Drought Stress in Millets and Its Response Mechanism

Abstract

Drought is a major abiotic stress that diminishes crop yield and weakens global food security, especially in the current emerging situation of climate change as well as increases in the prevalence and severity of stress elements. Millets are nutrient-dense and capable to resist variety of harsh environmental conditions, including lack of moisture. Millet’s crop has evolved dynamically in terms of morphology, physiology, and biochemically that allow them to flee and/or adapt to adverse environmental situations. Drought stress has a significant impact on the vegetative and reproductive phases of plants. Millets generate a very low yield compared to main cereals like wheat and rice, despite their agronomic, nutritional, and health-related benefits. It is necessary to understand how these complex features are regulated and ameliorated the impact of droughts on millet productivity. Keeping this in view, the present work aims to understand the processes used for reducing the negative impacts of droughts in the production of millets varieties using advanced agronomic management strategies (use of information technology) and the biotechnology (improvements in crop genetics).

Millets as supergrains: a holistic approach for sustainable and healthy food product development

“…Consequently, they effectively utilize the inadequate moisture found in semi-arid areas. 30,31 Millets have a smaller environmental impact than other cereal crop such as paddy and wheat because they frequently require fewer inputs, such as less water, pesticides and fertilizers. 32,33 Research has shown that millet cultivation has a comparatively smaller carbon footprint and water footprint compared to rice and wheat production.…”

Production and cultivation dynamics of millets in India

“…Barnyard millet and foxtail millet complete life cycle in 70-80 days, while rice and wheat take about 150-180 days for maturity. Combined with anatomic and physiological adaptations, the dehydration responses allow millets to survive low critical leaf water potential (−1.22 MPa) (Tiwari et al, 2022). The occurrence of stress is evaded by many other traits such as C 4 photosynthetic machinery, fast growth, small leaf area, thickened cell walls, and deep/dense fibrous root system, which maintain water availability and stability during environmental changes (Pardo & VanBuren, 2021).…”

Climate smart agriculture technologies adoption among small-scale farmers: a case study from Gujarat, India

“…Wheat, a staple crop, faces reduced yields due to rising temperatures, with estimated losses of 4-16 per cent by 2050 (Tesfaye et al, 2017a). Similarly, millets, which are drought-tolerant crops, are also vulnerable to changing rainfall patterns and increasing temperatures, leading to possible yield reductions of 10-20 per cent (Tiwari et al, 2022). These statistics emphasize the urgent need to implement climate change adaptation strategies and promote climateresilient agricultural practices to safeguard the productivity and sustainability of the major cropping systems in Gujarat, Anand.…”