Table 4. Morphological and physiological adaptations to stress in millets. CropMorpho-physiological parametersEffect on plantsReferencesLittle milletRoot length and shoot lengthRoot length increased gradually in all drought condition while shoot length decreased[28]FoxtailRoot hair density and lengthResults showed that under water stressed condition root hair density and length increased.[29]FoxtailRoot length and shoot lengthA significant reduction in shoot length while root length increased[30]Finger milletPlant height, leaf area total dry matter (TDM), root/shoot ratio by weight and length, grain yield and harvest indexPlant height, leaf area, total dry matter,root/shoot ratio by weigh, grain yield and harvest index decreased while root/shoot ratio by length increased[18]Finger millet and barnyard milletRelative water content and chlorophyll contentModerate rate of decline of RWC and chlorophyll[24, 25]Proso millet, Foxtail millet and Pearl milletSeed number per ear and ear number per plant number of tiller, harvest index ear, peduncle and ear length and plant heightWater stress caused reduction in the number of tiller and ear, peduncle and ear length, seed no., harvest index and plant height.Their results showed that foxtail millet showed the greatest yield in both stress and non-stress conditions among other crops.[31]Finger milletLeaf area, dry matter, seed weight and yieldSignificant reduction in leaf area, dry matter accumulation, seed weight, radiation use efficiency and yield[21]Pearl milletPlant height, biomass, panicle, stalk length, no. of leaves, total grain no. and weightThey observed a significant redcution in plant height, biomass, panicle, stalk length, no. of leaves, total grain number and weight[23]

Published as part of Tiwari, Anjali, Kesarwani, Kapil, Sharma, Arushi, Ghosh, Tapan, Bisht, Nisha & Punetha, Shailja, 2022, Drought Stress in Millets and Its Response Mechanism, pp. 9 in Clinical & translational immunology 9 (8) on page 9, DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.105942