Rapid Ragi: A speed breeding protocol for finger millet

Sajja, S and Pranati, J and Shyamala, S and Vinutha, K S and Reddy, Ramya and Joshi, P and Pannem, S and Rakshith, P and Jadhav, Y and Kumar, C V S and Mayes, S (2025) Rapid Ragi: A speed breeding protocol for finger millet. Plant Methods (TSI), 21. pp. 1-10. ISSN 1746-4811

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Abstract

Background Climate change is gradually increasing demand for resilient, nutritious crops like finger millet or ragi. Ensuring food security requires researchers to develop improved and adapted cultivars rapidly. Modern techniques such as genomics-assisted breeding have emerged in the previous decade and combined with rapid generation advancement they will offer a step change in the speed of cultivar development. Results In this study, we developed a repeatable and cost-effective speed breeding protocol for finger millet by modulating the agronomic and physiological components for early generation advancement. A photoperiod of 9-hours, 29 ± 2℃ temperature, 70% relative humidity, 105 plants per 1.5 sq. ft., 0.17% Hoagland’s No. 2 solution spray, restricted irrigation and harvesting at physiological maturity successfully reduced 28–54 days across the maturity groups of finger millet. The advantage was validated in segregating populations confirming up to 4–5 generations a year, instead of 1–2 under field conditions. Conclusion The speed breeding protocol developed reduces the breeding cycle time significantly allowing increased genetic gain. The protocol provides the advantage of rapid development of recombinant inbred lines (RILs), high-throughput phenotyping for biotic and abiotic stresses, and genotyping for early generation selections.

Item Type:	Article
Divisions:	Global Research Program - Accelerated Crop Improvement
CRP:	UNSPECIFIED
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Finger millet, Speed breeding, Photoperiod, Rapid generation advancement, Short-day plant, High-density planting
Subjects:	Others > Plant Breeding Mandate crops > Millets > Finger Millet Others > Genetics and Genomics
Depositing User:	Mr Nagaraju T
Date Deposited:	06 Oct 2025 04:11
Last Modified:	06 Oct 2025 04:11
URI:	http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/13352
Official URL:	https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13007-0...
Projects:	UNSPECIFIED
Funders:	UNSPECIFIED
Acknowledgement:	The authors would like to express their sincere gratitude to the leadership of ICRISAT for giving us the opportunity to conduct this study. The help and timely support from the Farm Engineering Services is sincerely appreciated.
Links:	Google Scholar

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