Using Genomics to Exploit Grain Legume Biodiversity in Crop Improvement

Plants respond through a cascade of reactions resulting in varied cellular environment leading to alterations in the patterns of protein expression resulting in phonotypic changes. Single cell genomics and global proteomics came out to be powerful tools and efficient techniques in studying stress tolerant plants. Non-coding RNAs are a distinct class of regulatory RNAs in plants and animals that control a variety of biological processes. Small ncRNAs play a vital role in post transcriptional gene regulation by either translational repression or by inducing mRNA cleavage. The major classes of small RNAs include microRNAs (miRNAs) and small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), which differ in their biogenesis. miRNAs control the expression of cognate target genes by binding to complementary sequences, resulting in cleavage or translational inhibition of the target RNAs. siRNAs too have a similar structure, function, and biogenesis like miRNAs but are derived from long double-stranded RNAs and can often direct DNA methylation at target sequences.In this review, we focus on the involvement of ncRNAs in comabting abiotic stresses of soybean. This review emphasis on previously known miRNAs as they play important role in several abiotic stresses like drought, salinity, chilling and heat stress by their diverse roles in mediating biological processes like gene expression, chromatin formation, defense of genome against invading viruses. This review attempts to elucidate the various kinds of non-coding RNAs explored, their discovery, biogenesis, functions, and response for different type of abiotic stresses and future aspects for crop improvement in the context of soybean, a representative grain legume.

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Recent Advances in Faba Bean Genetic and Genomic Tools for Crop Improvement

10.20944/preprints202012.0372.v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Hamid Khazaei ◽

Donal O'Sullivan ◽

Frederick Stoddard ◽

Kedar Adhikari ◽

Jeffrey Paull ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Faba Bean ◽

Seed Quality ◽

Crop Improvement ◽

Genetic Maps ◽

Grain Legume ◽

Human Consumption ◽

Biotic And Abiotic Stress ◽

Livestock Feed ◽

Research Activities ◽

Genomic Tools

Faba bean (Vicia faba L.), a member of the Fabaceae family, is one of the important food legumes cultivated in cool temperate regions. It holds great importance for human consumption and livestock feed because of its high protein content, dietary fibre, and nutritional value. Major faba bean breeding challenges include its mixed breeding system, unknown wild progenitor, and genome size of ~13 Gb, which is the largest among diploid field crops. The key breeding objectives in faba bean include improved resistance to biotic and abiotic stress and enhanced seed quality traits. Major progress on reduction of vicine-convicine and seed coat tannins, the main anti-nutritional factors limiting faba bean seed usage, have been recently achieved through gene discovery. Genomic resources are relatively less advanced compared to other grain legume species, but significant improvements are underway due to a recent significant increase in research activities. A number of bi-parental populations have been constructed and mapped for targeted traits in the last decade. Faba bean now benefits from saturated synteny‐based genetic maps, along with next-generation sequencing and high-throughput genotyping technologies that are paving the way for marker-assisted selection. Developing a reference genome, and ultimately a pan-genome, will provide a foundational resource for molecular breeding. In this review, we cover the recent development and deployment of genomic tools for faba bean breeding.

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MUTATION BREEDING FOR CROP IMPROVEMENT: A REVIEW

Reviews In Food And Agriculture ◽

10.26480/rfna.01.2021.31.35 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

pp. 31-35

Author(s):

Rishav Pandit ◽

Bishnu Bhusal ◽

Rashmi Regmi ◽

Pritika Neupane ◽

Kushal Bhattarai ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Crop Improvement ◽

