Vol. 9, Issue 1, Part G (2025)

Millets, a group of resilient crops, are gaining recognition as key players in sustainable agriculture, particularly in the context of climate change. These crops possess remarkable stress tolerance capabilities, enabling them to thrive under harsh environmental conditions such as heat, drought, salinity, and low light levels. Unlike traditional cereals like rice and wheat, millets can flourish in environments that are challenging for other crops, owing to their unique biological characteristics. These include a short growing season, an efficient C4 photosynthetic pathway, and robust, deep-rooted systems that enable them to conserve water and withstand extreme temperatures. Advancements in both genomic and biochemical research have significantly improved our understanding of the mechanisms underlying millet's resilience to stress. From a genomic perspective, several key genes associated with drought tolerance, oxidative stress resistance, and salinity adaptation have been identified.. However, it is the biochemical changes that millets undergo during stress that are particularly noteworthy. The accumulation of osmo protectants such as proline, soluble sugars, and other stress-responsive metabolites helps mitigate the damage caused by dehydration and oxidative stress. Additionally, the activation of antioxidant defense systems plays a crucial role in protecting millet plants from oxidative damage and maintaining cellular integrity during environmental stress. These biochemical adaptations, along with the genetic factors identified through genomic research, collectively enhance millet's ability to survive and maintain productivity under challenging conditions. This review explores the importance of both genomic advancements and biochemical changes in improving millet stress tolerance. The integration of genomic resources with traditional breeding methods, combined with a deeper understanding of millet's biochemical responses to stress, offers promising avenues for developing more resilient millet cultivars. By leveraging these insights, we can better prepare millets as a cornerstone of climate-resilient agriculture, helping to secure food production in a world increasingly impacted by climate change.