Infraspecific variation and systematics of cultivatedSetaria italica, foxtail millet (Poaceae)

Rao, K E P and de Wet, J M J and Brink, D E and Mengesha, M H (1987) Infraspecific variation and systematics of cultivatedSetaria italica, foxtail millet (Poaceae). Economic Botany, 41 (01). pp. 108-116. ISSN 0013-0001

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Abstract

Foxtail millet (Setaria italica,) is grown as a cereal in southern Europe and in temperate, subtropical, and tropical Asia. Its closest wild relative isS. italica ssp.viridis (green foxtail). Green foxtail is native to temperate Eurasia, but was introduced and became widely established as a weed in temperate and warmer parts of the Americas. Spontaneous and cultivatedS. italica cross to produce fertile hybrids. Derivatives of such crosses, resembling foxtail millet in some inflorescence traits but with efficient natural seed dispersal, accompany the cereal across its range of cultivation. Giant green foxtail of Europe and the American corn belt is a weed of hybrid origin. Foxtail millet was domesticated in the highlands of central China; remains of cultivated foxtail millet are known from the Yang-shao culture period dating back some 5,000 yrs. Comparative morphology suggests that foxtail millet spread to Europe and India as a cereal soon after its domestication. Three cultivated races are recognized. Moharia, from Europe and southwestern Asia, includes cultivars with 5–52 culms, each bearing several, small, more or less erect inflorescences. Cultivars in race maxima are characterized by plants with 1–8 usually unbranched culms that bear large inflorescences; they occur in Transcaucasian Russia and the Far East. Race indica is intermediate in culm number (ave. 6.6) and inflorescence size between races moharia and maxima, and is cultivated in southern Asia.

Item Type:	Article
Divisions:	UNSPECIFIED
CRP:	UNSPECIFIED
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Foxtail Millet, Millet, Taxonamy
Subjects:	Mandate crops > Millets Mandate crops > Millets > Foxtail Millet
Depositing User:	Mr Ramesh K
Date Deposited:	29 Sep 2016 05:45
Last Modified:	29 Sep 2016 05:45
URI:	http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/9706
Official URL:	http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02859358
Projects:	UNSPECIFIED
Funders:	UNSPECIFIED
Acknowledgement:	Research supported financially by the International Board for Plant Genetic Resources as part of its global interest in priority species of millets.
Links:	Google Scholar

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