Search

Among the largest transcription factor families in plants, bZIPs are crucial for various developmental and physiological processes, particularly abiotic stress resistance. Setaria italica has become a model for understanding stress resistance mechanisms. In this study, we identified 90 bZIP transcription factors in the Setaria italica genome. SibZIPs were classified into 13 groups based on references to Arabidopsis bZIPs. Members in the same group shared similar motifs and gene structure pattern. In addition, gene duplication analysis indenfied 37 pairs of segmental duplicated genes and none tandem duplicated genes in S. italica suggesting segmental duplication contributed to the expansion of the S. italica bZIP gene family. Moreover, the number of SibZIPs genes (39) exhibiting higher expression in roots was significantly more than that in other organs. Twelve SibZIP genes were upregulated in response to dehydration stress. In conclusion, our study advances the current understanding of SibZIP genes and provide a number of candidates for functional analysis of drought tolerance in S. italica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foxtail millet is a type of minor millet that has nutritional‐rich characteristics. The bran layer in millets contains a considerable amount of antinutritional properties, and grain/flour/product spoilage occurs due to fat in the bran layer. Therefore, the removal of bran from millets can enhance their shelf life. Bran removal from foxtail millet is challenging because of its tiny size. Hence, the study targeted optimizing polishing process parameters for foxtail millet. The effect of process variables such as grain moisture content (8%–16% w.b.), emery roller speed (800–2400 rpm), and polishing time (1–8 min) on polishing characteristics (degree of polishing, head yield, middling yield, and broken content) and proximate composition (protein, fat, crude fiber, ash, and carbohydrate contents) of foxtail millets was studied using the central composite rotatable design (CCRD). Emery roller speed and polishing time significantly affected all responses (p < 0.01). In contrast, grain moisture content had a significant effect only on the degree of polishing (p < 0.05), head, and middling yields (p < 0.01). A numerical optimization technique was adopted to optimize the process parameters of the polisher. The optimum operating conditions were 10% grain moisture content, 1650 rpm of emery roller speed, and 2 min of polishing time. A validation study conducted at optimized conditions revealed no significant difference between the predicted and actual values of responses and considerably less broken content (9.26%). The results of the present study indicate that machinery modified and processes optimized during the study are fairly accepted and can be used to upscale the machine for industrial use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pearl millet is a nutri-cereal that is mostly grown in harsh environments, making it an ideal crop to study heat tolerance mechanisms at the molecular level. Despite having a better-inbuilt tolerance to high temperatures than other crops, heat stress negatively affects the crop, posing a threat to productivity gain. Hence, to understand the heat-responsive genes, the leaf and root samples of two contrasting pearl millet inbreds, EGTB 1034 (heat tolerant) and EGTB 1091 (heat sensitive), were subjected to heat-treated conditions and generated genome-wide transcriptomes. We discovered 13,464 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), of which 6932 were down-regulated and 6532 up-regulated in leaf and root tissues. The pairwise analysis of the tissue-based transcriptome data of the two genotypes demonstrated distinctive genotype and tissue-specific expression of genes. The root exhibited a higher number of DEGs compared to the leaf, emphasizing different adaptive strategies of pearl millet. A large number of genes encoding ROS scavenging enzymes, WRKY, NAC, enzymes involved in nutrient uptake, protein kinases, photosynthetic enzymes, and heat shock proteins (HSPs) and several transcription factors (TFs) involved in cross-talking of temperature stress responsive mechanisms were activated in the stress conditions. Ribosomal proteins emerged as pivotal hub genes, highly interactive with key genes expressed and involved in heat stress response. The synthesis of secondary metabolites and metabolic pathways of pearl millet were significantly enriched under heat stress. Comparative synteny analysis of HSPs and TFs in the foxtail millet genome demonstrated greater collinearity with pearl millet compared to proso millet, rice, sorghum, and maize. In this study, 1906 unannotated DEGs were identified, providing insight into novel participants in the molecular response to heat stress. The identified genes hold promise for expediting varietal development for heat tolerance in pearl millet and similar crops, fostering resilience and enhancing grain yield in heat-prone environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foxtail millet is one of the oldest crops, and its endosperm contains up to 70% of starch. Grain filling is an important starch accumulation process associated with foxtail millet yield and quality. However, the molecular mechanisms of grain filling in foxtail millet are relatively unclear. Here, we investigate the genes and regulated miRNAs associated with starch synthesis and metabolism in foxtail millet using high-throughput small RNA, mRNA and degradome sequencing. The regulation of starch synthesis and quality is carried out mainly at the 15 DAA to 35 DAA stage during grain filling. The DEGs between waxy and non-waxy foxtail millet were significant, especially for GBSS. Additionally, ptc-miR169i_R+2_1ss21GA, fve-miR396e_L-1R+1, mtr-miR162 and PC-5p-221_23413 regulate the expression of genes associated with the starch synthesis pathway in foxtail millet. This study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms of starch synthesis and quality formation in foxtail millet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Millet agriculture, which originated in northern China, alongside rice agriculture, have nurtured the Chinese civilization. Prehistoric manuring practices likely promoted and maintained sustainable millet agricultural production in the loess area of northern China. However, ongoing controversy exists regarding the indicators of prehistoric manuring intensity of foxtail millet (Setaria italica) and common millet (Panicum miliaceum). Here, we present the results of pot and field fertilization experiments on two millet types. Our findings suggest that manuring can significantly increase the δ15N values of foxtail millet, and its δ15N values increase with increasing manuring levels. The δ15N values of foxtail millet leaves are systematically greater than those of grains by approximately 1.6‰. Manuring could have a long-term residual impact on increasing the δ15N values of soil and millet crops. Combined with previous crop fertilization experiment results, we propose that the impact of manuring on the δ15N values of non-nitrogen-fixing crops is roughly consistent. The δ15N value and amount of manure are key factors determining the extent of change in plant δ15N values. The millet grain δ15N values can serve as reliable indicators of manuring practices. Finally, we provide an interpretive framework for assessing the correlation between manuring levels and the δ15N values of archaeological millet remains. The δ15N values of ancient millet grains suggest widespread and intensive manuring practices in prehistoric millet agriculture in northern China, spanning from the early Yangshao period to the Longshan period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rich nutrients, climate resilience, and the economic importance of millets are believed to ensure food security for future generations. Millets have the habit of growing against abiotic stresses (particularly drought stress). Millets show much better climate resilience and nutrient supplementation properties compared to other major cereals. