Search Results (22)

The aim was to evaluate the productivity, agronomic characteristics, and chemical and mineral composition of pearl millet genotypes irrigated with brackish water under the application of agricultural gypsum in two cuts. The experiment was a randomized block design in a 4 (gypsum levels—0, 2, 4, and 8 ton ha⁻¹ applied on the surface) × 3 (pearl millet genotypes—ADR 300, BRS 1501, and IPA BULK 1BF) factorial arrangement, with three replications, irrigated with high brackish water and low sodium. Agricultural gypsum had no significant effect on productivity, agronomic characteristics, and chemical and mineral composition (p > 0.05). In the first cut, higher mean values were found for the percentage of panicle, crude protein, ether extract, in vitro dry matter digestibility, calcium, sulfur, and manganese (p < 0.05). For the second cut, higher results were observed for green matter productivity, dry matter productivity, water use efficiency, stem percentage, stem diameter, average leaf size, panicle size, acid detergent fiber, lignin, cellulose, total carbohydrates, potassium, and copper (p < 0.05). IPA Bulk 1 BF showed a larger panicle size in both cuts (p < 0.05). The evaluated pearl millet genotypes showed desirable agronomic characteristics and tolerance to irrigation with brackish water regardless of gypsum application, thus they are indicated for cultivation in the semi-arid regions. Full article

Mycorrhizal-mediated seedling establishment may reduce dependency on chemical fertilizers, but the effectiveness of infection for growth may differ depending on species with different eco-physiological adaptations. The infection of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and P uptake were compared between rice (Oryza sativa L.) (Koshihikari (rice_k), Togo4 (rice_t)), and pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.) (ICMB89111 (millet₈₉₁), ICMB95444 (millet₉₅₄)) seedlings (i) in response to three different commercial AMF inoculants of Rhizoglomus irregulare (popular inoculant Dr. Kinkon (I₁); two new inoculants Rootella P (I₂) and Rootella F (I₃)) in comparison with indigenous AMF from Andosol upland and paddy topsoils (Exp. 1–2 as the inoculant experiments) and (ii) across different water regimes from upland to flooded lowland conditions for I₁ inoculant (Exp. 3–4 as the water regime experiments). The new inoculants I₂ and I₃ with higher propagule numbers showed a higher infection rate than the control seedlings in both rice and pearl millet, with a tendency for slower leaf development and no seedling growth enhancement. I₁ inoculant had more significant positive effects on the root transversal area and shoot growth parameters than the control. The infection rates of all three inoculants were lower than the indigenous AMF from upland Andosol in rice and pearl millet, in which a higher infection rate led to higher P uptake found in millet₉₅₄. I₁ inoculant increased the infection rate in pearl millet and rice but had no clear indication of interaction with water regimes. A higher infection rate led to higher P uptake and shoot dry weight in pearl millet but not in rice with higher root length density. This study provided the significance of inoculants for seedling establishment and highlighted more mycorrhizal-mediated P uptake in pearl millet than in rice. Full article

Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. BR.) is a C4 plant adapted to semi-arid climates and is one of the primary staple foods in Sub-Saharan Africa, including in Namibia. The decline in yields associated with water scarcity over the years has been a national concern in the country. An experimental field trial was conducted at the Mannheim Crop Research Station, Namibia, during the 2023 and 2024 cropping seasons to investigate the response of two local pearl millet cultivars (Kangara and Okashana 2) to different water regimes (100%, 75%, and 50% crop evapotranspiration [ETc]) according to morpho-physiological and yield parameters. Pearl millet was planted in a split-plot factorial design with four rows per plot under the three water regimes, and the genotypes were planted in subplots. The results revealed that the water regime had a significant effect on plant height, number of leaves, tillers, chlorophyll content, stomatal conductance, leaf temperature, stem thickness, number of productive tillers, panicle diameter, panicle length, dry panicle weight, biomass, grain weight, and 1000-seed weight of the two pearl millet cultivars (p < 0.001). At 50% ETc, the water regime significantly reduced the growth and yield parameters compared with the 75% ETc and 100% ETc water regimes, highlighting the significance of water in plant development and growth. The findings highlighted that both cultivars responded similarly to water stress. Seventy-five percent of ETc is recommended to be applied in pearl millet systems in semi-arid conditions. This research has significant implications for the planning and producing of pearl millet under water-limited environments under changing climatic conditions. Full article

