Somaclonal variability as a source for creation of new varieties of finger millet (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Eleusine coracana</Emphasis> (L.) Gaertn.)

Data on selection and characteristics of somaclonal variants of finger millet (Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.), obtained as a result of regeneration of plants from callus tissue, are presented. Among the genetically stable lines tested, the somaclonal variant SE-7 was the most interesting owing to its acquired important agricultural traits, such as a higher seed and biomass yield, rapid seed germination at lower temperatures, and shortening of the main plant development stages. Data analysis showed that somaclonal variability can serve as a source of initial material for further selection of new finger millet varieties.     

Obtaining the transgenic lines of finger millet Eleusine coracana (L.). with dinitroaniline resistance

The current data is dedicated to the study of bioballistic and Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of finger millet with the constructs carrying the mutant α-tubulin gene (TUAml), isolated from R-biotype goosegrass (Eleusine indica L.), for the decision of problem of dinitroaniline-resistance. It was found that 10 μM of trifluralin is optimal for the selection of transgene plants of finger millet. PCR analysis of transformed lines confirmed the transgenic nature of plants. The analysis of seed of T₁ of transgenic lines confirmed heterozygous character of inheritance of trifluralin resistance.     

Phytotoxins from Pyricularia grisea and Their Effect on Finger Millet

Pyricularia grisea, the fungus that causes blast disease in finger millet [Eleusine coracana (L) Gaertn] produced maximum quantity of crude toxins. Crude toxins were partially purified and characterized by UV and mass spectra. Pyrichalasin H, a phytotoxic metabolite, has been identified and found to be toxic when tested for inhibition of seed germination and seedling growth of blast resistant and susceptible finger millet varieties.     

Domestication ofEleusine coracana

Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn. subsp.coracana (Finger millet or eleusine) is a cereal that is widely cultivated in Africa and India. Archaeological records of finger millet are few and unsatisfactory. But, distribution, linguistic and historical evidence seem to suggest an African rather than Indian origin of the crop. Data from morphology, supplemented with cytogenetical observations and distribution revealed thatE. coracana subsp.africana is wild finger millet. This subspecies is widely distributed along the highlands of East Africa. Consequently, it is concluded that finger millet originated in the East African Highlands and was subsequently introduced into India.     

Use of genomic and genic SSR markers for assessing genetic diversity and population structure in Indian and African finger millet (Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.) germplasm

Genetic diversity and population structure were analyzed in 67 diverse finger millet accessions of African and Indian origin. A total of 69 alleles were generated with a mean of 4.0 alleles per locus and with an average gene diversity of 0.471. Molecular diversity parameters showed higher values in African accessions. Nineteen rare and nine unique alleles were observed and the identified accessions can be a potential source for further improvement of finger millet. Clustering of south Indian accessions with African lowland types and north/highland Indian accessions with that of African highlands was also observed. Structure analysis revealed the distinctness of Ugandan accessions compared to other African accessions and five major sub-populations useful for parental selection, conservation, and utilization of finger millet.     

Potentiation of insecticidal activity of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki HD-1 by proteinase inhibitors in the American bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner)

The effect of crude proteinase inhibitor extracts from seeds of different crop plants (black gram, chickpea, chickling vetch, finger millet, French bean, green gram, horse gram, lentil, pea and soybean) on the insecticidal activity of B. thuringiensis var. kurstaki HD-1 was investigated against neonate larvae of H. armigera by diet incorporation method. The larval mortality due to crude proteinase inhibitors alone (5% seed weight equivalent) ranged from 4.1 to 19.1%; the maximum mortality with finger millet and the minimum with pea var. DDR-23. A mixture of B. thuringiensis var. kurstaki HD-1 (10 ppm) and proteinase inhibitor (5% seed weight equivalent) was synergistic in larval mortality with respect to proteinase inhibitors of pea var. DMR-16, chickling vetch var. RLK-1098 and B101-212, lentil var. ILL-8095 and L-4076, soybean var. PK-1042, PK-416 and Pusa-22, chickpea var. Pusa-413, French bean (Chitra) and black gram; and antagonistic with respect to those of finger millet, horse gram and kidney bean. The larval growth reduction with crude proteinase inhibitors alone ranged from 17.9 to 53.1%; the maximum growth reduction with soybean var. PK-1042 and minimum with lentil var. L-4076. A mixture of B. thuringiensis var. kurstaki and proteinase inhibitor was synergistic in growth reduction with respect to proteinase inhibitors of lentil var. ILL-8095, and L-4626 and antagonistic with respect to that of finger millet. The midgut proteinase inhibition with crude seed extracts (3.3% seed weight equivalent) ranged from 9.3 to 60.9% and was negatively correlated with larval mortality. These results showed that interactive effect of B. thuringiensis var. kurstaki HD-1 and proteinase inhibitors in the larvae of H. armigera depended upon the quality and quantity of proteinase inhibitors, which vary widely in different plants.     

