Executive Summary : | Browntop millet (BTM) is a traditional crop in southern India, known for its gluten-free nature, low GI content, and rich nutritional content. However, it is underutilized and unexploited, despite its potential for food, nutrition, and livelihood security. BTM has high WUE, is environment-friendly, and can help phase out climatic uncertainties. It is drought-tolerant, early maturing, suitable for dry land, best forage, and prevents soil erosion. The current proposal aims to generate genomic resources in BTM to address questions such as diversity, nutritional content and yield, and targeted traits for crop improvement. The study will characterize 118 BTM genotypes for growth, development, morphological, crop stand, shattering, and yield, quantifying nutrition and anti-nutrition factor phytic acid levels. To date, no QTLs in BTM have been identified. To address this, the researchers propose using markers from ragi and screen all available genotypes and develop association mapping with nutrition and anti-nutrition status. The study emphasizes assessing genetic diversity in the germplasm and validating ragi markers in BTM to identify contrasting genotypes. The identification of QTLs in BTM depends on the population of the association mapping population, and there is a decisive need for the creation of bi-parental mapping populations for the creation of linkage maps and QTL discovery. By utilizing ragi ssR markers, the study aims to enhance genomic resources in small millets and improve tribal and rural livelihoods. |