Diversity of salt tolerance in , wild related species of the azuki bean ().

is a wild species closely related to the azuki bean (), with salt-tolerance abilities. The present study aimed to explore the genetic and salt tolerance diversity within the species, by evaluating the phylogenetic relationships of 55 accessions of including 25 newly collected from the Gotō Islands and Iki in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. We conducted salt-tolerance analysis for 48 of the accessions, including 18 of the newly collected accessions.

Genetic characterization of cucumber genetic resources in the NARO Genebank indicates their multiple dispersal trajectories to the East.

Genotyping-by-sequencing of 723 worldwide cucumber genetic resources revealed that cucumbers were dispersed eastward via at least three distinct routes, one to Southeast Asia and two from different directions to East Asia. The cucumber (Cucumis sativus) is an economically important vegetable crop cultivated and consumed worldwide. Despite its popularity, the manner in which cucumbers were dispersed from their origin in South Asia to the rest of the world, particularly to the east, remains a mystery due to the lack of written records.

Elucidation of genetic variation and population structure of melon genetic resources in the NARO Genebank, and construction of the World Melon Core Collection.

Numerous genetic resources of major crops have been introduced from around the world and deposited in Japanese National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO) Genebank. Understanding their genetic variation and selecting a representative subset ("core collection") are essential for optimal management and efficient use of genetic resources. In this study, we conducted genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) to characterize the genetic relationships and population structure in 755 accessions of melon genetic resources.

Domestication of azuki bean and soybean in Japan: From the insight of archeological and molecular evidence.

Domestication of azuki bean and soybean has enabled them to acquire non-dormant seeds, non-shattering pods, and larger seed size. Seed remains of the Jomon period recently discovered at archeological sites in the Central Highlands of Japan (6,000-4,000 BP) suggest that the use of azuki bean and soybean and their increase in seed size began earlier in Japan than in China and Korea; molecular phylogenetic studies indicate that azuki bean and soybean originated in Japan. Recent identification of domestication genes indicate that the domestication traits of azuki bean and soybean were established by different mechanisms.

Domesticating : Chromosome-Level genome assembly reveals as a candidate gene decreasing hard-seededness.

To increase food production under the challenges presented by global climate change, the concept of domestication-utilizing stress-tolerant wild species as new crops-has recently gained considerable attention. We had previously identified mutants with desired domestication traits in a mutagenized population of the legume Kuntze (minni payaru) as a pilot for domestication. Given that there are multiple stress-tolerant wild legume species, it is important to establish efficient domestication processes using reverse genetics and identify the genes responsible for domestication traits.

Unique Salt-Tolerance-Related QTLs, Evolved in (Na Includer) and (Na Excluder), Shed Light on the Development of Super-Salt-Tolerant Azuki Bean () Cultivars.

Wild relatives of crops have the potential to improve food crops, especially in terms of improving abiotic stress tolerance. Two closely related wild species of the traditional East Asian legume crops, Azuki bean (), "Tojinbaka" and "Ukushima" were shown to have much higher levels of salt tolerance than azuki beans. To identify the genomic regions responsible for salt tolerance in "Tojinbaka" and "Ukushima", three interspecific hybrids were developed: (A) azuki bean cultivar "Kyoto Dainagon" × "Tojinbaka", (B) "Kyoto Dainagon" × "Ukushima" and (C) "Ukushima" × "Tojinbaka".

Molecular Analysis of Genetic Diversity and Structure of the Lablab ( (L.) Sweet) Gene Pool Reveals Two Independent Routes of Domestication.

In this study, genetic diversity and structure of 474 cultivated and 19 wild lablab () accessions. were determined using 15 nuclear and 6 chloroplast SSR markers. The overall gene diversity was relatively low (0.

Same Locus for Non-shattering Seed Pod in Two Independently Domesticated Legumes, and .

Loss of pod shattering is one of the most important domestication-related traits in legume crops. The non-shattering phenotypes have been achieved either by disturbed formation of abscission layer between the valves, or by loss of helical tension in sclerenchyma of endocarp, that split open the pods to disperse the seeds. During domestication, azuki bean () and yard-long bean ( cv-gr.

QTL Mapping for Agronomic and Adaptive Traits Confirmed Pleiotropic Effect of Gene in Black Gram [ (L.) Hepper].

Organ size and architecture of plants are important traits affecting crop yield and agronomic practices. An induced mutant, multiple-organ gigantism (MOG), of black gram () has been obtained, which shows gigantic leaves, fruit, seed, and architecture (plant height) but lower number of pods per plant. These traits are a pleiotropic effect of a single recessive gene, .

Whole genome sequencing data of var. Ukushima and G418.

is one of the closely related species of (Adzuki bean). Two strain of 'Ukushima' and 'G418' were identified as salt tolerance strains in from gene bank collection. F populations from an inter- or intra-specific cross between the sensitive and tolerant strains are useful for the detection of salt tolerance QTL in .

Domesticating : A Potential Legume Crop With Broad Resistance to Biotic Stresses.

Though crossing wild relatives to modern cultivars is a usual means to introduce alleles of stress tolerance, an alternative is domesticating wild species that are already tolerant to various kinds of stresses. As a test case, we chose Kuntze, which has fast growth, short vegetative stage, and broad resistance to pests and diseases. We developed an ethyl methanesulfonate-mutagenized population and obtained three mutants with reduced seed dormancy and one with reduced pod shattering.

