Premium
Genome resources for climate‐resilient cowpea, an essential crop for food security
Author(s) -
MuñozAmatriaín María,
Mirebrahim Hamid,
Xu Pei,
Wanamaker Steve I.,
Luo MingCheng,
Alhakami Hind,
Alpert Matthew,
Atokple Ibrahim,
Batieno Benoit J.,
Boukar Ousmane,
Bozdag Serdar,
Cisse Ndiaga,
Drabo Issa,
Ehlers Jeffrey D.,
Farmer Andrew,
Fatokun Christian,
Gu Yong Q.,
Guo YiNing,
Huynh BaoLam,
Jackson Scott A.,
Kusi Francis,
Lawley Cynthia T.,
Lucas Mitchell R.,
Ma Yaqin,
Timko Michael P.,
Wu Jiajie,
You Frank,
Barkley Noelle A.,
Roberts Philip A.,
Lonardi Stefano,
Close Timothy J.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
the plant journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.058
H-Index - 269
eISSN - 1365-313X
pISSN - 0960-7412
DOI - 10.1111/tpj.13404
Subject(s) - biology , food security , germplasm , genetic diversity , genome , crop , microbiology and biotechnology , vigna , genetics , agronomy , gene , agriculture , ecology , population , demography , sociology
Summary Cowpea ( Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) is a legume crop that is resilient to hot and drought‐prone climates, and a primary source of protein in sub‐Saharan Africa and other parts of the developing world. However, genome resources for cowpea have lagged behind most other major crops. Here we describe foundational genome resources and their application to the analysis of germplasm currently in use in West African breeding programs. Resources developed from the African cultivar IT 97K‐499‐35 include a whole‐genome shotgun ( WGS ) assembly, a bacterial artificial chromosome ( BAC ) physical map, and assembled sequences from 4355 BAC s. These resources and WGS sequences of an additional 36 diverse cowpea accessions supported the development of a genotyping assay for 51 128 SNP s, which was then applied to five bi‐parental RIL populations to produce a consensus genetic map containing 37 372 SNP s. This genetic map enabled the anchoring of 100 Mb of WGS and 420 Mb of BAC sequences, an exploration of genetic diversity along each linkage group, and clarification of macrosynteny between cowpea and common bean. The SNP assay enabled a diversity analysis of materials from West African breeding programs. Two major subpopulations exist within those materials, one of which has significant parentage from South and East Africa and more diversity. There are genomic regions of high differentiation between subpopulations, one of which coincides with a cluster of nodulin genes. The new resources and knowledge help to define goals and accelerate the breeding of improved varieties to address food security issues related to limited‐input small‐holder farming and climate stress.