Impact of heat stress on physiological characteristics and expression of heat shock proteins (HSPs) in groundnut ( L.).

Unlabelled: The current climate change has a profound impact on agricultural production. Despite the unanimous efforts of several nations to prevent further increase in global temperatures, developing adaptive strategies by imparting heat tolerance in crop plants is essential to ensure global food security. This study demonstrates the impact of heat stress on the morphological, physiological and biochemical properties of different groundnut genotypes derived from a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population (JL 24 × 55-437).

Dissecting genomic regions and underlying candidate genes in groundnut MAGIC population for drought tolerance.

Background: Groundnut is mainly grown in the semi-arid tropic (SAT) regions worldwide, where abiotic stress like drought is persistent. However, a major research gap exists regarding exploring the genetic and genomic underpinnings of tolerance to drought. In this study, a multi-parent advanced generation inter-cross (MAGIC) population was developed and evaluated for five seasons at two locations for three consecutive years (2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21) under drought stress and normal environments.

Identification and application of a candidate gene AhAftr1 for aflatoxin production resistance in peanut seed (Arachis hypogaea L.).

Introduction: Peanut is susceptible to infection of Aspergillus fungi and conducive to aflatoxin contamination, hence developing aflatoxin-resistant variety is highly meaningful. Identifying functional genes or loci conferring aflatoxin resistance and molecular diagnostic marker are crucial for peanut breeding.

Objectives: This work aims to (1) identify candidate gene for aflatoxin production resistance, (2) reveal the related resistance mechanism, and (3) develop diagnostic marker for resistance breeding program.

Genetic mapping identified major main-effect and three co-localized quantitative trait loci controlling high iron and zinc content in groundnut.

Malnutrition is a major challenge globally, and groundnut is a highly nutritious self-pollinated legume crop blessed with ample genomic resources, including the routine deployment of genomic-assisted breeding. This study aimed to identify genomic regions and candidate genes for high iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) content, utilizing a biparental mapping population (ICGV 00440 × ICGV 06040;). Genetic mapping and quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis (474 mapped single-nucleotide polymorphism loci; 1536.

Genetic mapping identified three hotspot genomic regions and candidate genes controlling heat tolerance-related traits in groundnut.

Groundnut productivity and quality have been impeded by rising temperatures in semi-arid environments. Hence, understanding the effects and molecular mechanisms of heat stress tolerance will aid in tackling yield losses. In this context, a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population was developed and phenotyped for eight seasons at three locations for agronomic, phenological, and physiological traits under heat stress.

Whole-genome sequencing based discovery of candidate genes and diagnostic markers for seed weight in groundnut.

Seed weight in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) has direct impact on yield as well as market price because of preference for bold seeds by consumers and industry, thereby making seed-size improvement as one of the most important objectives of groundnut breeding programs globally. Marker-based early generation selection can accelerate the process of breeding for developing large-seeded varieties.

Does improved oleic acid content due to marker-assisted introgression of mutant alleles in peanuts alter its mineral and vitamin composition?

Peanuts ( L.) with high oleic acid content have extended shelf life and several health benefits. Oleic, linoleic, and palmitic acid contents in peanuts are regulated by and mutant alleles.

Assessment of the genetic diversity and population structure of groundnut germplasm collections using phenotypic traits and SNP markers: Implications for drought tolerance breeding.

Profiling the genetic composition and relationships among groundnut germplasm collections is essential for the breeding of new cultivars. The objectives of this study were to assess the genetic diversity and population structure among 100 improved groundnut genotypes using agronomic traits and high-density single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. The genotypes were evaluated for agronomic traits and drought tolerance at the International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)/India across two seasons.

Genome-based trait prediction in multi- environment breeding trials in groundnut.

Comparative assessment identified naïve interaction model, and naïve and informed interaction GS models suitable for achieving higher prediction accuracy in groundnut keeping in mind the high genotype × environment interaction for complex traits. Genomic selection (GS) can be an efficient and cost-effective breeding approach which captures both small- and large-effect genetic factors and therefore promises to achieve higher genetic gains for complex traits such as yield and oil content in groundnut. A training population was constituted with 340 elite lines followed by genotyping with 58 K 'Axiom_Arachis' SNP array and phenotyping for key agronomic traits at three locations in India.

Advances in Crop Improvement and Delivery Research for Nutritional Quality and Health Benefits of Groundnut ( L.).

Groundnut is an important global food and oil crop that underpins agriculture-dependent livelihood strategies meeting food, nutrition, and income security. Aflatoxins, pose a major challenge to increased competitiveness of groundnut limiting access to lucrative markets and affecting populations that consume it. Other drivers of low competitiveness include allergens and limited shelf life occasioned by low oleic acid profile in the oil.

