Small Millets Genetic Resources Management

Plant genetic resources management is a field of science comprising mainly the activities of collection, characterization, evaluation, conservation, documentation, distribution, and utilization of diversity existing in a crop species. This genetic diversity may be in the form of cultivated varieties, wild and weedy progenitor species, any line which is an intermediate product of plant breeding activity. The small millets include finger millet, foxtail millet, proso millet, barnyard millet, kodo millet, and little millet. Small millets are gaining importance due their special adaptability to harsh and dry climatic conditions. They are also nutritionally rich. Millets contain higher amounts of protein (finger millet and proso millet), dietary fiber (barnyard millet, little millet and kodo millet), calcium (finger millet), iron (barnyard millet), and zinc (foxtail millet). Due to these facts, management of genetic resources becomes extremely important to conserve the diversity existing in these crops for future use and development. ICAR-Indian Institute of Millets Research (IIMR) is one of the National Active Germplasm Sites (NAGS) with the responsibility to collect, conserve, evaluate, document, and distribute the millets genetic resources to the bonafied user within the country. A total of 559 small millet germplasm were collected by ICAR-IIMR-Hyderabadduring 2015–2021 and conserved in the Millets Genebank. Nearly about 15,000 accessions of small millets were augmented from various National and International centers. More than 9300 small millet accessions were characterized at ICAR-IIMR and approximately 16,500 small millets accessions have been conserved at Millets Genebank.