Development of an SNP-based high-density linkage map and QTL analysis for bruchid (Callosobruchus maculatus F.) resistance in black gram (Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper).

Black gram (Vigna mungo var. mungo) is an important pulse crop in Asia. The cowpea weevil (Callosobruchus maculatus) is a stored-seed insect pest (seed weevil/bruchid) that causes serious postharvest losses in pulse crops, including black gram.

Construction of genetic linkage map and genome dissection of domestication-related traits of moth bean (Vigna aconitifolia), a legume crop of arid areas.

The moth bean (Vigna aconitifolia), possibly the most primitive crop of the genus Vigna, is a highly drought- and heat-resistant legume grown in arid areas. Moth bean domestication involved phenotypic changes, including reduction of seed dormancy and pod shattering, increased organ size, and earlier flowering and maturity. However, the genetics of the domestication process in moth bean is not known.

QTL analysis of domestication syndrome in zombi pea (Vigna vexillata), an underutilized legume crop.

Zombi pea (Vigna vexillata (L.) A. Rich) is an underutilized crop belonging to the genus Vigna.

Genetic Dissection of Azuki Bean Weevil (Callosobruchus chinensis L.) Resistance in Moth Bean (Vigna aconitifolia [Jaqc.] Maréchal).

The azuki bean weevil ( L.) is an insect pest responsible for serious postharvest seed loss in leguminous crops. In this study, we performed quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping of seed resistance to in moth bean ( [Jaqc.

Diversity of Drought Tolerance in the Genus .

Wild relatives of crop plants are thought as reservoir of prominent genetic resources for abiotic stress tolerance. However, insufficient information on genetic variation and phenotypic traits restricts their use for crop breeding. This study focused on wild species of genus (family Fabaceae) originated from highly humid to arid regions.

Multiple organ gigantism caused by mutation in gene in blackgram ().

Seed size is one of the most important traits in leguminous crops. We obtained a recessive mutant of blackgram that had greatly enlarged leaves, stems and seeds. The mutant produced 100% bigger leaves, 50% more biomass and 70% larger seeds though it produced 40% less number of seeds.

Diversity and Evolution of Salt Tolerance in the Genus Vigna.

Breeding salt tolerant plants is difficult without utilizing a diversity of wild crop relatives. Since the genus Vigna (family Fabaceae) is comprised of many wild relatives adapted to various environmental conditions, we evaluated the salt tolerance of 69 accessions of this genus, including that of wild and domesticated accessions originating from Asia, Africa, Oceania, and South America. We grew plants under 50 mM and 200 mM NaCl for two weeks and then measured the biomass, relative quantum yield of photosystem II, leaf Na+ concentrations, and leaf K+ concentrations.

Genotypic difference in (137)Cs accumulation and transfer from the contaminated field in Fukushima to azuki bean (Vigna angularis).

The screening of mini-core collection of azuki bean accessions (Vigna angularis (Willd.) Ohwi & Ohashi) for comparative uptake of (137)Cs in their edible portions was done in field trials on land contaminated by the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident. Ninety seven azuki bean accessions including their wild relatives from a Japanese gene bank, were grown in a field in the Fukushima prefecture, which is located approximately 51 km north of FDNPP.

Novel Genetic Resources in the Genus Vigna Unveiled from Gene Bank Accessions.

The genus Vigna (Fabaceae) consists of five subgenera, and includes more than 100 wild species. In Vigna, 10 crops have been domesticated from three subgenera, Vigna, Plectrotropis, and Ceratotropis. The habitats of wild Vigna species are so diverse that their genomes could harbor various genes responsible for environmental stress adaptation, which could lead to innovations in agriculture.

A Homoploid Hybrid Between Wild Vigna Species Found in a Limestone Karst.

Genus Vigna comprise several domesticated species including cowpea and mungbean, and diverse wild species. We found an introgressive hybrid population derived from two wild species, Vigna umbellata and Vigna exilis, in Ratchaburi district, Thailand. The hybrid was morphologically similar to V.

The Vigna Genome Server, 'VigGS': A Genomic Knowledge Base of the Genus Vigna Based on High-Quality, Annotated Genome Sequence of the Azuki Bean, Vigna angularis (Willd.) Ohwi & Ohashi.

The genus Vigna includes legume crops such as cowpea, mungbean and azuki bean, as well as >100 wild species. A number of the wild species are highly tolerant to severe environmental conditions including high-salinity, acid or alkaline soil; drought; flooding; and pests and diseases. These features of the genus Vigna make it a good target for investigation of genetic diversity in adaptation to stressful environments; however, a lack of genomic information has hindered such research in this genus.

Construction of an SSR and RAD-Marker Based Molecular Linkage Map of Vigna vexillata (L.) A. Rich.

Vigna vexillata (L.) A. Rich.

Reciprocal translocation identified in Vigna angularis dominates the wild population in East Japan.

Using an F2 population derived from cultivated and wild azuki bean, we previously detected a reciprocal translocation and a seed size QTL near the translocation site. To test the hypothesis that the translocation in the cultivated variety contributed to the larger seed size, we performed further linkage analyses with several cross combinations between cultivated and wild azuki beans. In addition, we visually confirmed the translocation by cytogenetic approach using 25 wild and cultivated accessions.