
Table 1. Salient features of millets crop [6].Millet TypeCharacteristicsVernacular NamesBotanical NameFamilyPloidy levelChromosome no.UseNutritional valuesAgronomic benefitsBarnyard milletBarnyard millet (English), Madira, Sawa, Kudraivali, a million-dollar grass and oodaluEchinochloa frumentacea L.GramineaeHexaploid2n = 6× = 36Food and FeedAnti-diabetic and high protein contentEarly maturity, anti-fungalFinger milletRagi, koda, mandua, nachani or nagli, African birds’ foot, rapoko, koracan, kurakkan.Eleusine coracana (L.) GaertnerGramineaeHexaploid2n = 6× = 36Food and FeedRich in calcium, methionine and tryptophanDrought and salt tolerancePearl milletBajra, gero, hegni, sanyo, dukhon and mahanguPennisetum glaucumGramineaeDiploid2n = 2× = 14Food, feedHigh protein, starch & mineralsDrought & heat toleranceFoxtail milletKangni (Hindi), Navane (Kannada), Thinai (Tamil), Kang (Gujarati) and Rala (Marathi)Setaria italicaGramineaeDiploid2n = 2× = 18Food, biofuel—Drought toleranceKodo milletKodo millet (English), Varagu, Haraka and ArikaluPaspalum scrobiculatumGramineaeTetraploid2n = 4× = 40Food and FeedHigh-quality proteinDrought toleranceLittle milletLittle millet (English), Sawai, SamaluPanicum sumatrense L.GramineaeTetraploid2n = 4× = 36FoodHigh in phytochemicals, fibreAbiotic stress toleranceProso milletProso, Cheena, Panivaragu, Variga and BaraguPanicum miliaceumGramineaeTetraploid2n = 4× = 36Food and feedRich in amino acidsDrought tolerance, early maturity
