Deciphering Millet Diversity: Proteomic Clusters and Phylogenetic Insights

Abstract

Millets are renowned for their climatic resilience and possess high nutritive value with wide genetic variations. In countries like India and Africa, millets are part of many people's regular diets with rich sources of protein, dietary fiber, polyphenols, minerals, vitamins, and other nutrients. The proteomic signatures of several millet species, including Fonio, Finger, Proso, Sorghum, and Foxtail millet, were examined in this study. We have performed orthologous analysis to discover both common and distinctive protein clusters among these species by using the OrthoFinder algorithm in conjunction with visualization tools. A total of 16,247 clusters were shared by all species, offering light on similar evolutionary or adaptation mechanisms. The strong representation of Gene Ontology (GO) categories related to osmotic stress, water deprivation, and temperature stresses in the research further highlighted the millets' powerful adaptative responses to various environmental difficulties. Intricate signaling mechanisms for wound, defense, and growth are also revealed by their efficient photosynthetic capacities. However, each species' distinctive clusters, particularly those in Finger millet, highlighted how it differed from other millets. The evolutionary links were further clarified by a phylogenetic tree built using the Maximum likelihood approach and the JTT+CAT evolutionary model, with Foxtail and Proso millets showing a closer kinship. The research sheds light on the complex genetic network of millets, evolutionary histories, and potential adaptive processes. The identification of 2,277 clusters, which are mainly shared by foxtail, proso, fonio, and sorghum millets and support the distinct evolutionary history of finger millet, was especially important. These millets' strong adaptive mechanisms, which are on display in clusters related to different response mechanisms, demonstrate their evolutionary skill and point to prospective directions for crop improvement and resilience techniques.