Translational genomics for achieving higher genetic gains in groundnut

Abstract

Key message Groundnut has entered now in post-genome era enriched with optimum genomic and genetic resources to facilitate faster trait dissection, gene discovery and accelerated genetic improvement for developing climate-smart varieties. Abstract Cultivated groundnut or peanut (Arachis hypogaea), an allopolyploid oilseed crop with a large and complex genome, is one of the most nutritious food. This crop is grown in more than 100 countries, and the low productivity has remained the biggest challenge in the semiarid tropics. Recently, the groundnut research community has witnessed fast progress and achieved several key milestones in genomics research including genome sequence assemblies of wild diploid progenitors, wild tetraploid and both the subspecies of cultivated tetraploids, resequencing of diverse germplasm lines, genome-wide transcriptome atlas and cost-effective high and low-density genotyping assays. These genomic resources have enabled high-resolution trait mapping by using germplasm diversity panels and multi-parent genetic populations leading to precise gene discovery and diagnostic marker development. Furthermore, development and deployment of diagnostic markers have facilitated screening early generation populations as well as marker-assisted backcrossing breeding leading to development and commercialization of some molecular breeding products in groundnut. Several new genomics applications/technologies such as genomic selection, speed breeding, mid-density genotyping assay and genome editing are in pipeline. The integration of these new technologies hold great promise for developing climate-smart, high yielding and more nutritious groundnut varieties in the post-genome era.

Improved Genetic Map Identified Major QTLs for Drought Tolerance- and Iron Deficiency Tolerance-Related Traits in Groundnut

“…Acute iron deficiency can lead to plant death and even complete crop failure. In order to sustain high productivity and wider adaptation under these challenging growing conditions, the development of new groundnut varieties with improved genetics considering such major constraints are required for better adoption in farmer’s field [ 10 ].…”

Genetic Variability, Traits Association and Path Coefficient Analysis in Advanced Lines of Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

“…Furthermore, groundnut is also a vibrant ingredient in numerous delicious commercial products (Pandey et al, 2012;Pandey and Varshney, 2018). Besides, groundnut being a legume crop is an important candidate for crop rotation resulting soil enrichment and fertility via atmospheric nitrogen fixation and breaking pest and disease cycles (Pandey et al, 2020).…”

Introgression of “QTL‐hotspot” region enhances drought tolerance and grain yield in three elite chickpea cultivars

“…Marker‐assisted backcrossing (MABC) breeding has been successfully deployed for improving biotic, abiotic, and nutrition related traits in several crops (Kang et al., 2019; Oladosu et al., 2020; Prasanna et al., 2020; Singh, Sharma, Varshney, Sharma, & Singh, 2008; Thudi et al., 2014b) including legumes (Bohra, Saxena, Varshney, & Saxena, 2020; Pandey et al., 2020; Roorkiwal et al., 2020; Varshney, 2016). In the case of chickpea, superior lines with enhanced drought tolerance (Varshney et al., 2013a) and resistance to Fusarium wilt and Ascochyta blight have been reported using the MABC approach (Mannur et al., 2019; Pratap et al., 2017; Varshney et al., 2014b).…”