Physiological and Proteomic Signatures Reveal Mechanisms of Superior Drought Resilience in Pearl Millet Compared to Wheat

Presently, pearl millet and wheat are belonging to highly important cereal crops. Pearl millet, however, is an under-utilized crop, despite its superior resilience drought heat stress in contrast wheat. To investigate this more detail, we performed comparative physiological screening large scale proteomics of responses drought-tolerant susceptible genotypes These chosen widely used breeding farming practices. The demonstrated differences the regulation root morphology photosynthetic machinery, revealing a stay-green phenotype millet. Subsequent tissue-specific proteome analysis leaves, roots seeds led identification 12,558 proteins under well-watered conditions. allow for provide platform future functional studies systematic phylogenetic all orthologues wheat, foxtail sorghum, barley, brachypodium, rice, maize, Arabidopsis, soybean. In summary, define (i) signature (ii) differential senescence signatures contrasting phenotypes not capable coping with similar stress. different have significant effect on yield grain filling processes reflected by harvest index. Proteome related seed unexpected intra- interspecies-specific biochemical plasticity adaptation both genotypes. quantitative reference data tissue- phenotype-specific marker defense mechanisms which predictable from genome sequence itself potential value marker-assisted beyond assisted breeding.