The cover crop Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.Br. (pearl millet) reduces the emergence of weed species in the field through a mechanism that is not fully known. The identification of the allelopathic activity of pearl millet can contribute to the development of no-tillage techniques to produce crops without or with low doses of herbicides. This issue was investigated by testing the effects of extracts from the aerial parts of pearl millet on the germination and growth of the weeds Bidens pilosa L., Euphorbia heterophylla L., and Ipomoea grandifolia (Dammer) O’Donell under laboratory conditions. The ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) at a concentration of 2000 µg mL⁻¹ was inactive on Bidens pilosa; it inhibited root length (−72%) and seedling fresh weight (−41%) of E. heterophylla, and in I. grandifolia the length of primary root and aerial parts and the fresh and dry weight of seedlings were reduced by 63%, 32%, 25%, and 12%, respectively. In roots of I. grandifolia seedlings, at the initial development stage, EAF induced oxidative stress and increased electrolyte leakage. At the juvenile vegetative stage, a lower concentration of EAF (250 µg mL⁻¹) induced a stimulus in seedling growth (+60% in root length and +23% in aerial parts length) that was associated with increased photosynthetic efficiency. However, at higher concentrations (1000 µg mL⁻¹), it induced the opposite effects, inhibiting the growth of root (−41%) and aerial parts (−25%), with reduced superoxide dismutase activity and photosynthetic efficiency. The stilbenoid pallidol was identified as the main compound in EAF. The allelopathic activity of pearl millet may be attributed, at least in part, to the impairment of energy metabolism and the induction of oxidative stress in weed seedlings, with pallidol possibly involved in this action. Such findings demonstrated that the application of the EAF extract from pearl millet can be a natural and renewable alternative tool for weed control. Full article

Foliar blast, caused by Pyricularia grisea, poses a major challenge to pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br) production, leading to severe yield losses, particularly in rainfed ecologies. This study aimed to elucidate the genetic basis of blast resistance through a genome-wide association study (GWAS) involving 281 diverse pearl millet inbreds. GWAS panel was phenotyped for blast resistance against three distinct isolates of P. grisea collected from Delhi, Gujarat, and Rajasthan locations, revealing a significant variability with 16.7% of the inbreds showing high resistance. Bayesian information and linkage disequilibrium iteratively nested keyway (BLINK) and Multi-Locus Mixed Model (MLMM) models using transformed means identified 68 significant SNPs linked to resistance, with hotspots for resistance-related genes on chromosomes 1, 2, and 6. These regions harbor genes involved in defense mechanisms, including immune response, stress tolerance, signal transduction, transcription regulation, and pathogen defense. Genes, namely 14-3-3-like proteins RGA2, RGA4, hypersensitive-induced response proteins, NHL3, NBS-LRR, LRR-RLK, LRRNT_2, and various transcription factors such as AP2/ERF and WRKY, played a crucial role in the stress-responsive pathways. Analyses of transporter proteins, redox processes, and structural proteins revealed additional mechanisms contributing to blast resistance. This study offers valuable insights into the complex genetic architecture of blast resistance in pearl millet, offering a solid foundation for marker-assisted breeding programs and gene-editing experiments. Full article

Pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] is a subtropical grain and forage crop. It is privileged with several desirable forage attributes. Nevertheless, research on pearl millet is limited, especially as a forage crop, in developing countries. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to investigate the field performance and stability of pearl millet genotypes for forage yield across seven environments. The study was conducted in seven environments (combination of locations and seasons) during the 2016/2017–2018/2019 seasons. Twenty-five pearl millet genotypes, selected based on forage yield from a core collection of 200 accessions, were arranged in an alpha lattice design with three replications. The parameters measured were fresh forage yield, days to flowering, plant height, number of culms m⁻², leaf-to-stem ratio, and stem girth. The combined analysis revealed that environments, genotypes, and their interaction had significant effects on all traits studied except the genotypic effect on stem girth. Across the seven environments, four genotypes (G14, G01, G12, and G22) outyielded the check genotype in fresh matter yield by 20.7, 16.5, 11.0 and 9.8%, respectively. The additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) analysis showed that the genotype, environment, and their interaction were highly significant (p ≤ 0.001) for fresh matter yield. The results of AMMI stability values (ASVs) and the genotype selection index (GSI) combined with the AMMI estimate-based selection showed that genotypes G14, G22 and G01 were the most stable and adapted genotypes and were superior to the check genotype. These results indicate that forage pearl millet varieties could be developed directly through evaluating the wealth of available collections or indirectly through hybridization in crop breeding programs. Full article

