Nutritional quality of some landraces of pearl millet Pennisetum Glaucum grown in hyperardi ecosystem

Pearl millet Pennisetum glaucum is the most widely grown type of millet considered as secondary cereal. The center of biodiversity is in the Sahel zone of West Africa. It's known to be well adapted to drought, low soil fertility, and high temperature. Pearl millet is an important food across the Sahel. It is a main staple in a large region of Nigeria, Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso. India is the largest producer of pearl millet. The Sahara of Algeria which is a hyper arid region bordering the Sahel countries include many landraces. The aims of this study were to determinate the nutritional value of grains from some landraces of pearl millet. The protein, starch, fat, fiber, soluble sugar and minerals contents were obtained. An important interest was given to starch, as energetic source, so the ratio of amylose and amylopectin and some of its properties as rheological and thermal properties were determinate and showed interesting values comparatively to those given by previously studies done on pearl millet grown in different ecosystems. Pearl millet grains are gluten free and rich in starch, protein and minerals; it exhibits interesting applications in food and health, especially for celiac, anemic and cardiac patients and it is recommended for children growth. The grain components and their properties can present a competitive potential to satisfy specific, technological and nutritional needs for target market. Conservation and use of genetic diversity of millet in farming systems are at the heart of important issues, including food self-sufficiency.