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of genes that respond to stresses and nutrient transport will help understand the tolerance mechanism and improve against both stresses. Genome sequences are currently available for two major (sorghum and pearl millet) and eight minor millets (foxtail millet, finger millet, kodo millet, barnyard millet, proso millet, job's tear, fonio millet, and tef). Five minor millets (little millet, kodo millet, brown top millet, guinea millet, and raishan) do not have genome sequences to date. Transcriptome studies help to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs), mine genes induced in a particular stress and develop several molecular markers for all plants, including millets. Some millets have reports on transcriptome datasets for plants exposed to various biotic and abiotic stresses and for nutritional traits. Unfortunately, the transcriptome datasets of millets have not been adequately leveraged to explore genes associated with traits such as climate resilience, nutrient enrichment, and crop improvement. This underutilization stems from a lack of high-resolution studies and limited exploration within the field. As a result, the potential insights and genetic understanding offered by these datasets remain largely untapped. Through this review, we plan to elucidate the current status of transcriptome resources on millets and draw future insights on the utilization of these resources. This review will motivate researchers to utilize the available transcriptome resources for millet improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renewed excavations at Shimao, the largest stone walled urban site in northern China dating to around 4200–3700 BP, have focused on Shimao's unusual architecture and material culture, but there remains much to be known about the subsistence system and agricultural strategies the inhabitants employed around this site. In this paper we provide new archaeobotanical and isotopic evidence for the agricultural systems and strategies that supported Shimao and nearby sites, from 5000 to 3000 BP. Our data show that the system gradually shifted from one based on common millet as the main staple—requiring a high level of labour-input—to a system dependent on extensive cultivation of foxtail millet, which is better suited to dryland cultivation in colder environments. We argue that this shift in cultivation coincided with regional climate change, and helped sustain early Bronze Age state societies, which fuelled the rapid emergence of social complexity in the semi-arid and arid area of the northern Loess Plateau from 4200 to 3000 BP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen (N) is a macronutrient limiting crop productivity with varied requirements across species and genotypes. Understanding the mechanistic basis of N responsiveness by comparing contrasting genotypes could inform the development and selection of varieties with lower N demands, or inform agronomic practices to sustain yields with lower N inputs. Given the established role of millets in ensuring climate-resilient food and nutrition security, we investigated the physiological and genetic basis of nitrogen responsiveness in foxtail millet (Setaria italica L.). We had previously identified genotypic variants linked to N responsiveness, and here we dissect the mechanistic basis of the trait by examining the physiological and molecular behaviour of N responsive (NRp-SI58) and non-responsive (NNRp-SI114) accessions at high and low N. Under high N, NRp-SI58 allocates significantly more biomass to nodes, internodes and roots, more N to developing grains, and is more effective at remobilizing flag leaf N compared with NNRp-SI114. Post-anthesis flag leaf gene expression suggests that differences in N induce much higher transcript abundance in NNRp-SI114 than NRp-SI58, a large proportion of which is potentially regulated by APETALA2 (AP2) transcription factors. Overall, the study provides novel insights into the regulation and manipulation of N responsiveness in S. italica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coarse cereals have been promoted for their health benefits, and sourdough is used to improve their steamed bread sensory acceptance. However, grains vary in dough physiochemical properties and steamed bread–making performance. This study investigated the effects of yeast and sourdough fermentation on the biochemical, textural, and flavor properties of dough and steamed bread of eight grain types. Results indicated that sourdough dough had a lower pH and higher total titrable acidity compared with yeast group. The texture of sourdough‐steamed bread was significantly improved with reduced hardness and enhanced springiness. Microstructure revealed that sourdough resulted in starch surface corrosion and less amylopectin recrystallization. Aldehydes, alcohols, and esters are more dominant in sourdough group than yeast group. Foxtail millet and sorghum steamed breads exhibited the highest performances in texture, flavor, and sensory evaluation. This could provide a theoretical basis for producing coarse cereal products with desirable quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foxtail millet (FM) and green banana (GB) are rich in health-promoting nutrients and bioactive substances, like antioxidants, dietary fibers, and various essential macro and micronutrients. Utilizing GB and FM flour as prebiotics is attributed to their ability to support gut health and offer multiple health benefits. The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of incorporating 10% GB flour (GBF) and different proportions (10–40%) of FM flour (FMF) on the prebiotic potential, antioxidant, nutrient, color, cooking quality, water activity and sensory attributes of noodles. The prebiotic potential, antioxidant, and nutrient of the produced noodles were significantly improved by increasing the levels of FMF. Sensorial evaluation revealed that noodles containing 30% FMF and 10% GBF attained comparable scores to the control sample. Furthermore, the formulated noodles exhibited significantly (p < 0.05) higher levels of protein, essential minerals (such as iron, magnesium, and manganese), dietary fiber (9.37 to 12.71 g/100 g), total phenolic compounds (17.81 to 36.35 mg GA eq./100 g), and total antioxidants (172.57 to 274.94 mg AA eq./100 g) compared to the control. The enriched noodles also demonstrated substantially (p < 0.05) increased antioxidant capacity, as evidenced by enhanced DPPH and FRAP activities, when compared to the control noodles. Overall, the incorporation of 30% FMF and 10% GBF led to a noteworthy improvement in the nutritional and antioxidant qualities of the noodles, as well as the prebiotic potential of the noodles with regard to L. plantarum, L. rhamnosus, and L. acidophilus. The implementation of this enrichment strategy has the potential to confer a multitude of health advantages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The indeterminate domain proteins (IDD proteins) play essential roles in the growth and development of various plant tissues and organs across different developmental stages, but members of this gene family have not yet been characterized in foxtail millet (Setaria italica). To have a comprehensive understanding of the IDD gene family in foxtail millet, we performed a genome-wide characterization and haplotypic variation analysis of the IDD gene family in foxtail millet. In this study, sixteen IDD genes were identified across the reference genome of Yugu1, a foxtail millet cultivar. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the Setaria italica IDD (SiIDD) proteins were clustered into four groups together with IDD proteins from Arabidopsis thaliana (dicot) and Oryza sativa (monocot). Conserved protein motif and gene structure analyses revealed that the closely clustered SiIDD genes were highly conserved within each subgroup. Furthermore, chromosomal location analysis showed that the SiIDD genes were unevenly distributed on nine chromosomes of foxtail millet and shared collinear relationships with IDD genes of other grass species. Transcriptional analysis revealed that the SiIDD genes differed greatly in their expression patterns, and paralogous genes shared similar expression patterns. In addition, superior haplotypes for two SiIDD genes (SiIDD8 and SiIDD14) were identified to correlate with traits of early heading date, and high thousand seed weight and molecular markers were designed for SiIDD8 and SiIDD14 to distinguish different haplotypes for breeding. Taken together, the results of this study provide useful information for further functional investigation of SiIDD genes, and the superior haplotypes of SiIDD8 and SiIDD14 will be particularly beneficial for improving heading date and yield of foxtail millet in breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grass damage has become an important factor restricting foxtail millet production; chemical weeding can help resolve this issue. However, special herbicides in foxtail millet fields are lacking. Penoxsulam has a broad weed control spectrum and a good control effect. In this project, Jingu 21 was used as the test material, and five different concentrations of penoxsulam were used for spraying test in the three–five leaf stage. In this experiment, the