​An African millet crop could be improved for growth in the dry, arid lands of Saudi Arabia by using information about its genome. Fonio is already well-adapted to this environment but has not had as much domestication as the major cereal crops, such as wheat, rice and maize. Gene targeting could lead to higher yields and larger grains.

“The Arabian Peninsula is home to 80 million people and needs to import 90 percent of its food,” says KAUST plant scientist, Simon Krattinger, who led the study. “The major cereal crops that provide 50 percent of our daily calories cannot be grown sustainably in this region due to a lack of fresh water, poor soils and high temperatures."

“Fonio is an amazing, nutritious plant that thrives in dry and hot regions with poor soils. Our long-term goal is to improve fonio millet while maintaining its extraordinary properties,” explains Krattinger.

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Image: Gene targeting of fonio millet could lead to higher yields and larger grains.
© 2020 Adeline Barnaud