Pearl millet stands as an important staple food and feed for arid and semi-arid regions of India and South Africa. It is also a quick supplier of important micronutrients like Fe and Zn via grain to combat micronutrient deficiencies among people in developing countries. India has notably spearheaded advancements in pearl millet production and productivity through the All India Coordinated Pearl Millet Improvement Project. There were 21 hybrids evaluated over arid and semi-arid ecologies of the western and southern regions of India. AMMI and GGE biplot models were adopted to recommend a specific hybrid for the particular locality. A joint analysis of variation indicated a significant genotype–environment interaction for most of the agronomical and grain micronutrient parameters. Pearson’s correlation values dissected the significant and positive correlation among agronomic traits and the negative correlation with grain micronutrient traits. GGE biplot analysis recommended the SHT 106 as a dual-purpose hybrid and SHT 115 as a biofortified hybrid for the grain’s Fe and Zn content. SHT 110 and SHT 108 were selected as stable and high grain yield-producing hybrids across all environments and specifically for E1, E2, and E4 as per the Which-Won-Where and What biplot. SHT 109 and SHT 103 hybrids were stable and high dry fodder yield-producing hybrids across all environments. In this study, the Multi-Trait Stability Index (MTSI) was employed to select the most stable and high-performing hybrids for all traits. It selected SHT 120, SHT 106, and SHT 104 for stability and great performance across all environments. These findings underscored the significance of tailored hybrid recommendations and the potential of pearl millet in addressing both food security and malnutrition challenges in various agro-ecological regions. Full article

Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.) and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) are well-adapted to semiarid regions. A two-year study at New Mexico State University’s Rex E. Kirksey Agricultural Science Center at Tucumcari, NM, USA, compared monoculture pearl millet and cowpea with their mixtures in various row arrangements in four randomized complete blocks each year. Treatments included monoculture pearl millet (millet) and cowpea (cowpea), pearl millet and cowpea mixture planted in the same row (millet–cowpea), the species planted in alternate rows (millet–cowpea 1:1), the species planted in two adjacent rows alternating between species (millet–cowpea 2:2), and the species planted in four adjacent rows alternating between species (millet–cowpea 4:4), Mixture neutral detergent fiber (NDF) was reduced i millet–cowpea 1:1 and millet–cowpea 2:2 compared to millet (673, 662, 644, 646, and 666 g NDF kg⁻¹ for millet, millet–cowpea, millet–cowpea 1:1, millet–cowpea 2:2, and millet–cowpea 4:4, respectively, LSD = 18, p ≤ 0.05). Crude protein tended to be increased in millet–cowpea 2:2. Based on these results two rows of cowpea alternated with two rows of pearl millet, all spaced at 15 cm and harvesting for hay at the pearl millet boot stage likely optimizes the compromise of DM yield and the nutritive value of the mixture. Full article

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

Nitrogen (N) availability and soil microbiota exert significant impacts on plant metabolic systems and yield. Different studies have indicated that yield and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.R.Br.) can be improved by the inoculation of N-fixing bacteria. However, the interactive effects of different N sources and bacteria inoculation on growth, productivity, and NUE of pearl millet have been less explored. Therefore, individual and interactive effects of different N sources (organic and inorganic) and bacteria inoculation on growth, productivity, and NUE of pearl millet were investigated in this study. Two different N sources, i.e., organic (farmyard manure) and inorganic (urea) alone or in 50% + 50% combinations (urea + FYM), were used to supply the recommended amount of N. Similarly, seeds were inoculated with two different N-fixing bacteria, i.e., endobacteria (Enterobacter sp. MN17) and rhizobacteria (Stenotrophomonas maltophilia FA-9). Urea + farmyard manure (FYM) and seed inoculation rhizobacteria improved soil attributes, yield-related traits, grain quality, NUE, and net economic returns. Soil porosity was significantly improved by seed inoculation with both bacteria and FYM application. Similarly, seed inoculation with rhizobacteria increased soil organic carbon by 45.45% and 34.88% during the 1st and 2nd year of the study, respectively. Urea + FYM application combined with rhizobacteria seed inoculation improved the number of grains per ear (23.49 and 23.63%), 1000-grain weight (5.76% and 7.85%), grain yield (23.19% and 25.0%), and NUE (33.83 and 48.15%). Similarly, grain quality was significantly improved by seed inoculation with both bacteria. Likewise, urea + FYM combined with rhizobacteria improved nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) by 33.83% and 48.15% in 2020 and 2021, respectively, compared to no N application and no seed inoculation. The highest economic returns (1506.4 and 1506.9 USD) were noted for urea + FYM application combined with rhizobacteria seed inoculation. Therefore, urea + FYM application combined with rhizobacteria (S. maltophilia FA-9) seed inoculation seemed a viable approach to improve grain yield, grain quality, NUE, and net economic returns of pearl millet. Full article

Pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] is the essential food crop for over ninety million people living in drier parts of India and South Africa. Pearl millet crop production is harshly hindered by numerous biotic stresses. Sclerospora graminicola causes downy mildew disease in pearl millet. Effectors are the proteins secreted by several fungi and bacteria that manipulate the host cell structure and function. This current study aims to identify genes encoding effector proteins from the S. graminicola genome and validate them through molecular techniques. In silico analyses were employed for candidate effector prediction. A total of 845 secretory transmembrane proteins were predicted, out of which 35 proteins carrying LxLFLAK (Leucine–any amino acid–Phenylalanine–Leucine–Alanine–Lysine) motif were crinkler, 52 RxLR (Arginine, any amino acid, Leucine, Arginine), and 17 RxLR-dEER putative effector proteins. Gene validation analysis of 17 RxLR-dEER effector protein-producing genes was carried out, of which 5genes were amplified on the gel. These novel gene sequences were submitted to NCBI. This study is the first report on the identification and characterization of effector genes in Sclerospora graminicola. This dataset will aid in the integration of effector classes that act independently, paving the way to investigate how pearl millet responds to effector protein interactions. These results will assist in identifying functional effector proteins involving the omic approach using newer bioinformatics tools to protect pearl millet plants against downy mildew stress. Considered together, the identified effector protein-encoding functional genes can be utilized in screening oomycetes downy mildew diseases in other crops across the globe. Full article

The MYB gene family widely exists in the plant kingdom and participates in the regulation of plant development and stress response. Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.), as one of the most important cereals, is not only considered a good source of protein and nutrients but also has excellent tolerances to various abiotic stresses (e.g., salinity, water deficit, etc.). Although the genome sequence of pearl millet was recently published, bioinformatics and expression pattern analysis of the MYB gene family are limited. Here, we identified 208 PgMYB genes in the pearl millet genome and employed 193 high-confidence candidates for downstream analysis. Phylogenetic and structural analysis classified these PgMYBs into four subgroups. Eighteen pairs of segmental duplications of the PgMYB gene were found using synteny analysis. Collinear analysis revealed pearl millet had the closest evolutionary relationship with foxtail millet. Nucleotide substitution analysis (Ka/Ks) revealed PgMYB genes were under purifying positive selection pressure. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR analysis of eleven R2R3-type PgMYB genes revealed they were preferentially expressed in shoots and seeds and actively responded to various environment stimuli. Current results provide insightful information regarding the molecular features of the MYB family in pearl millet to support further functional characterizations. Full article

West Africa is the origin and epicenter of pearl millet genetic diversity. Niger is a standalone country that produces 3.5 million tons of pearl millet from an area of 6.7 million hectares, with productivity varying from 0.5 to 0.7 t/ha. Low grain yield is a result of low soil fertility, drought, downy mildew, head miner, and the non-utilization of improved and quality seeds. Around 30 pearl millet varieties were released in Niger, but the adoption rate of improved varieties is still lagging. There has been no systematic mapping implemented for new varieties’ adoption preferences and the availability of quality seeds. Considering this and assessing the need for biofortified cultivars, the present participatory study was conducted in the Dosso region of Niger, wherein high rates of malnutrition persist. This study aimed (i) to identify breeding priorities for key traits of pearl millet preferred by farmers, with gender-based segregation, for varieties and hybrids, and (ii) to survey the preference for biofortified varieties with added nutritional value. Structured questionnaires and focus groups were used to collect data from 150 randomly selected respondents in 12 villages from three representative departments of Dogondoutchi, Dosso, and Gaya. The results reveal that pearl millet is a primary staple crop grown (98% of respondents) and consumed on a daily basis as food and also used as feed for their animals. The majority of farmers preferred a long panicle (50.7%) and a good seed set (45.3%). For grain traits, a white color (50%) and larger size (100%) were predominantly preferred, which fetches them higher prices in the market, where they compete with sorghum grains. All respondents unanimously rated growing biofortified pearl millet varieties as high (100%), owing to higher Fe and Zn, in addition to yield. Furthermore, 99.3% of farmers perform grain decortication before consumption, thus potentially depleting staple grain nutrition, which is expedient for pearl millet biofortification in the region. This study has the potential for establishing pearl millet breeding priorities that are likely to be employed for other West African pearl millet breeding programs. Full article

