Scientific Name : Paspalum scrobiculatum L.

Common Name : Koden (Hindi), Kodra (Hindi), Harka (Kannada), Koovaragu (Malayalam), Varagu (Tamil), Arikelu (telugu), Kodua (Oriya)

For the complete list of common names of millets and sorghum in various language, please click here

ICRISAT GeneBank conserves 665 kodo millet germplasm accessions from various countries. Browse the list of accessions in ICRISAT GeneBank

Kodo millet is domesticated in India and cultivated in upland rice regions in India, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand,  Vietnam, Bangladesh, Myanmar and in western Africa [1, 2, 3, 4]  It has high protein content (11%), low fat (4.2%) and very high fibre content (14.3%). Kodo millet is very easy to digest, it contains a high amount of lecithin.  Kodo millet is rich in B vitamins, especially niacin, B6 and folic acid, as well as the minerals such as calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium and zinc [5].

For more details on kodo millet germplasm resources, genomic resources, refer the publication : Genetic and genomic resources, and breeding for accelerating improvement of small millets: current status and future interventions. Nucleus (2020) by Vetriventhan, M., Azevedo, V.C.R., Upadhyaya, H.D. et al. 

Kodo Millet Without Husk

References:

[1] Hariprasanna K. Kodo millet, Paspalum scrobiculatum L. In: Patil JV, editor. Millets and sorghum: biology and genetic improvement, 1 st Edn. UK: John Wiley & Sons Ltd. p. 199–225. ISBN 978-1-119-12305-7

[2] Christopher J, Raj PS, Pillai KG. Cytological studies of three species of Paspalum Linn. from South India. Cytologia. 1987;52:487–91

[3] de Wet JMJ, Rao KEP, Mengesha MH, Brink DE. Diversity in kodo millet, Paspalum scrobiculatum. Econ Bot. 1983;37:159–63

[4] Hiremath SC, Dandin SB. Cytology of Paspalum scrobiculatum Linn. Curr Sci. 1975;44:20–1.

[5] Nutritional and Health benefits of Millets by Dayakar Rao B., Bhaskarachary K., Arlene Christina G.D.,
Sudha Devi G., Vilas, A. Tonapi, 2017, ICAR_Indian Institute of Millets Research (IIMR)

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