effects on the growth of foxtail millet were discussed by measuring the agronomic characters and antioxidant capacity of foxtail millet after spraying penoxsulam. The results showed that: (1) penoxsulam is particularly effective in controlling Amaranthus retroflexus L. (A. retroflexus) and Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) Beauv. (E. crus-galli), but is ineffective in controlling Chenopodium album L. (C. album) and Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop. (D. sanguinalis); (2) the stem diameter, fresh weight, and dry weight of the above-ground parts decreased with the increase in spraying amount; (3) as the spraying dosage increased, the superoxide (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) activities in the foxtail millet initially increased and subsequently decreased; the malonaldehyde (MDA) content increased. Our experiment found that 1/2X and 1X spraying dosages had certain application value in controlling gramineous weeds in foxtail millet field. Other spraying dosages are not recommended as they may harm the crops. Our findings provide reference for identifying new herbicides in the foxtail millet field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant height (PH) is a crucial trait for strengthening lodging resistance and boosting yield in foxtail millet. To identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) and candidate genes associated with PH, we first developed a genetic map using a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from a cross between Aininghuang and Jingu 21. Then, PH phenotyping data and four variations of best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) were collected from nine environments and three development stages. Next, QTL mapping was conducted using both unconditional and conditional QTL methods. Subsequently, candidate genes were predicted via transcriptome analysis of parental samples at three developmental stages. The results revealed that the genetic map, based on re-sequencing, consisted of 4,360 bin markers spanning 1,016.06 cM with an average genetic distance of 0.23 cM. A total of 19 unconditional QTL, accounting for 5.23%–35.36% of the phenotypic variation explained (PVE), which included 7 major and 4 stable QTL, were identified. Meanwhile, 13 conditional QTL, explaining 5.88%–40.35% of PVE, including 5 major and 3 stable QTL, were discovered. Furthermore, four consistent and stable QTL were identified. Finally, eight candidate genes were predicted through RNA-seq and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). Those findings provide a crucial foundation for understanding the genetic mechanisms underlying PH development and facilitate molecular marker-assisted breeding of ideal plant types in foxtail millet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to isolate Nitrogen-fixing bacteria from tailing and heavy metal (HM) polluted soils and examine their effectiveness as a plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) to increase foxtail millet plant growth. We analyzed artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) sites in Pongkor Village, West Java, Indonesia, and identified nine areas with significant contamination of Mercury (Hg), Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), and Arsenic (As). We isolated sixteen strains of nitrogen-fixing bacteria different carbon sources. We identified three strains (3.2.h, 4.2.b, and 9.2.a) that the most robust nitrogenase activity and indole acetic acid (IAA) production. They were identified based on their molecular characteristics (16S rRNA) as Ralstonia pickettii strain LMQOTU12, Azotobacter chroococcum subsp. isscasi strain P205, and Azotobacter chroococcum subsp. isscasi strain P205. The three isolates were inoculated to foxtail millet plant grown under Andosol slightly acidic (pH 5.8), moderate nitrogen content (0.26%). The three strains isolates demonstrated significant enhancement to foxtail millet plants' growth. Improvements (compared to control) in shoot dry weight: 8% (3.2.h), 32% (4.2.b), 88% (9.2.a); longest root length: 88.71% (3.2.h), 108.90% (4.2.b), 140.16%; root dry weight: 350% (3.2.h), 450% (4.2.b), 250% (9.2.a); and root-shoot ratio 312% (3.2.h), 312% (4.2.b), 75% (9.2.a). This study demonstrates that the three strains are potential PGPRs for increasing plant growth of foxtail millet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foxtail millet is a drought-tolerant cereal and forage crop. The basic leucine zipper (bZIP) gene family plays important roles in regulating plant development and responding to stresses. However, the roles of bZIP genes in foxtail millet remain largely uninvestigated. In this study, 92 members of the bZIP transcription factors were identified in foxtail millet and clustered into ten clades. The expression levels of four SibZIP genes (SibZIP11, SibZIP12, SibZIP41, and SibZIP67) were significantly induced after PEG treatment, and SibZIP67 was chosen for further analysis. The studies showed that ectopic overexpression of SibZIP67 in Arabidopsis enhanced the plant drought tolerance. Detached leaves of SibZIP67 overexpressing plants had lower leaf water loss rates than those of wild-type plants. SibZIP67 overexpressing plants improved survival rates under drought conditions compared to wild-type plants. Additionally, overexpressing SibZIP67 in plants displayed reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and enhanced activities of antioxidant enzymes, including catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and peroxidase (POD) under drought stress. Furthermore, the drought-related genes, such as AtRD29A, AtRD22, AtNCED3, AtABF3, AtABI1, and AtABI5, were found to be regulated in SibZIP67 transgenic plants than in wild-type Arabidopsis under drought conditions. These data suggested that SibZIP67 conferred drought tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis by regulating antioxidant enzyme activities and the expression of stress-related genes. The study reveals that SibZIP67 plays a beneficial role in drought response in plants, offering a valuable genetic resource for agricultural improvement in arid environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foxtail millet prolamin, one of the major protein constituents of foxtail millet, has garnered attention due to its unique amino acid composition and function. Foxtail millet prolamin exhibits specific physicochemical and functional characteristics, such as solubility, surface hydrophobicity, emulsifying, and foaming properties. These characteristics have been exploited in the preparation and development of products, including plant-based alternative products, nutritional supplements, and gluten-free foods. Additionally, because of the favorable biocompatibility and biodegradability, foxtail millet prolamin is frequently used as a carrier for encapsulation and targeted delivery of bioactive substances. Moreover, studies have shown that foxtail millet prolamin is highly nutritious and displays various biological activities like antioxidant effects, anti-inflammatory properties, and anti-diabetic potential, making it a valuable ingredient in medicinal products and contributing to its potential role in therapeutic diets. This review summarizes the current knowledge of the amino acid composition and structural characteristics of foxtail millet prolamin, as well as the functional properties, biological activities, and applications in functional food formulation and drug delivery strategy. Challenges and future perspectives for the utilization of foxtail millet prolamin are also pointed out. This review aims to provide novel ideas and broad prospects for the effective use of foxtail millet prolamin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foxtail millet is an important characteristic grain crop in northern China. However, weeds compete seriously with foxtail millet and have long been a biological factor that has plagued foxtail millet production. Rotation requires determining the species and sequence of crops, and reasonable rotation has many benefits for agriculture, including reducing the damage by weeds. In order to clarify the combination effects of foxtail millet–soybean rotation sequence and herbicide on weed control and crop yield, fixed-position experiments were designed in three growing seasons. Foxtail millet and soybean were planted following the sequence below in successive years (FFF, foxtail millet–wheat–foxtail millet–wheat–foxtail millet; SFF: soybean–wheat–foxtail millet–wheat–foxtail millet; SSF, soybean–wheat–soybean–wheat–foxtail millet; SSS, soybean–wheat–soybean–wheat–soybean), and weed density, biodiversity, weed seedbank, and crop yield were