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A multi‐parent advanced generation inter‐cross ( MAGIC ) population for genetic analysis and improvement of cowpea ( Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.)
Author(s) -
Huynh BaoLam,
Ehlers Jeffrey D.,
Huang Bevan Emma,
MuñozAmatriaín María,
Lonardi Stefano,
Santos Jansen R. P.,
Ndeve Arsenio,
Batieno Benoit J.,
Boukar Ousmane,
Cisse Ndiaga,
Drabo Issa,
Fatokun Christian,
Kusi Francis,
Agyare Richard Y.,
Guo YiNing,
Herniter Ira,
Lo Sassoum,
Wanamaker Steve I.,
Xu Shizhong,
Close Timothy J.,
Roberts Philip A.
Publication year - 2018
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.13827
Subject(s) - biology , vigna , population , quantitative trait locus , genetics , genotyping , microbiology and biotechnology , single nucleotide polymorphism , abiotic stress , genotype , gene , agronomy , demography , sociology
Summary Multi‐parent advanced generation inter‐cross ( MAGIC ) populations are an emerging type of resource for dissecting the genetic structure of traits and improving breeding populations. We developed a MAGIC population for cowpea ( Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) from eight founder parents. These founders were genetically diverse and carried many abiotic and biotic stress resistance, seed quality and agronomic traits relevant to cowpea improvement in the United States and sub‐Saharan Africa, where cowpea is vitally important in the human diet and local economies. The eight parents were inter‐crossed using structured matings to ensure that the population would have balanced representation from each parent, followed by single‐seed descent, resulting in 305 F 8 recombinant inbred lines each carrying a mosaic of genome blocks contributed by all founders. This was confirmed by single nucleotide polymorphism genotyping with the Illumina Cowpea Consortium Array. These lines were on average 99.74% homozygous but also diverse in agronomic traits across environments. Quantitative trait loci ( QTL s) were identified for several parental traits. Loci with major effects on photoperiod sensitivity and seed size were also verified by biparental genetic mapping. The recombination events were concentrated in telomeric regions. Due to its broad genetic base, this cowpea MAGIC population promises breakthroughs in genetic gain, QTL and gene discovery, enhancement of breeding populations and, for some lines, direct releases as new varieties.