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Common name in English	Fountain grass, Pearl millet, Bulrush millet, Cattail millet, Spiked millet, Candle millet,

Botanical Name	Pennisetum americanum (L.) Leeke

Parts Used	Whole herb.

Human Medicinal Usage	The plant is a good tonic, a good appetizer, heating, aphrodisiac and considered useful in heart diseases (Kirtikar & Basu, 1996).

Veterinary Medicinal Usage	Feeding two kg of powedred bajra grains and one kg of brinjal increases the milk output (Annamangalam, 1996). Approximately 10-15 growing primordia of banyan (Ficus benghalensis) tree are collected and fed with oat 100 g bajra flour to animal which has difficulty in dropping of placenta (Khoont, 1997). For easy expulsion of placenta after delivery approximately two kg pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum) grains, 100 g of 'methi' (Trigonella foenum-graecum) seeds, 50 g of 'asalio' (Lepidium sativum), 25 g of 'suva' (Anethum graveolens) and 500 g of jaggery are boiled in water for one hour. The cooked feed (after cooling) is fed to cow or buffalo after delivery (Velanmai, 2000-2001) Chickens sometimes suffer from a disease characterised by frothing at the mouth, frequent cackling, restlessness, and reduced food intake. Approximately, 10-15 black pepper corns are grounded and mixed with pearl millet flour and water so that small pellets can be formed. When fed to the chicken, it subsequently rids the bird of the disease (Parmar, 1992.). Pearl millet and `Math' (Vigna aconitifolia), 10 kg of each, are boiled in water and fed to the heifer over a period of eight to 10 days for the onset of puberty (Patel, 1993). The pollen of pearl millet plant is collected by gently running the fingers on the flower heads. This is mixed with water and given to the bullock for releasing the urinary blockage (Nadoda, 1992). For inducing the placenta to drop , feed dry fodder along with one kg of pearl millet or wheat mixed with ghee (clarified butter) and offer hot water for drinking after calving (Parmar, 1993). Feed the cattle with a mixture of cotton ball, dried beans of 'desi baval' (Acacia nilotica) and kernels of pearl millet to increase the milk production (Khoont, 1997). Three or four leaves of dhatura are crushed and mixed with pearl millet flour. Chapati - unleavened native bread - is prepared from it is fed to the animal for two days in the morning and evening (Paghdar, 1995). A special feed consisting of bajra (pearl millet), one coconut and 500 grams of jaggery is given to the newly calved mother (Parmar, 1993; 2002). Some people feed the bajra roti with excessive edible oil to the FMD affected animal for curing the ulcers found in the mouth 3-4 days continuously (Nadoda, 1991; Parmar, 1992). Two or three seeds of Abrus precatorius are given with boiled bajra to the animal immediately after calving for easy and early dropping of the placenta (Kalyansundaram, 1991). Cotton shells and pearlmillet ear heads which remain after threshing of the seeds are boiled together and fed to cattle (Kalyansundaram, 1990).

Agriculture Usage	By growing pearlmillet, `Murraya koenigii' saplings get established easily (Verma, 1997). Approximately 0.5 to 1 kg of bajra flour is mixed with 15 litres of water in an airtight container. This container is kept inside the manure pit for 20 days. Thereafter, the suspension is filtered through a cotton cloth and used as insecticide (25 ml in 12-15 litres of water). Two sprays at the interval of a week, help in controlling the green larval pest in castor (Paghdar, 1995). Pellets prepared from bajra flour and a few hairs of goat are placed near the rat burrows to control it (Dubaria, 1991). A mixture of ten day-old bajra flour and ash in the ratio of 1 : 4, dusted on cumin crop before flowering prevents powdery mildew infection (Dubaria, 1991; Joghajiya, 2000-2001). Farmers prepare an extract of tobacco leaves and mix it with equal quantities of bajra flour and buttter milk. This mixture is sprinkled on chilli crop to protect it from 'kukad, a viral disease (Vasava, 1991). To check the damage caused by whiteflies and aphids in crop plants, four or five lines of millets such as sorghum and or pearl millet are grown as border crop. This thick hedge acts as a barrier against the entry of these pests into the field (Iyyappan, 1994).

