Magnesium- a Forgotten Element: Phenotypic Variation and Genome Wide Association Study in Turkish Common Bean Germplasm

Abstract

Magnesium (Mg) is the fourth most abundant element in the human body and plays the role of cofactor for more than 300 enzymatic reactions. In plants, Mg is involved in various key physiological and biochemical processes like growth, development, photophosphorylation, chlorophyll formation, protein synthesis, and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Keeping in view the importance of this element, the present investigation aimed to explore the Mg contents diversity in the seeds of Turkish common bean germplasm and to identify the genomic regions associated with this element. A total of 183 common bean accessions collected from 19 provinces of Turkey were used as plant material. Field experiments were conducted according to an augmented block design during 2018 in two provinces of Turkey, and six commercial cultivars were used as a control group. Analysis of variance depicted that Mg concentration among common bean accessions was statistically significant (p < 0.05) within each environment, however genotype × environment interaction was non-significant. A moderate level (0.60) of heritability was found in this study. Overall mean Mg contents for both environments varied from 0.33 for Nigde-Dermasyon to 1.52 mg kg−1 for Nigde-Derinkuyu landraces, while gross mean Mg contents were 0.92 mg kg−1. At the province level, landraces from Bolu were rich while the landraces from Bitlis were poor in seed Mg contents respectively. The cluster constellation plot divided the studied germplasm into two populations on the basis of their Mg contents. Marker-trait association was performed using a mixed linear model (Q + K) with a total of 7,900 DArTseq markers. A total of six markers present on various chromosomes (two at Pv01, and one marker at each chromosome i.e., Pv03, Pv07, Pv08, Pv11) showed statistically significant association for seed Mg contents. Among these identified markers, the DArT-3367607 marker present on chromosome Pv03 contributed to maximum phenotypic variation (7.5%). Additionally, this marker was found within a narrow region of previously reported markers. We are confident that the results of this study will contribute significantly to start common bean breeding activities using marker assisted selection regarding improved Mg contents.

Genome-Wide Association Study to Identify Possible Candidate Genes of Snap Bean Leaf and Pod Color

“…Some candidate genes related to nutrient content were found in common beans [73], and one of them was associated with color parameters in our study. Phvul.003G001300 (tetratricopeptide repeat (TPR)-like superfamily protein) controls magnesium content and Mg deficiency can cause chlorosis in Turkish bean seed [74]. It was a candidate for b* pod exterior in G19833.…”

Insights into Key Biometric, Physiological and Biochemical Markers of Magnesium (Mg) Deficiency Stress in the Halophyte Cakile maritima

“…Magnesium (Mg) is a key element in plant physiology and biochemistry since it is classified as the second most prevalent free divalent cation in plant cells [1]. Nevertheless, it is considered a forgotten element for plant production and development as compared to other essential elements [2][3][4]. The common function associated with Mg is its critical contribution to photosynthesis and the long-distance transport of photoassimilates [5].…”

“…Despite the well-known importance of Mg for plant growth and development, it is regarded as an overlooked element in many plant species [4]. Indeed, information on plant responses to its deficiency is still scarce; only limited data is available for some glycophyte species with emphasis on its effect on the biomass allocation between shoots and roots, photosynthates and carbohydrates, and the activation of several Mg transporters.…”