Mutation Breeding ◽

Grain Legume ◽

Rapid Phase ◽

Induced Mutation ◽

Chemical Mutagens ◽

Oil Seed ◽

Crop Varieties ◽

Cereal Grain ◽

Wide Range

Despite the fact that the world is at the rapid phase of agricultural modernization, but we are still concerned about food security. To meet the demand of exponential increase in population there is requirement of 70% more food by 2050. To overcome this situation we have to improve our existing crop varieties and make them genetically diverse, adaptive to climate change, input use efficient, high yielding, enhanced nutritional attributes, and better adaptable to a wide range of agro-ecosystems and should not deteriorate existing environment. Among the various methods of breeding to improve crop varieties mutation breeding (induced mutation) plays a crucial role for the development of genetic variation among themselves. Over past five decade mutation breeding is getting more popular and till now 3,362 mutant plant varieties from 240 different plant species in more than 75 countries are released. Different types of physical, chemical and combined mutagens have been used by various breeder to induce genetic variability in various crops. 2635 varieties are developed by physical mutagens, 398 varieties are developed by chemical mutagens and 37 varieties are developed by combination of physical and chemical mutagens. Continent wise, 82 varieties are developed by Africa, 2049 by Asia, 10 by Australia and Pacific, 959 by Europe, 53 by Latin America, and 209 by North America. Similarly, 1602 major cereals, 501 major legumes and 86 major oil seed mutant crop varieties are developed by mutation breeding/induced mutation. Mutation breeding improve several qualitative and quantitative characters of crop plant and is successfully applied in several cereal, grain legume, oil seed, vegetable, fruits, medicinal plant, ornamental plants and fodder crops. With the advancement of various plant breeding, genetics, and biotechnological tools mutation breeding contribute toward the increase in global food and agriculture production which ultimately overcome global hunger and improve the nutritional status of the globe.

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Mutagenic effectiveness and efficiency of gamma rays and sodium azide in M2 generation of Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.]

10.1101/2020.03.09.983486 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Aamir Raina ◽

Samiullah Khan

Keyword(s):

Genetic Variability ◽

Gamma Rays ◽

Sodium Azide ◽

Crop Improvement ◽

Arable Land ◽

Grain Legume ◽

Nutrition Security ◽

Cowpea Varieties ◽

Induced Mutagenesis ◽

Effectiveness And Efficiency

AbstractLegumes play a pivotal role in combating the chronic hunger and malnutrition in the developing nations and are also ideal crops to achieve global food and nutrition security. In the era of climate change, erratic rainfalls, depleting arable land and water resource, feeding the rapidly growing population is a challenging task. Among breeding programs for crop improvement, induced mutagenesis has proven to be the viable, effective, robust and coherent tool to facilitate the process of creating varieties with improved yield. Like most other pulses, cowpea is a self pollinated, nutritious, versatile and widely adapted grain legume, but harbour a little accessible genetic variability. Lack of sufficient genetic variability and small size of flowers, traditional plant breeding methods are not enough to meet the demands of improvement of cowpea. Hence, induced mutagenesis was employed to induce significant genetic variability across a range of agro-economical traits in two cowpea varieties Gomati VU-89 and Pusa-578 from M1 to M4 generations. The success of induced mutagenesis largely depends on the selection of appropriate mutagen, its dose, effectiveness and efficiency. Hence present study was conduct to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of single and combined doses of sodium azide and gamma rays to set an appropriate protocol for induced mutagenesis experimentation in cowpea.

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Bradyrhizobium Inoculation of Field-Grown Kersting's Groundnut [Macrotyloma geocarpum (Harms) Marechal & Baudet] Increased Grain Yield and N2 Fixation, Measured Using the Ureide, and 15N Natural Abundance Techniques

Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems ◽

10.3389/fsufs.2021.672247 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 ◽

Author(s):

