Clue to pearl millet`s heat tolerance may help fight climate chaos
Tuesday, 2017/10/03 | 07:59:51
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ICRISAT October 2017
Agriculture and climate experts have warned for some years now that rising temperatures and frequency of extreme climate events including heat waves experienced in many parts of the world will lead to a drop in major staple foods like maize and wheat.
One cereal stands out in this looming climate chaos: pearl millet. Now, the decoding and sequencing of the pearl millet genome by a global team of 65 scientists from 30 research institutions has revealed critical coping strategies.
The analysis of genetic variability among a thousand pearl millet lines has led to a better understanding of the ability of this dryland cereal to survive soaring temperatures (over 42 degrees Celsius) and its exceptional drought tolerance. This discovery, published in Nature Biotechnology on Sept 18, 2017, may also help develop climate adaptation strategies in other important cereal crops.
Pearl millet, a staple in the Sahel and semi-arid India, has the extraordinary capacity to resist baking heat. While most cereals like rice or maize cannot support temperatures over 30 to a maximum of 35 degrees Celsius when they start forming their grain, pearl millet will fill its grain in temperatures of up to 42 degrees Celsius.
Dr Rajeev Varshney, Research Program Director – Genetic Gains, ICRISAT, who coordinated the Pearl Millet Genome Sequencing Consortium explains, “We have found that compared to other cereals like wheat, rice or maize, pearl millet has a more diverse repertoire of genes for natural wax proteins, which act as thermal protection for the plant.”
See more: http://www.icrisat.org/clue-to-pearl-millets-heat-tolerance-may-help-fight-climate-chaos/
Figure: Pearl Millet Genome Decoded to help fight climate change (ICRISAT) |
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