Germinated millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.) is a source of phenolic compounds that has potential prebiotic action. This study aims at evaluating the action of germinated pearl millet on gut function and its microbiota composition in Wistar rats fed with a high-fat high-fructose (HFHF) diet. In the first stage, lasting eight weeks, the experiment consisted of two groups: AIN-93M (n = 10) and HFHF group (n = 20). In the second stage, which lasted ten weeks, the animals of the AIN-93M group (n = 10) were kept, while the HFHF group was dismembered into HFHF (HFHF diet, n = 10) and HFHF + millet (HFHF added 28.6% of germinated millet flour, n = 10) groups. After the 18th week, the urine of the animals was collected for the analysis of lactulose and mannitol intestinal permeability by urinary excretion. The histomorphometry was analyzed on the proximal colon and the fecal pH, concentration of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), and sequencing of microbiota were performed in cecum content. The Mothur v.1.44.3 software was used for data analysis of sequencing. Alpha diversity was estimated by Chao1, Shannon, and Simpson indexes. Beta diversity was assessed by PCoA (Principal Coordinate Analysis). The functional predictive analysis was performed with PICRUSt2 software (version 2.1.2−b). Functional traits attributed to normalized OTU abundance were determined by the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). In the results, germinated millet flour reduced Oscillibacter genus and Desulfobacterota phylum, while increasing the Eggerthellaceae family. Furthermore, germinated millet flour: increased beta diversity, cecum weight, and cecum/body weight ratio; improved gut histological parameters by increasing the depth and thickness of the crypt and the goblet cell count (p < 0.05); reduced (p < 0.05) the fecal pH and mannitol urinary excretion; increased (p < 0.05) the propionate short-chain fatty acid concentration. Thus, germinated millet has the potential to improve the composition of gut microbiota and the intestinal function of rats fed with an HFHF diet. Full article

Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum [L.] R. Br.) is a climate-smart cereal crop for environments prone to drought and heat stresses. Pearl millet is cultivated in Pakistan on marginal soils with phosphorus (P) deficiency, which significantly decreases its productivity. Moreover, P fixation in the country’s calcareous soils is another major constraint which requires attention. P solubilizing bacteria (PSB) have the potential to improve P availability in the soil. However, the potential of PSB in improving P availability in soil and pearl millet yield has been rarely tested in Pakistan. Therefore, this 2-year field study explored the role of combined application of organic and inorganic P sources along with PSB (i.e., Bacillus sp. MN54) inoculation to improve yield-related traits, P use efficiency (PUE), net economic returns and grain quality of pearl millet grown under semi-arid climatic conditions. Phosphorus was applied through inorganic sources, organic sources (farmyard manure) and 50% inorganic sources + 50% organic sources with or without PSB inoculation. In control treatment, pearl millet was grown without P application. The individual and combined application of P from different sources and PSB inoculation significantly improved yield-related traits and PUE of pearl millet. The highest grain yield was observed with combined (50% inorganic + 50% organic) application of P with PSB inoculation. The same treatments resulted in higher iron, zinc, protein and P contents in the grains during both years. Likewise, P application through organic and inorganic sources combined with PSB inoculation improved soil bulk density, fertility and microbial population during both years. The highest economic returns and benefit–cost ratio was recorded for combined P application (50% inorganic + 50% organic) and PSB inoculation. In crux, the combined application of organic and inorganic P fertilizers along with PSB (Bacillus sp. MN54) inoculation seemed a feasible approach to enhance productivity, grain quality and net economic returns of pearl millet. Therefore, it is recommended that P should be applied through both organic and inorganic sources combined with PSB inoculation to improve P availability and productivity of pearl millet in Pakistan. The current study has explored the potential of combined P application through organic and inorganic sources along with PSB inoculation. Future studies should focus on the determination of mobilized P with the application of PSB. Full article