Genetic control of the leaf ionome in pearl millet and correlation with root and agromorphological traits
Authors: Nakombo-Gbassault, P., Arenas, S., Affortit, P., Faye, A., Flis, P., Sine, B., Moukouanga, D., Gantet, P., Kosh Komba, E., Kane, N., Bennett, M., Wells, D., Cubry, P., Bailey, E., Vigouroux, Y., Grondin, A., Laplaze, L.
The study performed ionomic profiling and genome-wide association studies on a diverse panel of pearl millet infield across two seasons to uncover genetic factors controlling nutrient acquisition. Soil analyses revealed stable depth-dependent patterns for phosphorus and zinc, while leaf ion concentrations showed high heritability and associations with root and agronomic traits. Integrating GWAS with gene expression data identified candidate ion transport/homeostasis genes for breeding nutrient-efficient, climate-resilient millet.