Other Usage	Bajara provides main breadstuff in the arid and semi-arid parts and tribal communities (Basu & Mukherjee, 1996). It is also seems to be a good fodder crop in the low rainfall areas (Naik & Purushotham, 1999). Grains are used in fermentation but traditional fermentation increases goitrogenic activity (Elnour & Lieden, 1998).

Synonyms	P. glaucum (L.) R. Br., P. typhoides (Burm.) Stapf. & C.E. Hubb. (fao, 2004)

Family	Poaceae (Gramineae).

Description	A robust annual herb, growing to a height of 3 m. Stems: tall, erect, 10-20 mm thick, terete; above each node is a shallow groove containing an axillary bud. Nodes slightly swollen; rooting at the lower node. Leaves: linear to linear-lanceolate, acute at apex, rounded at the base, flat, dark green. Inflorescence: a compact, cylindrical, terminal, spike-like panicle, dense; peduncles villous, with numerous spikelets on a panicle. Seeds: small, 3-4 mm, oblong-ovoid, smooth (Kirtikar & Basu, 1996).

Common Name in India	Bajra, Bajri (Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi, Punjabi); Mattari (Malayalam); Kambu (Tamil); Gentelu, Sajjalu (Telugu); Bajramula (Oriya) (WOA, 1998).

Common Name in Other Countries	Bulrush millet, Pearl millet, Dukhon ( Africa-Sudan), Babala (Natal), Perlhirse, Negerhirse (German), Miglio africano, Miglio perla (Italian)

Habitat	Cultivated extensively in arid and semi-arid regions as monsoon crop. Also found in natural habitats as an escape from cultivated fields (Wet, 1995).

Rainfall	It is grown in most part of the country as a millet crop with an average annual rainfall of 125-900 mm, however 500 mm of rainfall is needed for a good crop. The areas with erratic rainfall having an average of 125-900 mm, use it as a food crop because it is drought tolerant and can survive in the poor soil where cultivation of maize and sorghum fails.

Soil (Physical/Chemical)	The crop grows best on sandy loam soils, but it is often grown on poor soils, even in the gravelly ones (Stephen & Eisendrath, 2004). Regional distribution:

Regional Distribution	The crop came in cultivation before 1,200 BC in India. Now it is widely distributed in the drier parts of India. The principal areas of cultivation of this crop are Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh (mssrf, 2004).

Global Distribution	The plant is native of Central Tropical Africa. Now it is widely distributed in the drier tropical parts of the world.

Harvest	Seeds are ready to harvest three to four months after sowing. The grains can be harvested directly by combines, but for tall varieties a roller attached in front of the comb can make the harvesting height easier to handle. When it is grown for fodder it is harvested while the stalks are still green (Stephen & Eisendrath, 2004).

Pests / Diseases	The crop is attacked by many pests and diseases such as Sheath blight (Rhizoctonia solani), Bacterial brown stripe (Pseudomonas avenae), Bacteria brown spot (Physoderma maydis), Southern leaf blight (Cochliobolus heterostrophus) etc. Bacterial leaf spotting (Psuedomonas syringae pv. syringae van Hall) has occasionally occurred in July in Midwest Africa (Odrody & Vidaver, 1980). Grain smut and the Poisonous fungus ergot are also common (Stephen & Eisendrath, 2004). In Africa one of the worst pests is the root parasite, Striga hermonthica, and less commonly S. Iutea is observed. The red-billed weaver bird, locusts and Quelea quelea aethiopica damage crop severely. Heliothis armigera attacks seed-heads, and the stem borer, Coniesta ignefusalis, is also damaging. Downy mildew (Reddy & Shetty, 1996; Pandya & Singh, 2000), foliar leafspots and streaks (Pseudomonas syringae) (Frederickson & Monyo, 1999). Wilson & Claflin (1996) have described different pathogens and diseases of the crop including diseases caused by bacteria, fungus, viruses, nematodes etc.

