Chinese researchers map complete millet genome to help with food security

Published 2023년 6월 8일

Tridge summary

An international research team, led by the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences and NYU, has conducted a comprehensive genomic analysis of Setaria or foxtail millet, a key cereal crop. The study, published in Nature Genetics, aims to enhance understanding of the crop's domestication, evolution, and critical agricultural traits. By assembling 110 representative genomes from 1,844 Setaria species worldwide, the researchers established the Setaria pan-genome, revealing potential genes and marker-panels for adaptation and improvement across various geographic locations. Findings include the identification of genes regulating grain yield and the creation of the first graph-based genome sequence of Setaria, offering valuable tools for biological research and breeding efforts. This research is of significant importance for enhancing foxtail millet and providing insights for other crops to bolster food security under climate change.

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Original content

An international team of researchers has unlocked a large-scale genomic analysis of Setaria or foxtail millet, an important cereal crop. The study, led by researchers at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences and including scientists at NYU, advances our understanding of the domestication and evolution of foxtail millet, as well as the genetic basis for important agricultural traits. "Foxtail millet is considered to be the foundation for early Chinese civilization," said Michael Purugganan, the Silver Professor of Biology at NYU and NYU Abu Dhabi, and the study's co-senior author. "Moreover, because it is a crop that can grow across a wide range of environments—including arid lands—it has the potential to be important for food security under climate change." Foxtail millet is one of the oldest domesticated grain crops in the world and has been grown by humans for roughly 11,000 years. It held a dominant ...

Source: Phys