Mustapha Mohammed ◽

Glory C. Mbah ◽

Elias N. K. Sowley ◽

Felix D. Dakora

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Water Use Efficiency ◽

Water Use ◽

Crop Improvement ◽

Xylem Sap ◽

Natural Abundance ◽

Shoot Biomass ◽

Grain Legume ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

Kersting’S Groundnut

Here, we report on the symbiotic N2 fixation and water use efficiency (δ13C) of Kersting's groundnut, an important but underutilized grain legume in Africa, in response to inoculation with Bradyrhizobium strains 3267 and CB756. The 15N natural abundance and xylem ureide techniques were used to quantify N2 fixation. The landraces in this study derived variable levels of their N requirements from symbiosis, which translated into marked differences in the amounts of N-fixed by the landrace–inoculant combinations across the test locations. In most instances, the landrace-strain combinations that elicited higher shoot biomass also recorded greater N-fixed and/or ureide-N in xylem sap as well as grain yield. Although some landraces coupled increased grain yield with higher water use efficiency (shoot δ13C), a trait that could be tapped for crop improvement, others recorded lower yields despite eliciting relatively high shoot δ13C values, indicating genotypic variations in adaptation to the different environments. Grain yield of the test landraces showed marked variation and ranged from 131 to 1349.8 kg ha−1 depending on the landrace–strain combination used and the planting location. The high symbiotic dependence by landraces in this study could explain why Kersting's groundnut thrives in the low nutrient soils that are prevalent in its cultivation areas. These results provide more insights into the literature regarding the Kersting's groundnut–rhizobia symbiosis as well as the crop's water use efficiency.

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Controlled Environments as an Adjunct to Field Research on Lentils (Lens culinaris) I. Perspectives, Tenets and Objectives

Experimental Agriculture ◽

10.1017/s0014479700011819 ◽

1981 ◽

Vol 17 (4) ◽

pp. 363-372 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

R. J. Summerfield ◽

F. J. Muehlbauer

Keyword(s):

Lens Culinaris ◽

Crop Improvement ◽

Field Research ◽

Grain Legumes ◽

Grain Legume ◽

Controlled Environment ◽

Legume Crops ◽

The Usa ◽

Controlled Environments

SUMMARYOur experience with potentially tropic-adapted grain legumes leads us to hypothesize that ‘with appropriate and sufficiently proven technology, developed specifically for the purpose, controlled environment facilities can be a powerful adjunct to field research and so assist in the attainment of crop improvement objectives in lentils’. This contribution comments on the ‘adaptation’ of grain legume crops to their environments, describes current lentil production in the USA and elsewhere, and discusses the tenets and objectives of a programme of research devoted to the ultimate release of lentil genotypes that are well adapted to the environments for which they are intended.

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Genetic diversity in Bambara groundnut {Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.}

Agricultura tropica et subtropica ◽

10.2478/ats-2021-0009 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 54 (1) ◽

pp. 89-96

Author(s):

Nwakuche Chinenye Onwubiko

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Cluster Analysis ◽

Block Design ◽

Crop Improvement ◽

Morphological Variability ◽

Germplasm Conservation ◽

Principal Component ◽

Bambara Groundnut ◽

Grain Legume ◽

International Institute

Abstract Bambara groundnut is a grain legume with enormous morphological variability. In order to genetically establish the variation that exists in this crop, an assessment of genetic diversity was therefore carried out with 20 accessions of Bambara groundnut collected from International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Ibadan. The design of the experiment was randomised complete block design with three replications. Results from analysis of variance (ANOVA), and principal component analysis (PCA) showed outstanding genetic diversity among the collections. The first four principal components accounted for 91.89% of the total variability. Cluster analysis and the dendrogram discretely grouped the accessions into four genetically distinct groups. One accession TVSU 353 singly formed a group in cluster analysis and dendrogram, which implies that TVSU 353 was genetically distinct from the rest of the accessions. Morphological characters assessed provided a useful measure of genetic differences among Bambara groundnut accessions, which can facilitate identification and selection of potential breeding lines for crop improvement as well as germplasm conservation.

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Water use of selected grain legumes in response to varying irrigation regimes

Water SA ◽

10.4314/wsa.v45i1.13 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 45 (1 January) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Tendai P Chibarabada ◽

Albert T Modi ◽

Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi

Keyword(s):

