‘Small millets’ is a generic term that includes all the millets except pearl millet and sorghum. These small or minor millets constitute eleven species that are marginally cultivated and consumed worldwide. These small millets possess excellent agronomic-, climate-resilient, and nutritional traits, although they lack popularity. Small millets withstand a broad spectrum of environmental stresses and possess better water-use and nitrogen-use efficiencies. Of note, small millets are five- to seven-fold nutritionally rich in terms of protein, bioactive compounds, micro- and macro-nutrients as compared to major cereals. Irrespective of these merits, small millets have received little research attention compared to major millets and cereals. However, the knowledge generated from such studies is significant for the improvement of millets per se and for translating the information to improve major cereals through breeding and transgene-based approaches. Given this, the review enumerates the efforts invested in dissecting the climate-resilient traits in small millets and provides a roadmap for deploying the information in crop improvement of millets as well as cereals in the scenario of climate change.

“小粟”是统称，包括除珍珠粟和高粱以外的所有粟。这些小的或次要的小米构成了 11 种，在世界范围内很少种植和消费。这些小小米虽然不受欢迎，但具有出色的农艺、气候适应性和营养特性。小小米能承受广泛的环境压力，并具有更好的用水和氮利用效率。值得注意的是，与主要谷物相比，小小米在蛋白质、生物活性化合物、微量和宏量营养素方面的营养丰富了五到七倍。撇开这些优点不谈，与主要小米和谷物相比，小小米很少受到研究关注。然而，从这些研究中产生的知识对于小米的改良具有重要意义。本身以及通过育种和基于转基因的方法翻译信息以改进主要谷物。鉴于此，该评论列举了在剖析小小米的气候适应性特征方面所做的努力，并为在气候变化情景下部署小米和谷物作物改良信息提供了路线图。