Super Genes

Celebrated as the grains of the future, and a solution to major global challenges like climate change, food poverty and a lack of nutrition, small-seeded millets have great potential. R&D on millets is currently focused on improving yield potential, adaptability to different environments, nutritional quality, and resistance to stresses.

Genomics and genome-assisted breeding plays a crucial role in modern breeding programs to enhance crop productivity.

Genomics is the study of all the genes (the genome) of a plant, including interactions of those genes with each other, and with the environment. Through the process of genome sequencing, scientists are able to gather new knowledge about these ancient grains, directly impacting crop productivity.

Biofortified millets increase the micronutrient content multifold. Developed by Indian agriculture scientist, Mahalingam Govindraj, ‘Dhanshakti’ – the world’s first biofortified pearl millet (bajra) released in 2014 - has been fortified with iron and zinc and provides women with more than 80% of their daily recommended iron, while regular bajra varieties only provide 20%.

Dipping into the diverse genetic pool of millets allows for filtering out of undesirable traits, while retaining useful ones to create new hybrids that are higher yielding, climate- and disease-resistant, and have a longer shelf life. 

While millets are rich in both micro- and macro-nutrients and fibre, anti nutrients present in millets reduce their bio-availability. Genomic editing can help overcome this by increasing the bioavailability of nutrients present in millets, while also suppressing harmful anti nutrients.