Comparative analyses reveal high levels of conserved colinearity between the finger millet and rice genomes

Finger millet is an allotetraploid (2n = 4x = 36) grass that belongs to the Chloridoideae subfamily. A comparative analysis has been carried out to determine the relationship of the finger millet genome with that of rice. Six of the nine finger millet homoeologous groups corresponded to a single rice chromosome each. Each of the remaining three finger millet groups were orthologous to two rice chromosomes, and in all the three cases one rice chromosome was inserted into the centromeric region of a second rice chromosome to give the finger millet chromosomal configuration. All observed rearrangements were, among the grasses, unique to finger millet and, possibly, the Chloridoideae subfamily. Gene orders between rice and finger millet were highly conserved, with rearrangements being limited largely to single marker transpositions and small putative inversions encompassing at most three markers. Only some 10% of markers mapped to non-syntenic positions in rice and finger millet and the majority of these were located in the distal 14% of chromosome arms, supporting a possible correlation between recombination and sequence evolution as has previously been observed in wheat. A comparison of the organization of finger millet, Panicoideae and Pooideae genomes relative to rice allowed us to infer putative ancestral chromosome configurations in the grasses. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Fermentation of a composite finger millet-dairy beverage

Fermented composite beverages of finger millet and milk are popular, nutritious, traditional foods in many parts of Zimbabwe. With the aim of commercial production, we determined what type of microbial cultures can be used to ferment a composite finger millet and skimmed milk powder gruel and the optimum conditions for its production. Composites containing between 0 and 100% finger millet gruel by volume were inoculated and incubated at various temperatures. The desired pH of 4.5 or less was obtained with incubation at 30 to 45 °C (but not at lower temperatures) with lower pH values being obtained as the temperature increased. YC380 (a yoghurt type bacterial starter culture) produced a pH of 4.5 or less only when skim milk was also present; V2 (another yoghurt type bacterial starter culture) did so at all levels of finger millet gruel and JC (a mixed strain culture developed to ferment cereals) only when finger millet gruel was present. A clear relationship between incubation temperature and syneresis could not be established but syneresis decreased significantly (p < 0.05) with increasing proportions of finger millet gruel. A thick product with a set consistency was obtained with YC380 at an incubation temperature of 45 °C and a storage temperature of 7 °C regardless of proportion of finger millet gruel. V2 produced a thick product with a set consistency at an incubation temperature of 45 °C, and storage temperature of 7 °C and when the proportions of finger millet gruel were between 0 and 50%. It appears that yoghurt type bacterial cultures can be successfully used to produce a composite fermented beverage from finger millet and skim milk, but cultures developed for fermentation of cereals are not suitable.     

