Abstract
About this talk
Foxtail millet (Setaria italica (L.) P. Beauv.), a nutritionally valuable ancient cereal, is increasingly threatened by blast disease caused by Pyricularia setariae Nishikado (teleomorph: Magnaporthe grisea). While currently only a moderate concern across South Asia, changing climatic conditions particularly temperature and humidity shifts combined with widespread reliance on susceptible varieties in dryland farming systems, are positioning blast as a growing threat to crop yields. This review synthesises existing knowledge on the taxonomy, morphology, host specificity, and genetic makeup of pathogen populations, along with epidemiological factors influencing disease severity, the molecular basis of host defence mechanisms, and management approaches encompassing cultural, genetic, chemical, and biological control methods. Germplasm evaluation efforts in India have identified a small number of stable resistant lines, though their integration into breeding programmes remains limited. Microsatellite analyses reveal considerable genetic variation and gene flow among pathogen populations, raising concerns about potential resistance breakdown. Advances in whole genome sequencing, GWAS, and CRISPR/Cas9 functional genomics are enhancing understanding of host pathogen interactions, yet translating these findings into field stable resistance remains challenging. Multi omics strategies integrating transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic data present promising avenues for identifying resistance related genetic loci. This review highlights key research priorities essential for protecting S. italica production amid ongoing climate change.
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