The world’s agronomists have long sought to understand the evolution of genetic diversity in millet, an important food crop for millions of people around the world. Now, researchers at the University of California, Davis have made a major breakthrough in understanding how genetic diversity has been maintained in millet over thousands of years.

The researchers analyzed the genomes of over 200 wild and domesticated varieties of millet, and found that the evolution of genetic diversity in millet is driven by a combination of natural selection and human-mediated selection. Natural selection occurs when the environment selects for certain traits in the plants, while human-mediated selection is when farmers choose specific traits that they value when growing the crop.

The study’s findings could have major implications for how farmers grow millet in the future, as it provides insight into how genetic diversity can be maintained and improved. This could help farmers to produce more resilient and nutritious varieties of millet, as well as help to combat the effects of climate change.

In a recent blog post, researchers at the University of California, Davis have made a breakthrough in understanding the evolution of genetic diversity in millet, a vital food crop for millions of people around the world. By analyzing the genomes of over 200 wild

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source: Phys.org