Harvest of Pearl millet (Copyright: ICRISAT).
Pearl millet genome sequence provides a resource to improve agronomic traits in extreme environments. An international consortium under the lead of the non-profit organization "International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics" (ICRISAT) and participation of a research team around the system biologist Wolfram Weckwerth has published the genome sequence of Pearl millet, a drought resistant crop plant most important in aride regions in Africa and Asia. This so-called C4 plant is especially important to small and medium farmers who grow the plant without larger irrigation. Peal millet delivers a good harvest index under drought and heat conditions when rice, maize or wheat already have no grains anymore. Plant diversity and adaptation to different climatic conditions - especially important in the era of global climate change - is synonymous for the concept of natural and genetic diversity. Research tackling this natural genetic variation and the corresponding biodiversity provides one of the largest treasures of mankind. Exactly this genetic variation of plant families, plant genera and even within one plant species is the key to cope with global climate change and dramatic consequences for agriculture.
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