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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Pullman, Washington » Plant Germplasm Introduction and Testing Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #350683
Title: Independent selection for seed free tryptophan content and vernalization response in chickpea domestication

Author
item PINHASI VAN-OSS, RUTH - Hebrew University Of Jerusalem
item GOPHER, A. - Tel Aviv University
item KEREM, Z. - Hebrew University Of Jerusalem
item SHERMAN, A. - Agricultural Research Organization Of Israel
item ZHANG, H. - Texas A&M University
item Coyne, Clarice - Clare
item Vandemark, George
item REAMY, O. - The Open University Of Israel
item ABBO, SHAHAL - Hebrew University Of Jerusalem

Submitted to: Plant Breeding
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/22/2018
Publication Date: 6/4/2018
Citation: Pinhasi Van-Oss, R., Gopher, A., Kerem, Z., Sherman, A., Zhang, H., Coyne, C.J., Vandemark, G.J., Reamy, O., Abbo, S. 2018. Independent selection for seed free tryptophan content and vernalization response in chickpea domestication. Plant Breeding. 137(3):290-300. https://doi.org/10.1111/pbr.12598.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/pbr.12598

Interpretive Summary: Chickpea (Cicer arietinum) originated from wild C. reticulatum. However the pattern of its domestication differs from the other founder Near Eastern crops. Here we show genetic evidence supporting conscious selection for both vernalization insensitivity and seed Tryptophan content in antiquity. We argue for nutritional quality considerations in ancient crop evolution processes.

Technical Abstract: Chickpea shows a distinct domestication trajectory vis a vis pod dehiscence, and growth cycle mediated by vernalization insensitivity compared with its companion Near Eastern legumes. Our objectives were - (i) mapping of quantitative trait loci associated with vernalization response and seed free tryptophan in domesticated x wild chickpea progeny; (ii) estimation of the genetic correlation between vernalization response and free tryptophan content. A domesticated x wild chickpea cross was used to document phenotypic segregation in both traits and construct an SNP based genetic map for QTL detection. A number of vernalization response and seed free tryptophan content QTLs were documented in both F2 and F3 generations. No significant genetic correlation between these two traits was observed. Epistatic relationship between two free tryptophan loci was documented. It is evident that selection for high seed tryptophan is easier to accomplish relative to selection for vernalization insensitivity. This suggests that the two traits were selected independently in antiquity, thereby corroborating earlier claims for conscious selection processes associated with chickpea domestication.