Variability and trait specific accessions for enhanced agronomic performance and nutritional traits in barnyard millet germplasm evaluated in diverse agro-ecologies in India

Millets are a diverse group of small-seeded grasses recognized for their nutritional value and adaptability to marginal environments. The present investigation assessed 39 barnyard millet ( Echinochloa spp.) genotypes for agro-morphological and nutritional traits across two contrasting agro-ecological locations, Jhansi and Almora, during the kharif season of 2024. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences among genotypes for all traits studied, indicating substantial genetic variability. Correlation analysis demonstrated significant associations between grain yield and its component traits at both locations as well as under pooled analysis. In the pooled dataset, plant height (r = 0.60***) and flag leaf length (r = 0.67***) showed significant positive correlations with grain yield, highlighting their importance as yield-contributing traits. Principal component analysis generated 19 components, of which the first eight explained 78.45% of the total variation. PC1 accounted for the most variability in genetic divergence (16.70%), followed by PC2 and PC3, which contributed 13.12% and 11.82% of the total variation, respectively. Cluster analysis classified the genotypes into four distinct clusters, with Cluster III comprising the largest number of genotypes (16). The maximum inter-cluster distance (6.51) observed between Clusters I and II reflected high genetic divergence, indicating their suitability for use in hybridization programs targeting nutri-dense and climate-resilient cultivars. Cluster I emerged as the most promising group, combining superior yield and nutritional attributes. Genotypes originating from Cameroon, Russia, and India exhibited the highest grain yield, whereas accessions from Cameroon, Malawi, and Syria were notable for enhanced nutritional quality. These nutritionally superior genotypes hold potential for the development of millet-based functional foods contributing to improved digestive health, immune response, and metabolic regulation.