Chemical composition	Prolamine (Bugs et al., 2004), cytosolic and plastidic phosphorylase (Vally et al., 1995), metalaxyl residues (Reddy et al., 1990), certain B vitamin and phytic acid contents (Simwemba et al.,1984), pennisetin (Sainani et al., 1989), amino acid, fatty acid, and mineral composition (Glew & Vanderjagt, 1997), lignin and hydroxycinnamic acids (Lam & Iiyama, 1996) etc. determined in different parts of the plant. Hoover & Swamidas (1996) studied composition and physicochemical properties of starch.

Herbarium No	0

REFERENCES
SR No.	NAME	ARTICLE TITLE	AUTHOR	PLACE OF PUBLICATION	VOLUME/ISSUE	YEAR	PUBLISHER	COMMENT
1	Advances in Plant Sciences.	Food plants of the tribe, 'Paharias' of Purulia	Basu, R, Mukherjee, PK.		9(2): 209-210.	1996
2	Ann Nutrition and Metabolism.	Traditional fermentation increases goitrogenic activity in pearl millet	Elnour, A, Lieden, SA.		42(6): 341-349.	1998
3	Phytopathology	Presumptive identification of Pseudomonas syringae, the cause of foliar leafspots and streaks on pearl millet in Zimbabwe	Frederickson, DE, Monyo, ES.		147(11-12): 701-706.	1999
4	J Food Composition and Analysis.	Amino acid, fatty acid, and mineral composition of 24 indigenous plants of Burkina Faso	Glew, RH, Vanderjagt, DJ.		10(3): 205-217.	1997.
5	Honey Bee.	Protection, Conception & Expulsion:A Farmer Reports from tamil nadu.	Iyyappan, VR.		5(4): 13-14.	1994
6	The American Phytopathological Society	Common names of Plant Diseases.	Jeffrey, P, Wilson, Larry, Claflin.			1996.
7	J Sci Food and Agri.	Lignin and hydroxycinnamic acids in walls of brown midrib mutants of sorghum, pearl millet and maize stems.	Lam, TBT, Iiyama, K.		71(2): 174-178.	1996.
8	Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia.	Doses of nitrogen and methods of seeding on the yield of millet seeds (Pennisetum americanum (L.) Leeke).	Mesquita, EE, Pinto, JC		27(2): 255-261.	1998.
9	Crop Research.	Efficacy of metalaxyl and aliete on downy mildew of pearl millet.	Pandya, RK, Singh, R.		20(1): 134-136.	2000.
10	Honey Bee.	Retention of placenta after calving.	Parmar, AM.		4(1): 14.	1993
11	Honey Bee.	Rat Control -Mildew of Cumin (Cuminum cyminum).	Patel, KK, Joghajiya, DS.		2(1): 16.	1991
12	J Environ Biol.	Allelopathic effects of some weeds on germination of bajra.	Philomina, NS, Rao, JVS.		20(4): 325-328.	1999.
13	Discovery and Innovation.	Residue free treatments of metalaxyl for effective control of pearl millet downy mildew.	Reddy, MVB, Shetty, HS.		8(1): 53-57.	1996.
14	Bull Environ Contam Toxicol.	Mobility, distribution and persistence of metalaxyl residues in pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum (L.) Leeke.).	Reddy, MV, Shetty, HS, Reddy, MS.		45(2): 250-257.	1990.
15	Biochem Biophys Res Commun.	Viscometric characterization of pennisetin from pearl millet.	Sainani, MN, Lachke, AH, Sahasrabudhe, NA, Ranjekar, PK. 1989.		165(1): 334-341.
16	J Agric Food Chem.	Certain B vitamin and phytic acid contents of pearl millet [Pennisetum americanum (L.) Leeke].	Simwemba, CG, Hoseney, RC, Varriano-Marston, E, Zeleznak, K.		32(1): 31-34.	1984
