Salinity Stress in Pearl Millet: From Physiological to Molecular Responses

Salinity stress is a major constraint for crop growth, development, and yield, worldwide. Salinity stress is among the key abiotic stresses that critically impede plant development, causing yield reductions ranging from 15% to 90% in major crops, under moderate-to-high soil salinity levels. Although regarded as climate resilient, very little information is available on pearl millet, regarding its spectrum of physiological to molecular responses, inherent mechanisms exhibited, yield losses, and stress mitigation strategies compared to other cereal crops. High salinity levels in the soil impact the growth and productivity of pearl millet, which is predominantly grown in several arid and semi-arid zones. Therefore, this chapter highlights the differential responses of pearl millet crop to salinity stress, and the need to evaluate for superior genotypic variability with greater stress tolerance mechanisms. This chapter also discusses different approaches that can be employed for crop improvement programs that target salt-tolerant genotypes suitable for varying agro-ecological conditions.