Phenotypic and genetic characterization of a near-isogenic line pair: insights into flowering time in chickpea.

Background: Cicer arietinum is a significant legume crop cultivated mainly in short-season environments, where early-flowering is a desirable trait to overcome terminal constraints. Despite its agricultural significance, the genetic control of flowering time in chickpea is not fully understood. In this study, we developed, phenotyped, re-sequenced and genetically characterized a pair of near-isogenic lines (NILs) with contrasting days to flowering to identify candidate gene variants potentially associated with flowering time.

Efficient Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Marker-Assisted Selection to Fusarium Wilt in Chickpea.

Fusarium wilt is one of the most destructive chickpea diseases worldwide. Race 5 (Foc5) is the most harmful in the Mediterranean basin. The primary objective of this study is to validate a block of six SNP markers previously mapped in Ca2 in a diverse panel of cultivars, advanced and inbred lines phenotyped for resistance to fusarium wilt.

The SINGLE FLOWER (SFL) gene encodes a MYB transcription factor that regulates the number of flowers produced by the inflorescence of chickpea.

Legumes usually have compound inflorescences, where flowers/pods develop from secondary inflorescences (I2), formed laterally at the primary inflorescence (I1). Number of flowers per I2, characteristic of each legume species, has important ecological and evolutionary relevance as it determines diversity in inflorescence architecture; moreover, it is also agronomically important for its potential impact on yield. Nevertheless, the genetic network controlling the number of flowers per I2 is virtually unknown.

Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 3 Is an Expanded Gene Family with Potential Adaptive Roles in Chickpea.

Legumes play an important role in ensuring food security, improving nutrition and enhancing ecosystem resilience. Chickpea is a globally important grain legume adapted to semi-arid regions under rain-fed conditions. A growing body of research shows that aldehyde dehydrogenases (ALDHs) represent a gene class with promising potential for plant adaptation improvement.