Morpho-Physiological, Biochemical and Molecular Adaptation of Millets to Abiotic Stresses: A Review

Abiotic stresses such as drought, heat, cold, nutrient deficiency, excess salt and hazardous metals can hamper plantgrowth development. Intensive agriculture of only a few major staple food crops that are sensitive intolerant to environmental has led an agrarian crisis. On the other hand, nutritionally rich, gluten free stress tolerant plants like millets neglected underutilized. Millets sustain about one-third world’s population show exceptional tolerance various abiotic biotic stresses. C4 adapted marginal dry lands arid semi-arid regions, survive low rainfall poor soils. significantly affect plant growth which ultimately results in reduced crop yields. However, adaptation mechanisms have evolved withstand different This review aims at exploring these morphophysiological, biochemical molecular aspects millets. Morphological adaptations include short life span, smallplant height leaf area, dense root system, adjusted flowering time, increased decreased shoot lengths, high tillering, folding. A accumulation osmoprotectants (proline, soluble sugars, proteins) improves hyperosmolarity enhances activity antioxidant enzymes (e.g., Ascorbate peroxidase, Superoxide dismutase, Catalase, Peroxidase) providing defense against oxidative damage. Physiologically, photosynthetic stomatal conductance rates, respiration help them escape from water stress. Molecular upregulation stress-related transcriptional factors, signalling genes, ion transporters, secondary metabolite pathways, receptor kinases, phytohormone biosynthesis antioxidative enzymes. Lack genetic resources hampers improvement several identified characterized genes for be exploited further development millet resilience. will provide with extra characteristic resistance pressures, besides their excellent nutritional value over conventional rice, wheat maize.