Biochemical markers of environmental stress tolerance in finger millet [Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.] germplasm of Central Himalayan Region

Availability of the germplasm of suitable crops for cultivation in environmental stress prone and resource poor terrains is crucial for food security in these regions. Rich diversity of millets, which are highly tolerant to extreme weather conditions, is obtainable in the Central Himalayan Region (CHR). However, biochemical evaluation of available germplasm for food security is a major apprehension yet to be addressed properly. In this backdrop expeditions were conducted to tap and evaluate the germplasm variability of finger millet [Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.]. Germplasm accessions (314) having traits of agronomic importance were collected and evaluated for three consecutive years. In addition to set of biochemical traits, yield was recorded to find out suitable germplasm for large scale cultivation/breeding programme. At flowering stage variability in antioxidants level of leaves such as glutathione and ascorbate ranged from 105.27 to 423.63 mmol g−1 FW and 4.89–10.21 mmol g−1 FW respectively. Extensive variableness in the activity of enzymes which are important for multiple abiotic stress tolerance viz., catalase (115–855 mmol H2O2 decomposed min−1 mg−1 protein), peroxidase (1.24–6.35 mmol substrate min−1 mg−1 protein), superoxide dismutase (1236–2963 enzyme U mg−1 protein), glutathione reductase (0.53–2.14 mmol substrate min−1 mg−1 protein), ascorbate peroxidase (1.86–7.04 mmol substrate min−1 mg−1 protein), monodehydroascorbate reducatase (1.11–4.41 mmol substrate min−1 mg−1 protein), dehydroascorbate reducatase (0.34–1.36 mmol substrate min−1 mg−1 protein) was also recorded. Worldwide Abiotic/environmental stresses hamper agricultural production. Enzymatic and non-enzymatic defence system precisely controls this situation. Hence, biochemical evaluation might be an appropriate strategy for identification of suitable germplam to combat the problem of food security in such areas.