Panicum sumatrense, known as little millet, is a species of millet in the family Poaceae.

Panicum sumatrense
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Subfamily: Panicoideae
Genus: Panicum
Species:
P. sumatrense
Binomial name
Panicum sumatrense
Synonyms

Panicum miliare auct. non Lam.

Description

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This species of cereal is similar in habit to the proso millet except that it is smaller. It is an annual herbaceous plant, which grows straight or with folded blades to a height of 30 centimetres (12 in) to 1 metre (39 in). The leaves are linear, with the sometimes hairy laminae and membranous hairy ligules. The panicles are from 4 to 15 cm (1.6 to 5.9 in) in length with 2 to 3.5 mm (0.079 to 0.138 in) long awn. The grain is round and smooth, 1.8 to 1.9 mm (0.071 to 0.075 in) long.

Subspecies

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There have been two subspecies described:

  • Panicum sumatrense Roth ex Roem. & Schult. subsp. psilopodium (Trin.) Wet.
  • Panicum sumatrense Roth ex Roem. & Schult. subsp. sumatrense

Distribution and habitat

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In the temperate zones of Asia: the Caucasus, China, East Asia and also in the tropics of the continent: India, Indochina and Malaysia.

It can withstand both drought and waterlogging. It can be cultivated up to 2000 m above sea level.

little millet
Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy341 kcal (1,430 kJ)
67.0 g
Dietary fiber7.6 g
4.7 g
7.7 g
Vitamins and minerals
MineralsQuantity
%DV
Calcium
1%
17.0 mg
Iron
52%
9.3 mg
Phosphorus
18%
220.0 mg

Percentages estimated using US recommendations for adults,[3] except for potassium, which is estimated based on expert recommendation from the National Academies.[4]

Common names

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Hindi: Kutki, Shavan.
Bengali : Sama.
Tamil : Samai.
Gujarati : Gajro, Kuri.
Telugu : Samalu (సామలు).
Marathi : Sava, Halvi, Vari.
Oriya : Suan.
Kannada : Saame (ಸಾಮೆ).
Malayalam : Chama (ചാമ).

Cultivation

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The largest cultivation is in central India. Usually, it is planted using a seed drill. It can also if necessary be planted spoiled. The green plant can also be used in part as cattle feed. The straw can be mixed with clay or cement be used in construction.

The harvest yield is from 230 to 900 kg/ha.

Pests

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Pests include the shoot fly Atherigona pulla,[5] which also affects proso millet.[6]

Other insect pests include:[7]

Leaf feeders
Earhead feeders
Panicle pests
Others

Archaeobotany

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At the Indus Valley civilisation sites of Harappa and Farmana, the millet assemblage was dominated by little millet.[8] Over 10,000 grains of little millet were recovered at Harappa.[8] At Harappa, little millet cultivation peaked at around 2600 BC, accounting for around 5% of the total cereal assemblage.[8]

Preparation

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Little millet is cooked like rice. Sometimes the millet is also milled and baked. The protein content of the grain is 7.7%.

Notes

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  1. ^ Mani, S. (2011). "Panicum sumatrense". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2011: e.T177132A7374576. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-1.RLTS.T177132A7374576.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. ^ Fanzo 2013.
  3. ^ United States Food and Drug Administration (2024). "Daily Value on the Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels". FDA. Archived from the original on 2024-03-27. Retrieved 2024-03-28.
  4. ^ National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; Health and Medicine Division; Food and Nutrition Board; Committee to Review the Dietary Reference Intakes for Sodium and Potassium (2019). Oria, Maria; Harrison, Meghan; Stallings, Virginia A. (eds.). Dietary Reference Intakes for Sodium and Potassium. The National Academies Collection: Reports funded by National Institutes of Health. Washington, DC: National Academies Press (US). ISBN 978-0-309-48834-1. PMID 30844154. Archived from the original on 2024-05-09. Retrieved 2024-06-21.
  5. ^ Sathish, R., M. Manjunatha, and K. Rajashekarappa. 2017. Effect of intercropping on incidence of shoot fly, Atherigona pulla (Wiedemann) in little millet. Int. J. Pure App. Biosci. 5: 1845–1849.
  6. ^ Sathish, R., M. Manjunatha, and K. Rajashekarappa. 2017. Incidence of shoot fly, Atherigona pulla (Wiedrmann) on proso millet at different dates o sowing. J. Entomol. Zool. Stud. 5: 2000–2004.
  7. ^ Kalaisekar, A (2017). Insect pests of millets: systematics, bionomics, and management. London: Elsevier. ISBN 978-0-12-804243-4. OCLC 967265246.
  8. ^ a b c Weber 2013.

References

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