Evaluation of nutritional content in small grained cereal - Setaria italica

Abstract

In the present study, 50 genotypes of foxtail millet germplasm were studied for various nutritional traits, viz., seed protein, carbohydrate, fat, calcium, phosphrous and iron contents. The range of values for grain nutrients content among the selected genotypes are 6.01-19.56 g/100g for protein, 49.78-73.00 g/100g for carbohydrate, 1.81 to 5.62 g/100g for fat, 5.57-30.55 mg/100g for calcium, 0.11-0.43 g/100g for phosphorus and 1.22-27.73 mg/100g for iron. The genotypes viz., Ise-1605, Ise-1354, Ise-1780 and Ise-907 were found to possess maximum carbohydrate, iron, phosphorous and calcium contents. However, the genotypes Ise-1780 and Ise-907 were found to be nutritionally superior in almost all the parameters viz., seed fat, carbohydrate, iron, phosphorous and protein contents, followed by the genotypes Ise-838 and Ise-1881, thereby inferring that these genotypes could be further utilised in breeding programmes for bio-fortification.