examined and analyzed. The results showed that the average weed density of SFF and SSF was reduced by 61.7% and 66.3% compared with FFF in the three years and by 16.5% and 26.6% compared with SSS, separately. Foxtail millet–soybean rotation (SFF and SSF) increased the species richness and the Margalef species richness index of the weed community and reduced the Simpson index compared with the continuous foxtail millet and the continuous soybean cropping (FFF and SSS). The weed seedbank of SFF and SSF was 45.7% and 55.8% smaller than that of FFF and increased by 92.7% and 56.7% compared with SSS, respectively. The weed density in the FFF treatment was significantly correlated with the 0–5 cm grass seedbank size, while there was no significant correlation in the other three treatments. Benefiting from the lower weed damage intensity, the yield of foxtail millet in SFF and SSF increased by 54.05% and 221.81% compared with FFF, respectively. The research results revealed that both SFF and SSF can effectively reduce the damage of weeds and help improve biodiversity. SSF has a higher weed control effect and higher foxtail millet yield than SFF. This study contributes to the understanding of crop–weed interactions in foxtail millet–soybean rotation and can be applied to areas with similar environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Sterols have long been associated with diverse fields, such as cancer treatment, drug development, and plant growth; however, their underlying mechanisms and functions remain enigmatic. Here, we unveil a critical role played by a GmNF‐YC9‐mediated CCAAT‐box transcription complex in modulating the steroid metabolism pathway within soybeans. Specifically, this complex directly activates squalene monooxygenase (GmSQE1), which is a rate‐limiting enzyme in steroid synthesis. Our findings demonstrate that overexpression of either GmNF‐YC9 or GmSQE1 significantly enhances soybean stress tolerance, while the inhibition of SQE weakens this tolerance. Field experiments conducted over two seasons further reveal increased yields per plant in both GmNF‐YC9 and GmSQE1 overexpressing plants under drought stress conditions. This enhanced stress tolerance is attributed to the reduction of abiotic stress‐induced cell oxidative damage. Transcriptome and metabolome analyses shed light on the upregulation of multiple sterol compounds, including fucosterol and soyasaponin II, in GmNF‐YC9 and GmSQE1 overexpressing soybean plants under stress conditions. Intriguingly, the application of soybean steroids, including fucosterol and soyasaponin II, significantly improves drought tolerance in soybean, wheat, foxtail millet, and maize. These findings underscore the pivotal role of soybean steroids in countering oxidative stress in plants and offer a new research strategy for enhancing crop stress tolerance and quality from gene regulation to chemical intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: One hundred and fifty-five QTL for trace element concentrations in foxtail millet were identified using a genome-wide association study, and a candidate gene associated with Ni–Co–Cr concentrations was detected. Foxtail millet (Setaria italica) is an important regional crop known for its rich mineral nutrient content, which has beneficial effects on human health. We assessed the concentrations of ten trace elements (Ba, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sr, and Zn) in the grain of 408 foxtail millet accessions. Significant differences in the concentrations of five elements (Ba, Co, Ni, Sr, and Zn) were observed between two subpopulations of spring- and summer-sown foxtail millet varieties. Moreover, 84.4% of the element pairs exhibited significant correlations. To identify the genetic factors influencing trace element accumulation, a comprehensive genome-wide association study was conducted, identifying 155 quantitative trait locus (QTL) for the ten trace elements across three different environments. Among them, ten QTL were consistently detected in multiple environments, including qZn2.1, qZn4.4, qCr4.1, qFe6.3, qFe6.5, qCo6.1, qPb7.3, qPb7.5, qBa9.1, and qNi9.1. Thirteen QTL clusters were detected for multiple elements, which partially explained the correlations between elements. Additionally, the different concentrations of five elements between foxtail millet subpopulations were caused by the different frequencies of high-concentration alleles associated with important marker-trait associations. Haplotype analysis identified a candidate gene SETIT_036676mg associated with Ni accumulation, with the GG haplotype significantly increasing Ni–Co–Cr concentrations in foxtail millet. A cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence marker (cNi6676) based on the two haplotypes of SETIT_036676mg was developed and validated. Results of this study provide valuable reference information for the genetic research and improvement of trace element content in foxtail millet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Downy mildew caused by Sclerospora graminicola is a systemic disease that affects the yield and quality of foxtail millet. This obligate biotrophic oomycete manipulates host physiology and immune processes through numerous effectors. A thorough comprehension of effector biology is crucial to unravel disease mechanisms and understand host plant resistance. In this study, bioinformatic analyses revealed 498 potentially secreted proteins in S. graminicola, of which 62 were identified as RXLR effectors; 46 RXLR‐encoding genes exhibited upregulated expression during the early stages of infection. To elucidate the functions of these secreted proteins, a heterogeneous expression system was developed using Nicotiana benthamiana. Twenty‐one RXLR effectors secreted by S. graminicola were transiently expressed in N. benthamiana, of which four could suppress INF1‐triggered cell death. Various defence responses in N. benthamiana were attenuated, including inhibition of defence gene expression, reduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and diminished callose deposition. The expression of SG_RXLR41 also enhanced the growth of Phytophthora capsici on N. benthamiana leaves. These findings indicate that S. graminicola facilitates infection and expansion through the secretion of multiple RXLR effectors, and SG_RXLR41 is an important virulence‐related effector that is involved in manipulating plant immunity by suppressing cell death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Northwest A & F University - Natural Science Edition is the property of Editorial Department of Journal of Northwest A&F University (Natural Science Edition) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Foxtail millet (Setaria italica) is an important cereal crop with rich nutritional value. Distinctness, Uniformity, and Stability (DUS) are the prerequisites for the application of new variety rights for foxtail millet. In this study, we investigated 32 DUS test characteristics of 183 foxtail millet resources, studied their artificial selection trends, and identified the varieties that conform to breeding trends. The results indicated significant differences in terms of the means, ranges, and coefficients of variation for each characteristic. A correlation analysis was performed to determine the correlations between various DUS characteristics. A principal component analysis was conducted on 31 test characteristics to determine their primary characteristics. By plotting PC1 and PC2, all the germplasm resources could be clearly distinguished. The trends in foxtail millet breeding were identified through a differential analysis of the DUS test characteristics between the landrace and cultivated varieties. Based on these breeding trends, the optimal solution types for multiple evaluation indicators were determined; the weight allocation was calculated; and a specific TOPSIS algorithm was designed to establish a comprehensive multi-criteria decision-making model. Using this model, the breeding potential of foxtail millet germplasm resources were ranked. These findings provided important reference for foxtail millet breeding in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored the potential of employing ultraviolet-A radiation in conjunction with thermal treatments to modify foxtail millet (Seteria italica. L) flour. The treatment series were split into five sets (w/o UV-A and UV-A): I (T-1 and T-2) as the control, II (T-3 and T-4) as the hydrothermal treatment of millet, III (T-6 and T-5) as the combination of hydrothermal and autoclaving treatment of millet, IV (T-7 and T-10) as the autoclaving treatment of millet, and V (T-8 and T-9) as the autoclaving treatment of flour. The