Steady expression of high oleic acid in peanut bred by marker-assisted backcrossing for fatty acid desaturase mutant alleles and its effect on seed germination along with other seedling traits.

Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is an important nutrient-rich food legume and valued for its good quality cooking oil. The fatty acid content is the major determinant of the quality of the edible oil.

Genomics, genetics and breeding of tropical legumes for better livelihoods of smallholder farmers.

Legumes are important components of sustainable agricultural production, food, nutrition and income systems of developing countries. In spite of their importance, legume crop production is challenged by a number of biotic (diseases and pests) and abiotic stresses (heat, frost, drought and salinity), edaphic factors (associated with soil nutrient deficits) and policy issues (where less emphasis is put on legumes compared to priority starchy staples). Significant research and development work have been done in the past decade on important grain legumes through collaborative bilateral and multilateral projects as well as the CGIAR Research Program on Grain Legumes (CRP-GL).

Genetics, genomics and breeding of groundnut ( L.).

Groundnut is an important food and oil crop in the semiarid tropics, contributing to household food consumption and cash income. In Asia and Africa, yields are low attributed to various production constraints. This review paper highlights advances in genetics, genomics and breeding to improve the productivity of groundnut.

Whole-genome resequencing-based QTL-seq identified candidate genes and molecular markers for fresh seed dormancy in groundnut.

The subspecies fastigiata of cultivated groundnut lost fresh seed dormancy (FSD) during domestication and human-made selection. Groundnut varieties lacking FSD experience precocious seed germination during harvest imposing severe losses. Development of easy-to-use genetic markers enables early-generation selection in different molecular breeding approaches.

Genetic imprints of domestication for disease resistance, oil quality, and yield component traits in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.).

Ploidy difference between wild Arachis species and cultivated genotypes hinder transfer of useful alleles for agronomically important traits. To overcome this genetic barrier, two synthetic tetraploids, viz., ISATGR 1212 (A.

Molecular Mapping of Oil Content and Fatty Acids Using Dense Genetic Maps in Groundnut ( L.).

Enhancing seed oil content with desirable fatty acid composition is one of the most important objectives of groundnut breeding programs globally. Genomics-assisted breeding facilitates combining multiple traits faster, however, requires linked markers. In this context, we have developed two different F mapping populations, one for oil content (OC-population, ICGV 07368 × ICGV 06420) and another for fatty acid composition (FA-population, ICGV 06420 × SunOleic 95R).

QTL-seq approach identified genomic regions and diagnostic markers for rust and late leaf spot resistance in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.).

Rust and late leaf spot (LLS) are the two major foliar fungal diseases in groundnut, and their co-occurrence leads to significant yield loss in addition to the deterioration of fodder quality. To identify candidate genomic regions controlling resistance to rust and LLS, whole-genome resequencing (WGRS)-based approach referred as 'QTL-seq' was deployed. A total of 231.

Molecular breeding for introgression of fatty acid desaturase mutant alleles (ahFAD2A and ahFAD2B) enhances oil quality in high and low oil containing peanut genotypes.

High oleate peanuts have two marketable benefits, health benefits to consumers and extended shelf life of peanut products. Two mutant alleles present on linkage group a09 (ahFAD2A) and b09 (ahFAD2B) control composition of three major fatty acids, oleic, linoleic and palmitic acids which together determine peanut oil quality. In conventional breeding, selection for fatty acid composition is delayed to advanced generations.

Marker-assisted introgression of a QTL region to improve rust resistance in three elite and popular varieties of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.).

Successful introgression of a major QTL for rust resistance, through marker-assisted backcrossing, in three popular Indian peanut cultivars generated several promising introgression lines with enhanced rust resistance and higher yield. Leaf rust, caused by Puccinia arachidis Speg, is one of the major devastating diseases in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.).

Groundnut improvement: use of genetic and genomic tools.

Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.), a self-pollinated legume is an important crop cultivated in 24 million ha world over for extraction of edible oil and food uses. The kernels are rich in oil (48-50%) and protein (25-28%), and are source of several vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, biologically active polyphenols, flavonoids, and isoflavones.

Achievements and prospects of genomics-assisted breeding in three legume crops of the semi-arid tropics.

Advances in next-generation sequencing and genotyping technologies have enabled generation of large-scale genomic resources such as molecular markers, transcript reads and BAC-end sequences (BESs) in chickpea, pigeonpea and groundnut, three major legume crops of the semi-arid tropics. Comprehensive transcriptome assemblies and genome sequences have either been developed or underway in these crops. Based on these resources, dense genetic maps, QTL maps as well as physical maps for these legume species have also been developed.