Genetic Enhancement & Bioavailability of Finger Millet

Indo-Swiss Collaboration on Biotechnology (ISCB) funded project that aims to enhance the yield potential and bioavailability of essential nutrients in finger millet:

• A large genomic resource through whole genome sequencing and transcriptome analysis will be generated.
• The draft sequence information will be utilized to discover a large repository of molecular markers like SSR and SNPs.
• These resources will be used for the development of linkage maps and subsequently to discover QTL for complex traits associated with stress tolerance and yield potential.
• The other major goal is to identify genotypes with reduced anti-nutritional factors to enhance the bioavailability of essential nutrients like iron and zinc. A stable isotopes based approach will be adopted to assess the enhanced bioavailability of these nutrients.
• The improvement in health and nutrient security and the resultant improvement in the socio-economic status of the end-users will be assessed and attempts to popularize the technology would be undertaken

To the project, the FGCZ contributes Genomics analytical and data analysis / interpretation know-how and technology resources. In addition, training activities in Switzerland and India will benefit PhD students and even broader audiences via scientific exchange and technology courses in India.