Farmers’ Management of Finger Millet (Eleusine coracana L.) diversity in Tigray, Ethiopia and Implications for on-Farm Conservation

Tigray (region) is one of the major finger millet growing regions in Ethiopia and an important site from an archeobotanical point of view. Three zones of Tigray (east, central and west) were identified as representative sites in the region and a total of 14 districts/ ‘Woreda’ were surveyed. Thirty-seven landraces/farmers’ varieties of finger millet were identified/recorded. Farmers in Tigray undertake pre and post harvest selection in finger millet and sometimes they also select seeds from storage based on a number of attributes. Farmers maintain diversity as a way to ensure harvest security or stability of production, to promote diversity of diet and income sources, minimize crop failure risk, reduce insect and disease incidences and ensure efficient use of labour. The traditional management of finger millet in the entire study area is generally found to be demand driven, showing the existence of potential sites for on-farm conservation. The high morphological diversity (H =0.76 ± 0.09) found in the gene bank collections of Tigrayan origin also reveals the importance of linking ex situ with in situ conservation activities. Furthermore, the enhancement and conservation significance of the crop is discussed.     

Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of finger millet (Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.) using shoot apex explants

A new Agrobacterium-mediated transformation system was developed for finger millet using shoot apex explants. The Agrobacterium strain LBA4404 harboring binary vector pCAMBIA1301, which contained hygromycin phosphotransferase (hptII) as selectable marker gene and β-glucuronidase (GUS) as reporter gene, was used for optimization of transformation conditions. Two finger millet genotypes, GPU 45 and CO 14, were used in this study. The optimal conditions for the Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of finger millet were found to be the co-cultivation of explants obtained on the 16th day after callus induction (DACI), exposure of explants for 30 min to agrobacterial inoculum and 3 days of co-cultivation on filter paper placed on medium supplemented with 100 μM acetosyringone (AS). Addition of 100 μM l-cysteine in the selection medium enhanced the frequency of transformation and transgenic plant recovery. Both finger millet genotypes were transformed by Agrobacterium. A frequency of 19% transient expression with 3.8% stable transformation was achieved in genotype GPU 45 using optimal conditions. Five stably transformed plants were fully characterized by Southern blot analysis. A segregation analysis was also performed in four R₁ progenies, which showed normal Mendelian pattern of transgene segregation. The inheritance of transgenes in R₁ progenies was also confirmed by Southern blot analysis. This is the first report on Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of finger millet. This study underpins the introduction of numerous agronomically important genes into the genome of finger millet in the future.     

In vivo effect of whole grain flour of finger millet (Eleusine coracana) and kodo millet (Paspalum scrobiculatum) on rat dermal wound healing

Influence of finger millet and kodo millet on rat dermal wound healing was assessed by making a 4 cm2 (2 x 2 cm) excision wound on the shaven back of rats under ether anesthesia. Finger millet or kodo millet flour (300 mg) as aqueous paste was applied topically once daily for 16 days. The granulation tissue formed on day 4, 8 and 12 was used to estimate some biochemical parameters like protein, DNA, collagen and lipid peroxides. There was significant increase in protein and collagen contents and decrease in lipid peroxides. Biophysical parameters like rate of contraction and number of days for epithelialization were also studied. Rate of contraction was 88-90% in kodo millet and finger millet treated rats in comparison to 75% in untreated rats. The number of days for complete closure of wounds was lower for finger millet (13 days) and kodo millet (14 days) treated rats in comparison to untreated (16 days) rats. The results implicate a possible therapeutical role for finger millet and kodo millet in accelerating the process of wound healing.     

Alterations in the biosynthesis of proteins and nucleic acids in finger millet (Eleucine coracana) seedlings during water stress and the effect of proline on protein biosynthesis

The biosynthesis of DNA appeared to be unaffected in the water-stressed seedlings of finger millet (Eleucine coracana), but an increase in the synthesis de novo of RNA and proteins was observed during mild water stress. The polyribosome content was also increased in stressed finger millet seedlings. Proline, a solute which accumulates during water stress, enhanced the incorporation of radioactive precursors into proteins; caused an increase in translatability of finger millet messengers in vitro; and stabilized the polyribosomes isolated from normal seedlings. The results emphasize the role of proline in the adaptation of finger millet to the intermittent drought it experiences during cultivation.     

