimated from spikelets preserved in the ceramics. Altogether, we are now able to chart the evolution of domesticated pearl millet in western Africa usi...

Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) is a major staple food crop in the drier parts of the old world, like Africa and India. Recently, its cultivation became more widespread in no tillage crop farming systems in central Brazil, but it is also being used for cultivation during the dry season in other areas in Brazil. An emerging problem for the wider adoption of this crop in Brazil is the damage caused by the rust Puccinia substriata. This fungal disease is among the worst limitations for this crop worldwide. The rust occurring in Brazil was initially identified as the P. substriata var. penicillariae, but little information on the taxonomy and life-cycle of this rust is available in Brazil. The life-cycle of this rust variety remains somewhat obscure and the connection between the telial stage on pearl millet and the aecial stage on Solanaceae has never been experimentally demonstrated. Natural infection and inoculations under controlled conditions allowed for a complete description of all stages of this rust and the elucidation of its life-cycle, confirming that Solanum aethiopicum and Solanum melongena are aecial hosts. This coincidence for the alternate host and the limited and ambiguous morphological basis for the distinction of the varieties penicillariae and indica support the view that they are synonyms. Var. indica should be regarded as a late synonym of var. penicillariae.

Rice flour was added in different proportions (10 - 30%) to dehydrated carrot pomace and pulse powder
(CPPP) mixture having equal ratio. The formulation was extruded at different moisture content (17 -
21%), screw speed (270 - 310 rpm) and die temperature (110 - 130°C). The lateral expansion, bulk
density, water absorption index, water solubility index, hardness and sensory characteristics were
measured as responses. Significant regression models were established with the coefficient of
determination, R2 greater than 0.72. The results indicated that CPPP proportion and moisture content
significantly influenced (P < 0.10) lateral expansion; temperature for water absorption index; screw
speed and temperature for hardness and screw speed for sensory score. The compromised optimum
condition obtained by numerical integration for development of extrudates were: CPPP mixture of
16.5% in rice flour, moisture content 19.23%, screw speed 310 rpm and die temperature 110°C. Sensory
evaluation revealed that carrot pomace could be incorporated into ready-to-eat expanded products upto
the level of 8.25%

" Fura " is known to have originated from Hausa/Fulani and is produced mainly from most flour, blended with species, compressed into balls and boiled for thirty minutes, while still hot, the cooked dough is worked through in the mortar with the pestle(with addition of hot water), until a smooth, slightly elastic cohesive lump fura is formed. This study was carried out to improve the nutritional quality of fura, a millet-based flour food by adding bambara nut flour. Pearl millet (Pennisetumglau-cum) and bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranean) were cleaned, dry milled and sieved to produced fura flour. The bambara groundnut flour was substituted into the pearl millet flour at ratio (0-30 %); and mixed with spices. This was conditioned using 1.5L of tap water to improve molding. The sample were analyzed for chemical, functional, microbial and sensory properties. The data obtained were analyzed using ANOVA (p<0.05). Results showed that carbohydrate, protein, crude fiber, water absorption, and viscosity ranged between, 75.53 ± 0.08 to 80.58 ± 0.08, 7.27 ± 0.01 to 7.85 ± 0.01, 0.23 ± 0.01 to 1.12 ± 0.01, 2.47 ± 0.02 to 0.89 ± 0.02, 493.00 ± 4.24 to 311.50 ± 0.71 while sensory evaluation showed that sample BYS was most acceptable. This study showed improvement in the qualities of fura enriched with bambara groundnut.

The parasitic angiosperms, Striga hermonthica and S. gesnerioides, obligate root parasites endemic in sub-Saharan Africa, constitute severe constraints to cereal and legume production in West and Central Africa. Over the years, a range of effective component technologies has been identified for Striga control in Africa. The potential of these technologies has been demonstrated under researcher-managed conditions. To promote farmer testing of the technologies, community workshops were conducted in 42 rural communities in Kaduna State, northern Nigeria. These revealed that agriculture was the main source of livelihood for most households. The three most important crops, maize, sorghum and pearl millet are attacked by S. hermonthica, regarded as the major constraint to crop production, often causing 70-100 % crop loss. Farmers recognised two types of Striga damage (underground and aboveground), with greater damage being caused by underground Striga. Farmers attributed increasing incidence and severity of Striga damage to lack of capital, poor soil fertility, infestation of previously uninfested land by Striga seeds, and continuous cropping of host crops. The most widely used among the 15 existing Striga control techniques identified by the farmers were hoe weeding and hand pulling, application of inorganic fertilizer and manure, crop rotations, fallowing, and early planting. In assessing possible control measures farmers considered increased crop yield, reduced Striga reproduction and Striga emergence, greater crop vigour, and increased soil fertility as positive attributes. Negative attributes comprised increased labour requirement, higher costs, increased risk of crop damage or yield reduction, and lower quantity and quality of produce. Overall, a legume-cereal rotation was the most highly rated control option for S. hermonthica management evaluated by the farmers. The implications of these results are examined with respect to farmers' adoption and adaptation of Striga control options beyond the experimental plots.

Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum [L.] Leeke) is known to adapt to very dry conditions, however, the control of water loss and dehydration tolerance to drought is still not completely understood. Effects of water stress on root morphologies, osmotic relations, and stomatal conductance contributing to plant growth or turgor maintenance was investigated. Water stress was imposed by withholding water for 3 weeks at the seedling stage in a greenhouse. Irrigated treatments and two stress treatments were conducted in a tube culture experiment. One stress treatment was done by imposing water deficit, particularly in shallow areas of the soil (semi-drought), and the other was done by imposing widespread water deficit in the soil (drought).

This paper continues the presentation of archaeobotanical remains from Kursakata, northeast Nigeria, with a more detailed discussion on Pennisetum (part 1) and the catalogue of the fruits and seeds (part 2). The settlement mound of Kursakata was introduced in an earlier publication . An important topic is the morphological criteria for separating domesticated pearl millet grains from those of wild species. Very small naked grains of Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br. (pearl millet) were noticeable among the rich archaeobotanical remains in deposits at least from 800 cal B.C. and younger. The question is raised whether these grains really derived from domesticated Pennisetum glaucum or from wild Pennisetum species. The club-shaped outline and the thickness to breadth (T/B) index which correspond to modern domesticated caryopses are the main features which led to the conclusion that they belong to a domesticated type. The catalogue comprises all identified taxa from this archaeological site. As descriptions are rarely available for most of these West African species, it gives their morphological portraits which are particularly outstanding in African archaeobotany.

Pearl millet is an important component of food security in the semi-arid tropics and is assuming greater importance in the context of changing climate and increasing demand for highly nutritious food and feed. Molecular tools have been developed and applied for pearl millet on a limited scale. However, the existing tool kit needs to be strengthened further for its routine use in applied breeding programs. Here, we report enrichment of the pearl millet molecular linkage map by exploiting low-cost and high-throughput Diversity Arrays Technology (DArT) markers. Genomic representation from 95 diverse genotypes was used to develop a DArT array with circa 7,000 clones following PstI/BanII complexity reduction. This array was used to genotype a set of 24 diverse pearl millet inbreds and 574 polymorphic DArT markers were identified. The genetic relationships among the inbred lines as revealed by DArT genotyping were in complete agreement with the available pedigree data. Further, a mapping population of 140 F7Recombinant Inbred Lines (RILs) from cross H 77/833-2 × PRLT 2/89-33 was genotyped and an improved linkage map was constructed by integrating DArT and SSR marker data. This map contains 321 loci (258 DArTs and 63 SSRs) and spans 1148 cM with an average adjacent-marker interval length of 3.7 cM. The length of individual linkage groups (LGs) ranged from 78 cM (LG 3) to 370 cM (LG 2). This better-saturated map provides improved genome coverage and will be useful for genetic analyses of important quantitative traits. This DArT platform will also permit cost-effective background selection in marker-assisted backcrossing programs as well as facilitate comparative genomics and genome organization studies once DNA sequences of polymorphic DArT clones are available.

INTRODUCTION Pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] is a major coarse-grained cereal, grown primarily for grain production on 26 million ha in the arid and semi-arid tropical regions of Asia and Africa. It is an important source of dietary energy and nutritional security for millions of people in these regions. Research has shown that pearl millet is the cheapest source of Fe and Zn (Parthasarathy et al. 2006). A large variability has been found for these micronutrients in improved populations and breeding lines (Velu et al. 2006). The objective of this study was to understand the nature of gene action to develop effective breeding strategies for these micronutrients. METHODS Ten inbred lines with varying grain Zn content and 90 F 1 hybrids (including reciprocals) derived from diallel crosses were evaluated in a randomised complete block design with three replications in 2-row plots of 4 m length during the 2005 rainy and 2006 dry seasons in Patancheru, India. Sib-mated grain...

Background: Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum), considered a poor man’s cereal, may be a repository of dietary antioxidants, especially flavonoids and phenolic acids, which provide bioactive mechanisms to reduce free radical induced oxidative stress and probably play a role in the prevention of ageing and various diseases associated with oxidative stress, such as cancer, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative diseases.Objective: The present study focused on the identification of individual flavonoids and phenolic acids from seven commercial varieties of pearl millet and five samples of pearl millet-based traditional recipes of Banaskantha, Gujarat, India.Methods: Total phenols were determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu method, and individual polyphenol separation included the isolation and identification of (a) flavonoids, (b) phenolic acids, and (c) glycoflavones involving interaction with diagnostic reagents and paper chromatographic separation of compounds and their UV-visible spectros...

