Foxtail Millet: An Introduction

Abstract

Foxtail millet (Setaria italica L.) is a versatile crop known for being genetically closely related to biofuel grasses, for its C4 photosynthesis, and for its tolerance to abiotic stresses. These attributes have made this crop a model system and, in view of this, the genome of foxtail millet has been sequenced. Among millets, foxtail millet is the only crop possessing rich genetic and genomic resources, and globally it is the second most cultivated millet next to pearl millet. In the context of its importance in agronomic and research terms, the present chapter summarizes the origin, domestication, phylogeny, and agroeconomic importance of foxtail millet.