physicochemical, techno-functional, rheological, and structural properties of the treated flour samples were analysed. The results showed significant differences (p < 0.05) in colour and techno-functional properties. Changes are evident in the amorphous and crystalline starch and amide regions. These changes enhance the culinary applications of flour. For example, the whiteness index of flour was 71.44 ± 0.28 and increased to 76.46 ± 0.44 for T-3, indicating its suitability for substituting baking flour. Upon milling, Set-IV yielded 80% of the particles at 300 μm, indicating the potential of autoclaving to increase the semolina milling yield. The water absorption capacity increased to 1.72 ± 0.00 g.g− 1 in T-5 and decreased to 0.69 ± 0.03 g.g− 1 for T-4 from 1.05 ± 0.00 g.g− 1, indicating the suitability of T-5 in soft foods and T-4 in crispy snacks. T-8 and T-10 showed shear thinning behaviour, showing their suitability for use in beverages, while the other flours showed shear thickening behaviour, demonstrating their use in soup mixes. These modifications in flour properties offer an opportunity to diversify its usage efficiently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small millets, also known as nutri‐cereals, belong to the grass family Poaceae that have tiny seeds and are drought and heat tolerant, besides being powerhouse of nutrition, hence making them ideal crops that shall combat not just food and nutritional security but also adapt well to the changing climatic conditions. They grow well on marginal soil and require least resources for their cultivation. Nutritional superiority to popularly cultivated major cereals makes them a magnificent alternative food especially in the age of lifestyle related disorders. In this review, we provide insights of the initial commencement of research on small millets and deliberate the breeding progress based on conventional and genomics‐based approaches. The small millets under discussion are finger millet, foxtail millet, proso millet, little millet, barnyard millet, kodo millet and browntop millet. The major focus here is to recapitulate the breeding activities in the above‐mentioned millets rather than providing a way forward for breeding small millets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salt marsh grass (Sporobolus alterniflorus) plays a crucial role in Delaware coastal regions by serving as a physical barrier between land and water along the inland bays and beaches. This vegetation helps to stabilize the shoreline and prevent erosion, protecting the land from the powerful forces of the waves and tides. In addition to providing a physical barrier, salt marsh grass is responsible for filtering nutrients in the water, offering an environment for aquatic species and presenting a focal point of study for high salt tolerance in plants. As seawater concentrations vary along the Delaware coast from low to medium to high salinity, our study seeks to identify the impact of salt tolerance in marsh grass and to identify genes associated with salt tolerance levels. We developed more than 211,000 next-generation-sequencing (Illumina) transcriptomic reads to create a reference transcriptome from low-, medium-, and high-salinity marsh grass leaf samples collected from the Delaware coastline. Contiguous sequences were annotated based on a homology search using BLASTX against rice (Oryza sativa), foxtail millet (Setaria italica), and non-redundant species within the Viridiplantae database. Additionally, we identified differentially expressed genes related to salinity stress as candidates for salt stress qPCR analysis. The data generated from this study may help to elucidate the genetic signatures and physiological responses of plants to salinity stress, thereby offering valuable insight into the use of innovative approaches for gene expression studies in crops that are less salt tolerant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Minor millets regarded as storehouse of proteins, dietary fibres, minerals, vitamins, fatty acids and phytochemicals have nutrigenomic role in human health. Determination of such components is an essential approach to choose highly efficient millet grains. Hence, this study has estimated and compared the mineral composition, proximates, functional properties, phytochemical and in vitro pharmacological properties of the seed grains of Setaria italica (Foxtail millet), Echinochloa frumentacea (Barnyard millet) , Paspalum scrobiculatum (Kodo millet) , and Panicum sumatrense (Little millet) cultivated in Kolli hills of Tamil Nadu, India. Mineral analysis revealed the presence of calcium, copper, magnesium, manganese, iron, phosphorus, potassium, and zinc. Occurrence of high content of protein, carbohydrate and vitamin E were also ascertained. The proximate composition (moisture, ash, crude lipid, and crude fibre) and functional features (water and oil absorbing capacity, bulk density, foaming and emulsifying property) of these millet flours have demonstrated their potential in food product formulation, particularly weaning foods. Total phenolic content was ranged between 53.28±0.71 and 110.42 ± 1.42 mg GAE g−1 of dried extract; and total flavonoid content was in the range of 23.80±1.09 to 65.1 ± 1.23 mg QE g−1 of dried extract in the studied millets. Significant free radical scavenging and enzyme inhibition activity was observed in P. sumatrense (IC 50 of 128.92±1.18 µg mL−1 in DPPH assay), E. frumentacea (IC 50 of 120.89±1.46 µg mL−1 in ABTS assay and 126.52±0.78 µg mL−1 in tyrosinase inhibition assay), S. italica (IC 50 of 119.94±1.40 µg mL−1 in SO radical scavenging assay) and P. scrobiculatum (IC 50 of 101.59±1.27 µg mL−1 in α-amylase enzyme inhibition assay and 94.63±0.78 µg mL−1 in α-glucosidase enzyme inhibition assay). The findings highlight the nutraceutical ability of these minor millets which can be employed as a valuable ingredient in food product preparation. [Display omitted] • Four minor millets cultivated by the tribal communities were studied for nutritional and pharmacological profiling. • Nutritional analysis revealed all the studied millets recorded the presence of minerals. • Significant free radical scavenging and enzyme inhibition activity was observed in P. sumatrense. • P. scrobiculatum was recorded with notable α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzyme inhibition effect. • The recorded phytochemicals were highly correlated with antioxidant and antidiabetic activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foxtail millet is typically dehulled before consumption or processing. However, foxtail millet bran also contains abundant phenolic compounds and other nutrients. Edible fungi have rich extracellular enzyme systems; are environmentally friendly and safe for consumption; and have been shown to effectively degrade lignin and cellulose. This study aimed to screen edible fungi that can effectively ferment undehusked foxtail millet, improving its nutritional value and antioxidant properties through solid‐state fermentation (SSF). The results demonstrated that fermentation utilizing Pleurotus geesteranus exhibited significant improvements in both the phenolic compound content and antioxidant properties of foxtail millet, with the optimal fermentation period determined to be 30 days. The physical and functional properties of fermented undehusked foxtail millet (FFM) flour were effectively improved, increasing crude protein, vitamin C, and crude polysaccharide contents by 11.46%, 27.78%, and 54.17%, respectively. In vitro scavenging activities of FFM were 73.19%, 93.86%, and 63.75% for 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′‐azino‐bis(3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid) (ABTS·+), and superoxide anion radicals (O2−), respectively. The total antioxidant capability (T‐AOC) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity of FFM were 1.01 mM Trolox equivalents (TE)/g and 89.05 U/g, respectively. Additionally, T‐AOC, SOD, and glutathione peroxidase (GSH‐Px) activities increased, whereas malondialdehyde (MDA) levels decreased in the heart, liver, and kidneys of mice treated with FFM flour, indicating enhanced antioxidant capacity. Therefore, fermentation with edible fungi is suitable for improving the nutritional composition and antioxidant properties of foxtail millet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Agronomica Sinica is the property of Crop Science Society of China and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In order to clarify the effect of different fertilizers on foxtail millet quality under low nitrogen conditions, we used JGNo.21 and LZGNo.2 as experimental materials and set up five treatments, including