Soil Water ◽

Water Use ◽

Water Productivity ◽

Crop Improvement ◽

Grain Legumes ◽

Bambara Groundnut ◽

Grain Legume ◽

Crop Species ◽

Dry Bean ◽

Area Index

Grain legumes have potential to contribute to food and nutritional security in water-scarce areas. Information on their yield, water use and water productivity (WP) would be useful for their promotion. The aim of the study was to make a comparative assessment of adaptation, yield, water use and WP of an African indigenous grain legume (bambara groundnut) and two major grain legumes (dry bean and groundnut) under rainfed, deficit and optimum irrigation conditions. Field trials were conducted during the 2015/16 and 2016/17 summer seasons in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, using a split-plot design arranged in completely randomised blocks with three replications. Data collected included stomatal conductance, leaf area index, timing of key phenological stages and yield. Water use was calculated as a residual of the soil water balance. Water productivity was obtained as the quotient of grain yield and water use. Crops adapted to limited soil water availability through stomatal regulation and reduction in canopy size and duration. Yield, yield components and WP varied significantly (P < 0.05) among crop species. During 2015/16, groundnut had the highest yield and WP (10 540 kg·ha−1 and 0.99 kg·m−3, respectively). During 2016/17, the highest yield and WP were observed in dry bean, 2 911 kg·ha−1 and 0.75 kg·m−3, respectively. For both seasons, dry bean had the lowest water use (143–268 mm) across all water treatments. Dry bean and groundnut out–performed bambara groundnut with respect to yield, harvest index and WP. For any promotion of bambara groundnut as an alternative crop, there is need for crop improvement to improve yield and WP.

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Pod Shattering: A Homologous Series of Variation Underlying Domestication and an Avenue for Crop Improvement

10.20944/preprints201806.0162.v1 ◽

2018 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ezgi Ogutcen ◽

Anamika Pandey ◽

Mohd Kamran Khan ◽

Edward Marques ◽

R. Varma Penmetsa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Yield Loss ◽

Crop Improvement ◽

Cereal Crops ◽

Grain Legume ◽

Breeding Programs ◽

Model Plant Arabidopsis Thaliana ◽

History Of ◽

Important Trait ◽

Fruit Dehiscence ◽

Plant Arabidopsis Thaliana

In wild habitats, fruit dehiscence is a critical strategy for seed dispersal; however, in cultivated crops it is one of the major sources of yield loss. Therefore, indehiscence of fruits, pods, etc., was likely to be one of the first traits strongly selected in crop domestication. Even with the historical selection against dehiscence in early domesticates, it is a trait still targeted in many breeding programs, particularly in minor or underutilized crops. Here, we review of this trait in pulse (grain legume) crops, which are of growing importance as a source of protein in human and livestock diets, and which have received less attention than cereal crops and the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. We specifically focus on the i) history of indehiscence in domestication across legumes, ii) structures and the mechanisms involved in shattering, iii) the molecular pathways underlying this important trait, iv) an overview of the extent of crop losses due to shattering, and the effects of environmental factors on shattering, and, v) efforts to reduce shattering in crops. While our focus is mainly pulse crops, we also included comparisons to crucifers and cereals because there is extensive research on shattering in these taxa.

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Identification of candidate phosphorus stress induced genes in Phaseolus vulgaris through clustering analysis across several plant species

Functional Plant Biology ◽

10.1071/fp06101 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 33 (8) ◽

pp. 789 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

Michelle A. Graham ◽

Mario Ramírez ◽

Oswaldo Valdés-López ◽

Miguel Lara ◽

Mesfin Tesfaye ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Phaseolus Vulgaris ◽

Common Bean ◽

Crop Improvement ◽

Grain Legume ◽

Human Consumption ◽

P Deficiency ◽

Yield And Quality ◽

Bean Yield ◽

Related Stress ◽

Signal Transduction Genes

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is the world’s most important grain legume for direct human consumption. However, the soils in which common bean predominate are frequently limited by the availability of phosphorus (P). Improving bean yield and quality requires an understanding of the genes controlling P acquisition and use, ultimately utilising these genes for crop improvement. Here we report an in silico approach for the identification of genes involved in adaptation of P. vulgaris and other legumes to P-deficiency. Some 22 groups of genes from four legume species and Arabidopsis thaliana, encoding diverse functions, were identified as statistically over-represented in EST contigs from P-stressed tissues. By combining bioinformatics analysis with available micro / macroarray technologies and clustering results across five species, we identified 52 P. vulgaris candidate genes belonging to 19 categories as induced by P-stress response. Transport-related, stress (defence and regulation) signal transduction genes are abundantly represented. Manipulating these genes through traditional breeding methodologies and / or biotechnology approaches may allow us to improve crop P-nutrition.

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