Genetic diversity for grain nutrients contents in a core collection of finger millet (Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.) germplasm

Upadhyaya, H D and Ramesh, S and Sharma, S and Singh, S K and Varshney, R K and Sarma, N D R K and Ravishankar, C R and Narasimhudu, Y and Reddy, V G and Sahrawat, K L and Dhanalakshmi, T N and Mgonja, M A and Parzies, H K and Gowda, C L L and Singh, Sube (2011) Genetic diversity for grain nutrients contents in a core collection of finger millet (Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.) germplasm. Field Crops Research, 121. pp. 42-52. ISSN 0378-4290

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Abstract

Finger millet is a promising source of micronutrients and protein contents besides energy and can contribute to alleviation of iron (Fe), zinc (Zn) and protein malnutrition, affecting women and preschool children in African and south-east Asian countries. The most cost effective approach for mitigating micronutrients and protein malnutrition is to introduce staple crop cultivars selected and/or bred for Fe, Zn and protein dense grain. Attempts to breed finger millet for enhanced grain nutrients are still in its infancy. Analysis, detection and exploitation of existing variability among the germplasm accessions are the initial steps in breeding micronutrient and protein-dense finger millet cultivars. Evaluation of finger millet core germplasm for grain nutrients and agronomic traits revealed a substantial genetic variability for grain Fe, Zn, calcium (Ca) and protein contents. The accessions rich in nutrient contents were identified and their agronomic diversity assessed. The accessions rich in Zn content have significantly higher grain yield potential than those rich in Fe and protein content. Grain nutrient-specific accessions and those contrasting for nutrient contents were identified for use in strategic research and cultivar development in finger millet.

Item Type:	Article
Divisions:	UNSPECIFIED
CRP:	UNSPECIFIED
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Finger millet; Micronutrient contents of grain; Protein; Genetic diversity
Agro Tags:	<b>Agrotags</b> - grain | millets | nutrients | proteins | finger millet | developmental stages | planting | crops | genetics | yields <br><b>Fishtags</b> - pearls <br><b>Geopoliticaltags</b> - india | kenya | africa | nigeria | malawi | burundi | delhi | nepal | asia | usa
Subjects:	Mandate crops > Millets
Depositing User:	Siva Shankar
Date Deposited:	18 May 2011 08:04
Last Modified:	12 Jun 2012 05:45
URI:	http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/22
Official URL:	http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2010.11.017
Projects:	UNSPECIFIED
Funders:	BMZ
Acknowledgement:	The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the BMZ/GTZ project on “Sustainable conservation and utilization of genetic resources of two underutilized crops-finger millet and foxtail millet- to enhance productivity, nutrition and income in Africa and Asia” funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Germany to carry out this activity
Links:	Author

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