Multivariate trait profiling and genetic diversity in a global foxtail millet germplasm panel.

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Plant Breeding
• Genetics

Background:

• Foxtail millet (Setaria italica L.) possesses significant agricultural potential due to its climate resilience and dual-purpose utility.
• Despite its advantages, foxtail millet remains underutilized in global breeding programs.
• A comprehensive understanding of its phenotypic diversity is crucial for unlocking its full potential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a comprehensive phenotypic evaluation of 260 foxtail millet accessions from 19 countries.
• To assess the phenotypic diversity within the foxtail millet germplasm.
• To identify elite germplasms suitable for targeted breeding strategies aimed at improving adaptation and productivity.

Main Methods:

• Field-based assessments utilizing 22 traits (8 quantitative, 14 qualitative) at seedling and maturity stages.
• Analysis of genetic diversity indices, correlation, principal component analysis (PCA), and hierarchical clustering.
• Identification of key phenotypic groups based on distinct traits and overall performance.

Main Results:

• Seven traits exhibited high variability, notably yield (CV: 25.92%), grain weight per panicle, and single panicle weight.
• Yield demonstrated positive correlations with plant architecture, panicle structure, and biomass traits.
• PCA identified four principal components explaining 80.20% of total variation, and cluster analysis delineated four distinct phenotypic groups.

Conclusions:

• The study successfully identified four key groups: lodging-resistant, dual-purpose high-yielding, early-maturing, and agronomically balanced foxtail millet types.
• Integrative phenotypic analysis facilitates efficient identification of superior accessions.
• Findings support targeted breeding and conservation efforts to enhance foxtail millet adaptation and productivity across diverse agroecological zones.