Soil fertility and climate risks are hampering crop production in the Sahelian region. Because experiments with only a few fertility management options on a limited number of sites and years cannot fully capture the complex and highly non-linear soil–climate–crop interactions, crop growth simulation models may suitably complement experimental research to support decision making regarding soil fertility and water management. By

Pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] is an alternative drought-tolerant grain crop for dryland summer production. Few insecticides are registered for use and insect management has not been extensively studied in pearl millet for grain production. Eleven trails were conducted during 2002-2004 in central and southern Georgia to understand the relative importance of insect pests and to evaluate the efficacy of currently registered insecticides against key pests. The main defoliator species were the fall armyworm [Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith)] and striped grassworm (Mocis latipes Guenée). Main insects feeding on grain heads were the corn earworm (Helicoverpa zea Boddie), sorghum webworm, (Nola sorghiella Riley), and stink bugs — brown stink bug (Euschistus spp.) and southern green stink bug [Nezara viridula (L.)]. All insects were effectively controlled by cypermethrin at 0.025 lb a.i./acre. The 0.015-lb a.i. rate was effective against sorghum webworm, striped grassworm, ...

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 22 d 21 ) 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). Most genotypic differences were found under well-watered conditions. ABA levels under well-watered conditions were higher in tolerant genotypes, including NIL-QTLs, than in sensitive genotypes, and ABA did not increase under water stress. Well-watered Tr was lower in tolerant than in sensitive genotypes at all VPD levels. Except for one line, Tr slowed down in tolerant lines above a breakpoint at 1.40-1.90 kPa, with the slope decreasing >50%, whereas sensitive lines showed no change in that Tr response across the whole VPD range. It is concluded that two water-saving (avoidance) mechanisms may operate under well-watered conditions in tolerant pearl millet: (i) a low Tr even at low VPD conditions, which may relate to leaf ABA; and (ii) a sensitivity to higher VPD that further restricts Tr, which suggests the involvement of hydraulic signals. Both traits, which did not lead to TE differences, could contribute to absolute water saving seen in part due to dry weight increase differences. This water saved would become critical for grain filling and deserves consideration in the breeding of terminal drought-tolerant lines.

Adaptation to low water and soil P availability has been related to root properties. Two experiments were conducted in a greenhouse. Under hydroponics conditions, plants of the Souna 3 cultivar were grown for 30 d with three levels of P (P0 5 0.0 mol L 21 , P1 5 0.073 10 23 mol L 21 , and P2 5 1.65 10 23 mol L 21 ). In the pot experiment, two cultivars (Souna 3 and IBMV8402) were planted in pots filled with 19 kg of P-deficient and sandy soil and subjected to two watering regimes: well watered and water stressed at the vegetative phase from 23 d after sowing (DAS) to 30 DAS. Phosphorus treatment consisted of two levels: application of phosphate fertilizer (P 2 O 5 ) at the rate of 649 mg per pot (34 mg P 2 O 5 kg 21 soil), referred to as F1, and no phosphate application, referred to as F0. The results showed that under P deficiency, pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] presented an alteration of root parameters, particularly root volume, by the formation of root hair. Under non-water-limited conditions as well as in high or low P, IBMV8402 showed a better root and shoot growth. However, under drought conditions, the leaf water potential (8 f ) of IBMV8402 (8 f 5 25 MPa) decreased more than that of Souna 3 (8 f 5 23 MPa). In spite of this, P supply improved the root and shoot growth of IBMV8402. Finally, except for the condition of water stress and without P supply, P utilization efficiency exhibited by IBMV8402 was 20 to 50% higher than that of Souna 3 on the basis of shoot biomass production.

We studied the regional genetic diversity and seed exchange dynamics of pearl millet landraces in south-western Niger. The genetic study was based on AFLP markers. We found significant genetic differentiation between landraces in different geographical areas of south-western Niger. However, the degree of differentiation was low insofar as only 1.9% of the total molecular diversity was due to regional differentiation, suggesting a relatively high gene flow. Anthropologic studies on farming practices have suggested that seed exchanges between farmers on a large geographical scale probably make a considerable contribution to this result. In order to test this hypothesis, the effects of seed exchange on the genetic diversity of landraces was analyzed on seed samples from two distant villages in contrasting areas of south-western Niger. Seeds imported by farmers into the southern village of Sina Koara did not differ significantly from locally grown landraces. By contrast, in the northern village of Alzou, several samples were genetically different from locally grown landraces and closer to southern accessions. These data suggest that the seed flow is preferentially from south to north, i.e. from an area with more favorable rainfall conditions. The potential consequences for the genetic diversity and adaptation of northern pearl millet landraces are discussed.