Genomic resources, opportunities, and prospects for accelerated improvement of millets

Faizo Kasule, Oumar Diack, Modou Mbaye, Ronald Kakeeto & Bethany Fallon Econopouly

Theoretical and Applied Genetics; November 20 2024; vol. 137; article 273

Key message

Genomic resources, alongside the tools and expertise required to leverage them, are essential for the effective improvement of globally significant millet crop species.

Abstract

Millets are essential for global food security and nutrition, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Sorghum is an annual diploid (2n = 2x = 20) species with a genome size of approximately 700–772 Mb. Pearl millet is a diploid crop with an estimated genome size of 1.76 Gb consisting of seven pairs of chromosomes (2n = 2x = 14). Foxtail millet is a diploid annual plant with nine chromosomes (2n = 2x = 18). They are crucial in promoting nutrition, climate resilience, economic development, and cultural heritage. Despite their critical role, millets have historically received less investment in developing genomic resources than major cereals like wheat, maize, and rice. However, recent advancements in genomics, particularly next-generation sequencing technologies, offer unprecedented opportunities for rapid improvement in millet crops. This review paper provides an overview of the status of genomic resources in millets and in harnessing the recent opportunities in artificial intelligence to address challenges in millet crop improvement to boost productivity, nutrition, and end quality. It emphasizes the significance of genomics in tackling global food security issues and underscores the necessity for innovative breeding strategies to translate genomics and AI into effective breeding strategies for millets.

See https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00122-024-04777-9

Fig.2: Number of publicly available de novo assemblies for millets by crop species. Color indicates the last geographic origin for the assembled genome