non-fertilization, nitrogen, phosphorus, compound, and organic fertilizers, to study the regulation of different fertilizer types on agronomic traits, nutrient fractions, and pasting characteristics of foxtail millet under low nitrogen conditions. Compared with the control, all of the fertilizers improved the agronomic traits of JGNo.21 to a certain extent. Nitrogen and compound fertilizer treatments reduced the starch content of JGNo.21; the starch content was reduced by 0.55% and 0.07% under nitrogen and compound fertilizers treatments. Phosphorus and organic fertilizers increased starch content, and starch content increased by 0.50% and 0.56% under phosphorus and organic fertilizer treatments. The effect of each fertilizer treatment on protein content was completely opposite to that of starch; different fertilizer treatments reduced the fat content of JGNo.21 and increased the fiber content. Among them, nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers increased the yellow pigment content; the yellow pigment content increased by 1.21% and 2.64% under nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer treatments. Organic and compound fertilizers reduced the content of yellow pigment; the yellow pigment content was reduced by 3.36% and 2.79% under organic and compound fertilizer treatments. Nitrogen and organic fertilizers increased the fat content of LZGNo.2; the fat content increased by 2.62% and 1.98% under nitrogen, organic fertilizer treatment. Compound and phosphorus fertilizer decreased the fat content; the fat content decreased by 2.16% and 2.90% under compound and phosphorus fertilizer treatment. Different fertilizer treatments reduced the cellulose and yellow pigment content of LZGNo.2. The content of essential, non-essential, and total amino acids of JGNo.21 was increased under compound and nitrogen fertilizer treatments and decreased under organic and phosphorus fertilizer treatments. The content of essential, non-essential, and total amino acids of LZGNo.2 was significantly higher under compound, nitrogen, and organic fertilizer treatments compared with control and significantly decreased under phosphorus fertilizer treatments. Nitrogen and compound fertilizer treatments significantly reduced the values of peak viscosity, trough viscosity, breakdown viscosity, final viscosity, setback viscosity, and pasting time of each index of JGNo.21; phosphorus and organic fertilizer treatments improved the values of each index. In contrast, the pasting viscosity of LZGNo.2 increased under phosphorus fertilizer treatment and decreased under nitrogen fertilizer treatment. Reasonable fertilization can improve the quality of foxtail millet, which provides a scientific theoretical basis for improving the quality of foxtail millet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Main conclusion: In this study, we assembled the first complete mitochondrial genome of Setaria italica and confirmed the multi-branched architecture. The foxtail millet (Setaria italica) holds significant agricultural importance, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. It plays a pivotal role in diversifying dietary patterns and shaping planting strategies. Although the chloroplast genome of S. italica has been elucidated in recent studies, the complete mitochondrial genome remains largely unexplored. In this study, we employed PacBio HiFi sequencing platforms to sequence and assemble the complete mitochondrial genome. The mitochondrial genome spans a total length of 446,614 base pairs and harbors a comprehensive set of genetic elements, including 33 unique protein-coding genes (PCGs), encompassing 24 unique mitochondrial core genes and 9 variable genes, along with 20 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes and 3 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes. Our analysis of mitochondrial PCGs revealed a pronounced codon usage preference. For instance, the termination codon exhibits a marked preference for UAA, while alanine (Ala) exhibits a preference for GCU, and glutamine (Gln) favors CAA. Notably, the maximum Relative Synonymous Codon Usage (RSCU) values for cysteine (Cys) and phenylalanine (Phe) are both below 1.2, indicating a lack of strong codon usage preference for these amino acids. Phylogenetic analyses consistently place S. italica in close evolutionary proximity to Chrysopogon zizanioides, relative to other Panicoideae plants. Collinearity analysis showed that a total of 39 fragments were identified to display homology with both the mitochondrial and chloroplast genomes. A total of 417 potential RNA-editing sites were discovered across the 33 mitochondrial PCGs. Notably, all these editing events involved the conversion of cytosine (C) to uracil (U). Through the employment of PCR validation coupled with Sanger sequencing for the anticipated editing sites of these codons, RNA-editing events were conclusively identified at two specific loci: nad4L-2 and atp6-1030. The results of this study provide a pivotal foundation for advanced genomic breeding research in foxtail millet. Furthermore, they impart essential insights that will be instrumental for forthcoming investigations into the evolutionary and molecular dynamics of Panicoideae species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excessive alcohol consumption has led to the prevalence of gastrointestinal ailments. Alleviating gastric disorders attributed to alcohol-induced thinning of the mucus layer has centered on enhancing mucin secretion as a pivotal approach. In this study, foxtail millet bran polyphenol BPIS was divided into two components with MW < 200 D and MW > 200 D by molecular interception technology. Combined with MTT, cell morphology observation, and trypan blue staining, isoferulic acid (IFA) within the MW < 200 D fraction was determined as the effective constituent to mitigate ethanol-induced damage of gastric epithelial cells. Furthermore, a Wistar rat model with similar clinical features to alcohol-induced gastric mucosal injury was established. Then, gastric morphological observation, H&E staining, and assessments of changes in gastric hexosamine content and gastric wall binding mucus levels were carried out, and the results revealed that IFA (10 mg/Kg) significantly ameliorated alcohol-induced gastric mucosal damage. Finally, we applied techniques including Co-IP, molecular docking, and fluorescence spectroscopy and found that IFA inhibited the alcohol-induced downregulation of N-acetylgalactosamintransferase 2 (GALNT2) activity related to mucus synthesis through direct interaction with GALNT2 in gastric epithelial cells, thus promoting mucin synthesis. Our study lays a foundation for whole grain dietary intervention tailored to individuals suffering from alcoholic gastric mucosal injury [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Chinese Institute of Food Science & Technology is the property of Journal of Chinese Institute of Food Science & Technology Periodical Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Chinese Institute of Food Science & Technology is the property of Journal of Chinese Institute of Food Science & Technology Periodical Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Sourdough flavors were closely related to microbial metabolism. The microbial diversity of foxtail millet dough during fermentation has never been studied. Here, the metabolic potential and diversity of the bacterial community were analyzed by metagenomic during dough fermentation. Firmicutes was the dominant phylum in the dough, within heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria (e.g., Companilactobacillus, Limosilactobacillus, Pediococcus and Lactobacillus) as the most abundant bacteria. Proteobacteria was gradually inhibited after fermentation. Companilactobacillus_crustorum was notably found abundant during dough leavening. Limosilactobacillus_fermentum increased markedly during fermentation, while Companilactobacillus_crustorum decreased significantly. For further exploration, genes associated with metabolism were annotated through metagenomics. Limosilactobacillus, Companilactobacillus and Pediococcus were actively engaged in glycolysis (ko00010), starch and sucrose metabolism (ko00500), and pyruvate metabolism (ko00620), leading in part to lactic and acetic acid accumulations and dough acidification. Limosilactobacillus and Lactiplantibacillus were the main contributors to key aminopeptidases or/and transaminases involved in amino acid metabolism, which was responsible for flavor metabolite formation. This study will provide an enhanced understanding of the predominance and diversity of dough bacterial communities, and contribute to future strain screening in the dough for better flavor.

