CLAVATA signaling pathway genes modulating flowering time and flower number in chickpea

Abstract

Key message A combinatorial genomic strategy delineated functionally relevant natural allele of a CLAVATA gene and its marker (haplotype)-assisted introgression led to development of the early-flowering chickpea cultivars with high flower number and enhanced yield/productivity. Abstract Unraveling the genetic components involved in CLAVATA (CLV) signaling is crucial for modulating important shoot apical meristem (SAM) characteristics and ultimately regulating diverse SAM-regulated agromorphological traits in crop plants. A genome-wide scan identified 142 CLV1-, 28 CLV2-and 6 CLV3-like genes, and their comprehensive genomic constitution and phylogenetic relationships were deciphered in chickpea. The QTL/fine mapping and map-based cloning integrated with high-resolution association analysis identified SNP loci from CaCLV3_01 gene within a major CaqDTF1.1/ CaqFN1.1 QTL associated with DTF (days to 50% flowering) and FN (flower number) traits in chickpea, which was further ascertained by quantitative expression profiling. Molecular haplotyping of CaCLV3_01 gene, expressed specifically in SAM, constituted two major haplotypes that differentiated the early-DTF and high-FN chickpea accessions from late-DTF and low-FN. Enhanced accumulation of transcripts of superior CaCLV3_01 gene haplotype and known flowering promoting genes was observed in the corresponding haplotype-introgressed early-DTF and high-FN near-isogenic lines (NILs) with narrow SAM width. The superior haplotype-introgressed NILs exhibited early-flowering, high-FN and enhanced seed yield/ productivity without compromising agronomic performance. These delineated molecular signatures can regulate DTF and FN traits through SAM proliferation and differentiation and thereby will be useful for translational genomic study to develop early-flowering cultivars with enhanced yield/productivity. Communicated by Heiko C. Becker.

Genome-Wide Association Study Reveals Candidate Genes for Flowering Time Variation in Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

“…In A. thaliana a mutation of the homolog of this gene ( At1G65380 ) causes altered flower development, late flowering or interrupted flowering caused by a temporary termination of the main inflorescence flower meristem (TAIR, 2019c). In a recent paper, Basu et al (2019) identified four Clavata genes, including Clavata2 , that are highly associated with days to flowering in Cicer arietinum L.…”

Comparative Flower Transcriptome Network Analysis Reveals DEGs Involved in Chickpea Reproductive Success during Salinity

“…Flowering time plays a crucial role in crops’ adaptations and yield stabilisations in response to environmental cues [ 14 , 15 , 16 ]. Physiological studies have shown that salinity delays flowering time and severely affects the pod filling stages [ 9 , 17 ].…”

Multi-Omics Analysis Reveals a Regulatory Network of ZmCCT During Maize Resistance to Gibberella Stalk Rot at the Early Stage

“…Transcription factor WRKY71 accelerates flowering via the direct activation of the flowering time integrator gene FLOWERING LOCUS T and the floral meristem identity genes LEAFY ( Yu et al, 2016 ). The CLAVATA gene is also reported to modulate flowering time and flower number in chickpeas ( Basu et al, 2019 ). We also identified several genes homologous to A. thaliana CONSTANS-like gene COL9 , phytochrome gene PHYB1 , histone H3 lysine 27 demethylase gene REF6 (a relative of early flowering 6), and PAS domain gene ADO3 , which were severely repressed during F. graminearum infection at 1 or 3 hpi ( Figure 4A ).…”