The genetic map of finger millet, Eleusine coracana

Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP), expressed-sequenced tag (EST), and simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were used to generate a genetic map of the tetraploid finger millet (Eleusine coracana subsp. coracana) genome (2n = 4x = 36). Because levels of variation in finger millet are low, the map was generated in an inter-subspecific F₂ population from a cross between E. coracana subsp. coracana cv. Okhale-1 and its wild progenitor E. coracana subsp. africana acc. MD-20. Duplicated loci were used to identify homoeologous groups. Assignment of linkage groups to the A and B genome was done by comparing the hybridization patterns of probes in Okhale-1, MD-20, and Eleusine indica acc. MD-36. E. indica is the A genome donor to E. coracana. The maps span 721 cM on the A genome and 787 cM on the B genome and cover all 18 finger millet chromosomes, at least partially. To facilitate the use of marker-assisted selection in finger millet, a first set of 82 SSR markers was developed. The SSRs were identified in small-insert genomic libraries generated using methylation-sensitive restriction enzymes. Thirty-one of the SSRs were mapped. Application of the maps and markers in hybridization-based breeding programs will expedite the improvement of finger millet. Electronic supplementary material Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at and is accessible for authorized users.     

Selection for high seed oil content in soybean families derived from plants regenerated from protoplasts and tissue cultures

Recurrent selection for high seed oil content was carried out with 2,008 progeny of 28 plants regenerated via embryogenesis, 95 via organogenesis and 25 from protoplasts via organogenesis from five different soybean cultivars. Two lines derived from plants regenerated from the cultivar Jack with small increases in seed oil content emerged after three selection cycles in the field but in both cases the protein content was decreased and the seed yield of one of the lines was also decreased. Apparently somaclonal variation for seed oil content can arise, but on the basis of the decreases in protein and yield found in this study, this small change is not useful for soybean improvement. Received: 22 July 2000 / Accepted: 28 July 2000     

Protein content and amino acid spectrum of finger millet [Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.] as influenced by nitrogen and sulphur fertilizers

Summary The effect of N and S fertilizers on yield, protein content and amino acid composition of the tropical cereal finger millet was studied in field and sand culture experiments. In the field the grain yield measured from 2400 to 4100 kg/ha, and the seed crude protein from 7 to 13% with rates of N up to 150 kg/ha. Seed crude protein was high in methionine and cystine, but contained less sulphur amino acids when the seed was high in protein.Supplies in excess failed to increase the lower methionine and cystine contents of the crude protein.Sulphur deficiency drastically reduced the synthesis of sulphur amino acids, concomitantly raising the aspartic acid/asparagine content of the leaves up to 45 per cent of their total N content. An S:N weight ratio of 1:10 in the seeds and 1:15 in the leaves indicates adequate supply of sulphur. The importance of finger millet for human nutrition is considered in relation to increasing substitution with other crops, use of nitrogen fertilizers, and the actual sulphur status of soils in East Africa.Sponsored by the Norwegian Agency for International Development.Sponsored by the Norwegian Agency for International Development.     

Identification of the ``a' Genome of Finger Millet Using Chloroplast DNA

Finger millet (Eleusine corocana subsp. coracana), an important cereal in East Africa and India, is a tetraploid species with unknown genomic components. A recent cytogenetic study confirmed the direct origin of this millet from the tetraploid E. coracana subsp. africana but questioned Eleusine indica as a genomic donor. Chloroplast (ct) DNA sequence analysis using restriction fragment pattern was used to examine the phylogenetic relationships between E. coracana subsp. coracana (domesticated finger millet), E. coracana subspecies africana (wild finger millet), and E. indica. Eleusine tristachya was included since it is the only other annual diploid species in the genus with a basic chromosome number of x = 9 like finger millet. Eight of the ten restriction endonucleases used had 16 to over 30 restriction sites per genome and were informative. E. coracana subsp. coracana and subsp. africana and E. indica were identical in all the restriction sites surveyed, while the ct genome of E. tristachya differed consistently by at least one mutational event for each restriction enzyme surveyed. This random survey of the ct genomes of these species points out E. indica as one of the genome donors (maternal genome donor) of domesticated finger millet contrary to a previous cytogenetic study. The data also substantiate E. coracana subsp. africana as the progenitor of domesticated finger millet. The disparity between the cytogenetic and the molecular approaches is discussed in light of the problems associated with chromosome pairing and polyploidy.