Foxtail millet (Setaria italica (L.) Beauv) is one of the earliest cultivated millet for grain, hay and silage. There is wide genetic diversity available in foxtail millet and characterization of available germplasm is a pre-requisite for the genetic improvement of any crop. Keeping the above fact in view 30 foxtail germplasm lines were evaluated during kharif 2020 and 2021 for morphological traits, stover yield, dry fodder yield and seed yield under rainfed conditions of Haryana. The results (based on pooled data of two years) revealed that enough variability was present among germplasm lines for further exploitation. High heritability and positive correlation was reported between traits like plant height, leaf length, leaf stem ratio, stover yield, grain yield etc. Principal component analysis also revealed that PC1, PC2, PC3, PC4 and PC5 contributed for 31.8%, 15.05%, 12.31%, 11.43% and 10.14%, respectively to the total variation. Five foxtail accessions viz., SEA8, SEA12, SEA48, SEJ184 and SEA37 were identified promising for yield and related traits under rainfed conditions of Haryana.

Plant anatomy is patterned early during leaf development which suggests studying the spatial–temporal transcriptomes of primordia will help identify critical regulative and functional genes. We successfully isolated the leaf primordia tissues from the C3 grass rice and the C4 grass foxtail millet by laser capture microdissection (LCM) and studied the gene expression throughout leaf developmental stages. Our data analysis uncovered the conserved expression patterns of certain gene clusters both in rice and foxtail millet during leaf development. We revealed genes and transcription factors involved in vein formation, stomatal development, and suberin accumulation. We identified 79 candidate genes associated with functional regulation of C4 anatomy formation. Screening phenotype of the candidate genes revealed that knock-out of a putative polar auxin transport related gene NAL1 resulted significantly reduced veinal space in rice leaf. Our present work provides a foundation for future analyses of genes with novel functions in grasses and their role in leaf development, in particular the role in leaves with a contrasting C3 vs. C4 biosynthetic pathway.

In order to increase the utilization rate of foxtail millet resources, the brewing conditions of fermented foxtail millet alcoholic beverage were optimized by single-factor experiment and response surface methodology. For the fermentation of the liquor koji, foxtail millet was used as the primary ingredient. As part of the comprehensive evaluation index, which included the soluble solid, total acid, and sensory score, the nutritional value, antioxidant potential, and volatile flavoring compounds were also identified. Results showed that the optimal fermentation conditions of foxtail millet alcoholic beverage were as follows: addition amount of liqueur koji 1%, fermentation time 3 d, fermentation temperature 32 ℃. The soluble solids of the beverage were 22.05%, total acid was 19.33 g/L, sensory score was 89.37, alcohol level of 0.7%vol, flavone was 66.78 mg/L, and polyphenol was 65.13 mg/L. In the beverage, potassium was the most abundant mineral and nicotinamide was the most abundant vitamin. The clearance rates for DPPH radical, ABTS+ radical, and hydroxyl radical were 73.19%, 34.29% and 53.72%, respectively. In addition, a total of 46 volatile flavor compounds were found in the beverage, with esters and alcohols being the most prevalent ones. These molecules were recognized as flavor compounds giving the fermented foxtail millet alcoholic beverage a distinct scent. As a result, the product serves as a theoretical guide for the creation of functional foods using foxtail millet as a raw ingredient. It is nutrient-dense and has a pleasing aroma and flavor.

Abstract Foxtail millet is a highly nutritious crop, which is widely cultivated in arid and semi-arid areas worldwide. Humic acid (HA), as a common plant growth regulator, is used as an organic fertilizer and feed additive in agricultural production. However, the impact of potassium humate KH on the photosynthetic rate and yield of foxtail millet has not yet been studied. We explored the effects of KH application on the morphology, photosynthetic ability, carbon and nitrogen metabolism, and yield of foxtail millet. A field experiment was performed using six concentrations of KH (0, 20, 40, 80, 160, and 320 kg ha−1) supplied foliarly at the booting stage in Zhangza 10 cultivar (a widely grown high-yield variety). The results showed that KH treatment increased growth, chlorophyll content (SPAD), photosynthetic rate (Pn), transpiration rate (Tr), and stomatal conductance (Gs). In addition, soluble protein content, sugar content, and nitrate reductase activity increased in KH-treated plants. With increased KH concentration, the effects became more evident and the peak values of each factor were achieved at 80 kg ha−1. Photosynthetic rate showed significant correlation with SPAD, Tr, Gs, and soluble protein content, but was negatively correlated with intercellular CO2 concentration. Compared to that of the control, the yield of foxtail millet under the T2, T3, T4, and T5 (40, 80, 160, and 320 kg ha−1 of KH) treatments significantly increased by 6.0%, 12.7%, 10.5%, and 8.6%, respectively. Yield exhibited a significant positive correlation with Tr, Pn, and Gs. Overall, KH enhances photosynthetic rate and yield of foxtail millet, therefore it may be conducive to stable millet production. These findings may provide a theoretical basis for the green and efficient production of millet fields.

