Exploring the nutritional profiling of indigenous germplasm from the Indian Himalayas in foxtail millet

Foxtail millet ( Setaria italica L.) is an underexplored small millet that boasts significant nutritional and functional benefits, making it suitable for marginal and rainfed environments. However, there is currently a lack of information regarding the nutritional and antioxidant diversity among indigenous Himalayan germplasm. This study aims to assess variability, identify nutritionally superior genotypes, and quantify genetic diversity. A total of 22 genotypes were studied, collected from various agro-climatic zones in India. Over the course of two years, these genotypes were evaluated for the presence of nutrients in seed samples. ANOVA revealed a highly significant difference among the genotypes for several traits, including moisture content, swelling power, water-holding capacity, carbohydrates, proteins, starch, iron, ascorbic acid, total antioxidant capacity, DPPH, FRAP, hydroxyl radical-scavenging activity, dehydrogenase activity, and tannic acid content, with a p-value of ≤ 0.001. This suggests a substantial level of genetic variability among the genotypes. Further exploration using multivariate analysis established relationships among traits and genotypes. A strong negative correlation was observed between moisture content and other health-promoting traits. Hierarchical cluster analysis revealed distinct groupings among the genotypes. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) highlighted that the first two components (PC1, 23.1% and PC2, 16.9%) contributed significantly to the overall variability, differentiation among the genotypes based on their nutritional and antioxidant properties. Specifically, FMP-6, FMP-5, FMU-1, FMR-2, FMC-1, and FMA-1 emerged as nutritionally superior, exhibiting higher levels of protein, carbohydrates, iron, vitamin C, and antioxidant activity. Additionally, FMC-1, FMU-1, and FMC-2 demonstrated better physico-functional characteristics, making them suitable candidates for developing functional foods. This research emphasizes the biofortification of foxtail millet genotypes, and the use of these nutrient-rich varieties can enhance nutritional security while promoting greater acceptance of foxtail millet as a functional food crop. Ultimately, this work contributes directly to achieving several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 2: Zero Hunger, SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being, SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, and SDG 13: Climate Action. These efforts will help establish a climate-resilient food system, improve adaptive livelihoods, and support the conservation and sustainable management of mountain agro-ecosystems in the Himalayan region.