Advances in Genetics and Genomics of Foxtail Millet (Setaria italica) for Crop Improvement of Millets, Cereals and Bioenergy Grasses

Foxtail millet (Setaria italica) is the oldest domesticated crop in the world (domesticated >8700 years ago) and it has been extensively grown in the semi-arid regions of Asia, Europe and Americas as food and fodder crop. Being a C₄ crop with genetic close-relatedness to several biofuel grasses, foxtail millet has been accentuated as a model crop. In view of its importance, U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute and Beijing Genomics Institute have independently sequenced the genome of foxtail millet. The availability of draft genome sequence has advanced the genomics and genetics of this important crop resulting in development of large-scale genome-wide molecular markers and demonstration of their utility in genomics-assisted breeding, and delineation of several stress-responsive gene families for their molecular and biological roles in abiotic stress tolerance. In addition, several open access databases have been developed to cater these resources for crop improvement through structural and functional genomics. In view of this, the present talk will summarize the advances made in genetics and genomics of this C₄ model crop and how this information could be translated for improvement of other millets, cereals and biofuel grasses.