No abstract

Vernalization insensitivity is a key feature of domesticated chickpea, and its genetic basis is not well understood. We studied vernalization response among hybrid progeny derived from two domesticated × wild crosses. The wild parents are vernalization‐sensitive, late‐flowering genotypes while both domesticated parents are vernalization insensitive. Parental lines and hybrid progeny were tested with (28 days at 4°C) and without vernalization (control). The difference in mean days to flower (∆DTF) between control and vernalization treatments was used to assess the flowering vernalization response. A wide range of ∆DTF values was observed among the hybrid progeny. Strong genotype by environment interaction effect on ∆DTF was observed for the parental accessions and hybrid progeny. We used the ∆DTF values to select vernalization responsive and non‐responsive progeny lines. However, the genotype × environment interaction strongly interfered with our selection. Chickpea breeders interested in using the wild progenitor as a donor of exotic traits should be aware of the possibility of introducing vernalization response alleles that may alter the phenology of their breeding materials in an unpredictable manner.

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) to map the quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with vernalization response and seed free tryptophan in domesticated 9 wild chickpea progeny and (ii) estimate the genetic correlation between vernalization response and free tryptophan content. A domesticated 9 wild chickpea cross was used to document phenotypic segregation in both traits and to construct a skeletal genetic map for QTL detection. A number of vernalization response and seed free tryptophan content QTLs were documented in both F 2 and F 3 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.