Moisture content testing of agricultural products is critical for quality control, processing efficiency and storage management. Testing foxtail millet moisture content ensures stable foxtail millet quality and helps farmers determine the best time to harvest. A differential capacitance moisture content detection device was designed based on STM32 and PCAP01 capacitance digital converter chip. The capacitance method combined with the back-propagation(BP) algorithm and the extreme learning machine(ELM) algorithm was chosen to construct an analytical model for foxtailmilletmoisture content, temperature, and volume duty cycle. This work performs capacitancemeasurements on foxtail millet with different moisture contents, temperatures, and proportions of the measured substance occupying the detection area (that is, the volumetric duty cycle). On this foundation, the sparrow search algorithm (SSA) is used to optimize the BP and ELM models. However, SSA may encounter problems such as falling into local optimization solutions due to the reduction of population diversity in the late iterations. As a consequence, Logistic algorithm is introduced to optimize SSA, making it more appropriate for solving specific problems. Upon comparative analysis, the model predicted using the Logistic-SSA-ELM algorithm was more accurate. The results indicate that the predicted values of prediction set coefficient of determination (RP), prediction set root mean square error (RMSEP) and prediction set ratio performance deviation (RPDP) were 0.7016, 3.7150 and 1.4035, respectively. This algorithm has excellent prediction performance and can be used as a model for detection of foxtail millet moisture content. In view of the important role of foxtail millet moisture content detection in acquisition and storage, it is particularly important to study a nondestructive and fast online real-time detection method. The designed capacitive sensor with differential structure has well stabilization and high accuracy, which can be further studied in depth and gradually move towards the general trend of agricultural development of smart agriculture and precision agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The grain filling rate (GFR) plays a crucial role in determining grain yield. However, the regulatory and molecular mechanisms of the grain filling rate (GFR) in foxtail millet remains unclear. In this study, we found that the GFR of ′Changnong No.47′ (CN47) was significantly higher at 14 DAF (days after flowering) and 21 DAF in comparison to 'Changsheng 13' (CS13). Furthermore, CN47 also exhibited higher a thousand-grain weight and yield than CS13. Therefore, RNA-seq and UHPLC-MS/MS were used to conduct transcriptome and metabolome analyses during two stages of grain filling in both cultivars. Conjoint analysis of transcriptomics and metabolomics was adopted in order to analyze the biological processes and functional genes associated with GFR. The results identified a total of 765 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 246 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) at the 14 DAF stage, while at the 21 DAF stage, a total of 908 DEGs and 268 DAMs were identified. The integrated analysis of co-mapped DAMs and DEGs revealed enriched pathways, including flavonoid biosynthesis, plant hormone signal transduction, tyrosine metabolism, ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, and beta-Alanine metabolism, as well as stilbenoid, diarylheptanoid, and gingerol biosynthesis. In order to elucidate their potential functions in the context of GFR, we developed a gene–metabolite regulatory network for these metabolic pathways. Notably, we found that some genes associated with ABC transporters and the plant hormone signal transduction pathway were implicated in auxin transport and signal transduction, highlighting the crucial role of auxin during grain filling. These findings provide initial insights into the regulatory and molecular mechanisms underlying GFR in foxtail millet, as well as offering valuable genetic resources for further elucidation of GFR in future studies. The findings have also established a theoretical basis for improving the efficiency of yield breeding in foxtail millet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhancing nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in crops, particularly under limited nitrogen availability, is pivotal for advancing sustainable agricultural practices. This study investigates the NUE and associated physiological responses in foxtail millets (Setaria spp.) subjected to varying nitrogen regimes. We selected two genotypes of S. viridis and four of S. italica, representing three distinct domestication stages. The study employed four nitrogen treatments: 0 mg/kg (N0), 25 mg/kg (N25), 50 mg/kg (N50), and 100 mg/kg (N100), ranging from nitrogen deficiency to sufficiency. Our findings highlight marked variances in phenotypic adaptations to nitrogen availability among these domestication stages. Notably, wild genotypes (Q4, Q23) performed well in lower nitrogen conditions, evidenced by substantial increases in shoot and root biomass. Conversely, cultivated genotypes (Yugu18, C28) flourished predominantly under higher nitrogen conditions, displaying significant growth in shoot and root biomass, alongside improvements in root length, surface area, and volume. A critical observation was that under nitrogen-limited conditions, wild genotypes exhibited superior NUE compared to their cultivated counterparts. Structural equation modeling (SEM) elucidated a positive correlation between NUE and root architecture in wild genotypes, contrasted by a negative association with plant nitrogen content. Our findings indicate that modern elite varieties do not perform as well as the wild species in adapting to poor soil conditions. Physiological responses to N fluctuation in foxtail millet is likely under selection during domestication and breeding processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amino acid permeases (AAPs) transporters are crucial for the long-distance transport of amino acids in plants, from source to sink. While Arabidopsis and rice have been extensively studied, research on foxtail millet is limited. This study identified two transcripts of SiAAP9, both of which were induced by NO3− and showed similar expression patterns. The overexpression of SiAAP9L and SiAAP9S in Arabidopsis inhibited plant growth and seed size, although SiAAP9 was found to transport more amino acids into seeds. Furthermore, SiAAP9-OX transgenic Arabidopsis showed increased tolerance to high concentrations of glutamate (Glu) and histidine (His). The high overexpression level of SiAAP9 suggested its protein was not only located on the plasma membrane but potentially on other organelles, as well. Interestingly, sequence deletion reduced SiAAP9's sensitivity to Brefeldin A (BFA), and SiAAP9 had ectopic localization on the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Protoplast amino acid uptake experiments indicated that SiAAP9 enhanced Glu transport into foxtail millet cells. Overall, the two transcripts of SiAAP9 have similar functions, but SiAAP9L shows a higher colocalization with BFA compartments compared to SiAAP9S. Our research identifies a potential candidate gene for enhancing the nutritional quality of foxtail millet through breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The NODULE-INCEPTION-like protein (NLP) family is a plant-specific transcription factor (TF) family involved in nitrate transport and assimilation in plants, which are essential for improving plant nitrogen use efficiency. Currently, the molecular nature and evolutionary trajectory of NLP genes in the C4 model crop foxtail millet are unknown. Therefore, we performed a comprehensive analysis of NLP and molecular evolution in foxtail millet by scanning the genomes of foxtail millet and representative species of the plant kingdom. We identified seven NLP genes in the foxtail millet genome, all of which are individually and separately distributed on different chromosomes. They were not structurally identical to each other and were mainly expressed on root tissues. We unearthed two key genes (Si5G004100.1 and Si6G248300.1) with a variety of excellent characteristics. Regarding its molecular evolution, we found that NLP genes in Gramineae mainly underwent dispersed duplication, but maize NLP genes were mainly generated via WGD events. Other factors such as base mutations and natural selection have combined to promote the evolution of NLP genes. Intriguingly, the family in plants showed a gradual expansion during evolution with more duplications than losses, contrary to most gene families. In conclusion, this study advances the use of NLP genetic resources and the understanding of molecular evolution in cereals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic hepatic manifestation of metabolic dysfunction for which effective interventions are lacking. The burden of NAFLD is increasing at an alarming rate. NAFLD is frequently associated with morbidities such as dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity, etc. The current study explored the potential role of bound polyphenols from foxtail millet (BPIS) in treating mice with NAFLD induced by a high-fat diet (HFD). The results indicated the critical role of BPIS in treating NAFLD by effectively restoring the gut microbiota in C57BL/6 mice that received a high-fat diet (HFD) for 12 weeks. At the same time, 16S rRNA analysis demonstrated that BPIS remodeled the overall structure of the gut microbiota from fatty liver diseases towards that of normal counterparts, including ten phylum and twenty genus levels. Further study found that the expression of tight junction proteins was upregulated in the BPIS-treated group. This study provides new insights into the potential NAFLD protective effects induced by polyphenols of foxtail millet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]