A. Manivannan Scientist (Genetics)

Directorate of Maize ResearchNew Delhi

Pearl Millet Origin, Domestication, Wild Species, Gene Pool and Genetic Resources

Kingdom: Plantae Subkingdom: Tracheobionta Superdivision: Spermatophyta Division: Magnoliophyta

Class: Liliopsida Subclass: Commelinidae Order: Cyperales Family: Poaceae Genus: Pennisetum Species: glaucum

Taxonomical Classification of Pearl Millet

Pennisetum Sections (Stapf and C.E.Hubb) Gymnotrix (22 sp)Pennisetum (2 sp)Penicillaria (7 sp)Heterostachya (2 sp)Brevivalvula (3 sp)

Synonyms for Pennisetum glaucum, include Pennisetum typhoides, Pennisetum typhoidis, Pennisetum typhoideum, Pennisetum americanum, Setaria glauca, Setaria lutescens, Panicum americanum, and Panicum glaucum. but Pennisetum glaucum is the current officially accepted name.

Common names : bulrush millet, cat tail millet, candle millet, petit-millet

Basic sets X= 5,7,8,9Number range 2n= 10-72X=5 Lowest chromosome in P.ramosum ( 2n=2x=10)X=7P.glaucum (2n=2x=14)P.schweinfurthii (2n=2x=14) – Wild of Pearl milletP.purpureum (2n=4x=28) X=8P.massaicum (2n=16-32 )X=9All other species are having X=9Highest chromosome in P.tempisquense ( 2n=2x=72)

Annual, Perennial, Sexual , A sexual and Apomitic species

CHROMOSOME CLASSIFICATION

Species x 2n Reproductive behaviourPennisetum sect. Pennisetum† P. clandestinum 9 36 APO, SEXP. flaccidum 9 18, 36 APO, SEXP. foermeranum – –P. glaucum 7 14 SEXP. orientale 9 36, 45 APO, SEXP. purpureum 7 27, 28 APO, SEXP. setaceum 9 27, 54, 68 APOP. sieberianum – –P. villosum 9 18, 27, 36, 45, 54 APOP. violaceum 7 14 SEXPennisetum sect. Heterostachya† P. schweinfurthii 7 14 SEXP. squamulatum 7 54, 56 APOPennisetum sect. Brevivalvula†

P. pedicellatum 9

24, 30, 32, 35, 36, 42, 45, 48, 53, 54 APO

P. polystachion subsp. polystachion 9

18, 24, 32, 36, 45, 48, 52, 53, 54, 56, 63, 78 APO

Chemisquy M A et al. Ann Bot 2010;106:107-130

Pennisetum spp Grouping

(a), P. alopecuroides (b), P. hohenackeri (c), P. mollissimum (d), P. mezianum (e), P. orientale (f), P. pedicelletum (g), P. polystachyon (h), P. purpurem

(i), P. ramosum (j), P. schweinfurthii (k), P. Setaceum (l), P. squamulatum (m)P. villosum

Hash et al., 2011

ORIGIN

4500 years old Fossil remenants of Pearl millet seed found at Tilemsi Valley- Mali

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Origin of Pennisetum spp

1. Ethiopian (N.I.Vailo,1949)

2. Niger (Murdock,1959)

3. Sahel zone(Harlan,1971)

4. High land of Sahara (Clarke,1964)

Fuller D Q Ann Bot 2007;100:903-924

Oumar et al., TAG, (2008) 117:489–497

Oumar et al., TAG, (2008) 117:489–497

Pearl millet cultivated samples formed a monophyletic group in the eco-geo- graphical phylogenetic tree and presented only onehomogeneous group in the principal component analysis.

Oumar et al., TAG, (2008) 117:489–497

Our phylogeny and principal component analysis showed that the wild plants from eastern Mali through north western Niger are the closest to the cultivated group.These wild populations span the area from the interior delta of Niger to the Air Mountains. This result suggests that the cradle of pearl millet domestication might be located somewhere in this rather large region. A previous study based on iso-enzyme suggested a most western origin of pearl millet domestication in Mauritania and Western Mali (Tostain 1992).

Mali and western Niger as the possible regions of domestication of pearl millet, but this result should be regarded with caution. Climate and human settlement have changed in Africa in the last 8,000 years

DOMESTICATION

Domesticated Millet Ear and spike let

Reduction in pedicle length

Non shattering involucar

Paired spikelets

Increased grain size

Reduction of bristle length and awn size

Domestication Syndrome In Pearl Millet

Domestication of Pearl millet

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Mono-culm of Domesticated Pearl Millet

Remigereau et al., 2011

DISTRIBUTION

A synoptic geography of early agricultural developments and precursors in Africa.

Fuller D Q Ann Bot 2007;100:903-924

Geographical Distribution of various important traits specific Germplams

GENE POOL

Primary Secondary Tertiary

P. glaucum subspp. glacum cultivars and landraces

P. purpureum All other species in the genus

P. glaucum subsp. Monodii ( Wild annual)

P. squamulatum

P. glaucum subsp. Stenostachyum ( Weedy form)

Gene Pool

C.Kole, 2011

Chinese Fountain Grass -Pennisetum alopecuroides

Pennisetum setaceum – Crimson Foundation Grass

Crimson fountain Grass- P. setaceum, Introduced to America from Arabic and Africa as a ornamental grass

Pennisetum setaceum

Pennisetum pedicellatum in ICRISAT Campus, Hyderabad, AP

Pennisetum villosum - Feathertop

Pennisetum ciliare

Pennisetum clandestinum- Kikuyu Grass

Kikuyu tribes of Kenya Introduced to America

Pennisetum orientale- Oriental Grass Nursery Garden

Pennisetum squamulatum

Pennisetum purpurem –Napier Grass

PGR

Rai et al., 1997

Germplasm collection at ICRISAT, Hyderabad

Agency Active collection

Base Collection

Accessions held in trust

ICRISAT, Hyderabad 21594 20343 21563

Backup collection at ICRISAT, Regional Station, Niamey, Niger

5205

Svalbard Global Seed Vault (SGSV)

~1000

Wild Species Genes of Agronomic Importance (GAI)

P. orientale Pest resistance, Winter hardiness, Drought tolerance

P. glaucum ssp monodii Leaf spot resistance, Striga resistance

P. squamalatum Apospory-Specific Genomic Region (ASGR)

P. glaucum ssp. violaceum Av CMS, A4 CMS

P .pedicellatum, P.polystachion, P.schweinfurthii

Downy mildew resistance

Utilization of CRW

Pennisetum purpureum (Napier grass) rhizomatous & perennial P.purpureum is with desirable traits

Resistance to most of the pests and diseases

Vigorous growth

Outstanding forage yield potential

Bajra Napier- Forage value

P.glaucm X P.purpureum complex crosses are possible

Napier grass readily crosses with pearl millet and produces sterile triploid hybrids produces sterile triploid hybrids

FORAGE VALUE OF PEARL MILLET

Pca21 and Pca24, were identified to play a role during apomictic development in Pennisetum ciliare or Cenchrus ciliaris (Singh et al., 2007), although they can be inherited independently of the ASGR.

Apospory-Specific Genomic Region (ASGR)

Sequence conservation of tb 1ortholog in Course Cereal

Remigereau et al., 2011

Dwarfing Genes (d1, d2)

Thank You