17	Plant Physiol.	Light Alters Cytosolic and Plastidic Phosphorylase Distribution in Pearl Millet Leaves.	Vally, K, Selvi, MT, Sharma, R.		109(2): 517-523.	1995.
18	Honey Bee.	Disease Control-'kukad' disease in chilli.	Vasava, M.		4(2 & 3): 20	1991.
19	Eur Biophys J.	Spectroscopic characterization and structural modeling of prolamin from maize and pearl millet	Bugs, MR, Forato, LA, Bortoleto-Bugs, RK, Fischer, H, Mascarenhas, YP, Ward, RJ, Colnago, LA		33(4): 335-343.	2004.
20	Ann Nutrition and Metabolism.	Traditional fermentation increases goitrogenic activity in pearl millet	Elnour, A, Lieden, SA.		42(6): 341-349.	1998
21	Phytopathology	Presumptive identification of Pseudomonas syringae, the cause of foliar leafspots and streaks on pearl millet in Zimbabwe	Frederickson, DE, Monyo, ES.		147(11-12): 701-706.	1999
22	Food Chem.	Composition and physicochemical properties of starch from pearl millet grains.	Hoover, R, Swamidas, G.		56(4): 355-367.	1996.
23	Honey Bee.	Protection, Conception & Expulsion:A Farmer Reports from tamil nadu.	Iyyappan, VR.		5(4): 13-14.	1994
24	Honey Bee.	Dhatura	Kamalia, OB.		6(1): 17.	1995.
25	Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia.	Doses of nitrogen and methods of seeding on the yield of millet seeds (Pennisetum americanum (L.) Leeke).	Mesquita, EE, Pinto, JC		27(2): 255-261.	1998.
26	Agricultural Science Digest. 19(4): 239-240.	Evaluation of fodder bajra varieties against rust disease under irrigated conditions.	Naik, RG, Purushotham, S		19(4): 239-240.	1999.
27	Honey Bee.	Retention of placenta after calving.	Parmar, AM.		4(1): 14.	1993
28	Honey Bee.	Advancing the Onset of Puberty in Heifers.	Patel HM.		4(1): 14.	1993.
29	Honey Bee.	Rat Control -Mildew of Cumin (Cuminum cyminum).	Patel, KK, Joghajiya, DS.		2(1): 16.	1991
30	J Environ Biol.	Allelopathic effects of some weeds on germination of bajra.	Philomina, NS, Rao, JVS.		20(4): 325-328.	1999.
31	Discovery and Innovation.	Residue free treatments of metalaxyl for effective control of pearl millet downy mildew.	Reddy, MVB, Shetty, HS.		8(1): 53-57.	1996.
32	Bull Environ Contam Toxicol.	Mobility, distribution and persistence of metalaxyl residues in pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum (L.) Leeke.).	Reddy, MV, Shetty, HS, Reddy, MS.		45(2): 250-257.	1990.
33	Biochem Biophys Res Commun.	Viscometric characterization of pennisetin from pearl millet.	Sainani, MN, Lachke, AH, Sahasrabudhe, NA, Ranjekar, PK. 1989.		165(1): 334-341.
34	Plant Physiol.	Light Alters Cytosolic and Plastidic Phosphorylase Distribution in Pearl Millet Leaves.	Vally, K, Selvi, MT, Sharma, R.		109(2): 517-523.	1995.
35	Plant Physiol.	Light-Induced Chloroplast [alpha]-Amylase in Pearl Millet (Pennisetum americanum).	Vally, K, Sharma, R.		107(2): 401-405.	1995.
36	J. Smartt and N.W. Simmonds (Eds.).	Pearl millet - Pennisetum glaucum (Gramineae-Paniceae), in:	Wet, JMJ de.		156-159.	1995.
37	Russell & Webb. 1976.
38	WOA	The Wealth of Asia		New Delhi		1998	National Institute of Science Communication, CSIR
39	WOA	The Wealth of Asia		New Delhi		1998	National Institute of Science Communication, CSIR