Pearl millet genome sequence provides a resource to improve agronomic traits in arid environments

Rajeev K. Varshney(International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics), Chengcheng Shi(BGI Group (China)), Mahendar Thudi(International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics), Cédric Mariac(Institut de Recherche pour le Développement), Jason G. Wallace(University of Georgia), Peng Qi(University of Georgia), He Zhang(BGI Group (China)), Yusheng Zhao(Leibniz-Institut für Pflanzengenetik und Kulturpflanzenforschung (IPK)), Xiyin Wang(University of Georgia), Abhishek Rathore(International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics), Rakesh K. Srivastava(International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics), Annapurna Chitikineni(International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics), Guangyi Fan(BGI Group (China)), Prasad Bajaj(International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics), Somashekhar Punnuri(Fort Valley State University), Saurabh Gupta(International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics), Hao Wang(Cornell University), Yong Jiang(Leibniz-Institut für Pflanzengenetik und Kulturpflanzenforschung (IPK)), Marie Couderc(Institut de Recherche pour le Développement), Mohan A. V. S. K. Katta(International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics), Dev Paudel(University of Florida), K. D. Mungra(Junagadh Agricultural University), Wenbin Chen(BGI Group (China)), Karen R. Harris‐Shultz(Agricultural Research Service), Vanika Garg(International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics), Neetin Desai(University of Vienna), Dadakhalandar Doddamani(International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics), Ndjido Ardo Kane(Institut Sénégalais de Recherches Agricoles), Joann A. Conner(University of Georgia), Arindam Ghatak(University of Vienna), Palak Chaturvedi(University of Vienna), Sabarinath Subramaniam(University of Arizona), O. P. Yadav(Central Arid Zone Research Institute), Cécile Berthouly‐Salazar(LMI Adaptation des Plantes et Microorganismes Associés aux Stress Environnementaux), Hamidou Falalou(Université Abdou Moumouni), Jianping Wang(BGI Group (China)), Xinming Liang(BGI Group (China)), Jérémy Clotault(Université de Montpellier), Hari D. Upadhyaya(International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics), Philippe Cubry(Institut de Recherche pour le Développement), Bénédicte Rhoné(Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1), Mame Codou Guèye(Institut Sénégalais de Recherches Agricoles), Ramanjulu Sunkar(Oklahoma State University), Christian Dupuy(Institut des Mondes Africains), Francesca Sparvoli(Istituto di Biologia e Biotecnologia Agraria), Shifeng Cheng(BGI Group (China)), R S Mahala, Bharat Singh(Fort Valley State University), R. S. Yadav(Aberystwyth University), Eric Lyons(University of Arizona), Swapan K. Datta(Visva-Bharati University), C. Tom Hash, Katrien M. Devos(University of Georgia), Edward S. Buckler(Cornell University), Jeffrey L. Bennetzen(University of Georgia), Andrew H. Paterson(University of Georgia), Peggy Ozias‐Akins(University of Georgia), Stefania Grando(International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics), Jun Wang(BGI Group (China)), Trilochan Mohapatra(Indian Council of Agricultural Research), Wolfram Weckwerth(University of Vienna), Jochen C. Reif(Leibniz-Institut für Pflanzengenetik und Kulturpflanzenforschung (IPK)), Xin Liu(BGI Group (China)), Yves Vigouroux(Université de Montpellier), Xun Xu(BGI Group (China))
Nature Biotechnology
September 18, 2017
10.1038/nbt.3943
Cited by 542Open Access
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Abstract

Abstract Pearl millet [ Cenchrus americanus (L.) Morrone] is a staple food for more than 90 million farmers in arid and semi-arid regions of sub-Saharan Africa, India and South Asia. We report the ∼1.79 Gb draft whole genome sequence of reference genotype Tift 23D 2 B 1 -P1-P5, which contains an estimated 38,579 genes. We highlight the substantial enrichment for wax biosynthesis genes, which may contribute to heat and drought tolerance in this crop. We resequenced and analyzed 994 pearl millet lines, enabling insights into population structure, genetic diversity and domestication. We use these resequencing data to establish marker trait associations for genomic selection, to define heterotic pools, and to predict hybrid performance. We believe that these resources should empower researchers and breeders to improve this important staple crop.

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