Genetic Dissection and Identification of Candidate Genes for Salinity Tolerance Using Axiom^®CicerSNP Array in...

Area of Science:

• Plant genetics
• Agronomy
• Crop science

Background:

• Chickpea production faces significant challenges due to widespread salinity stress.
• Developing salt-tolerant chickpea varieties is essential for maintaining global food security.

Purpose of the Study:

• To understand the genetic basis of salinity tolerance in chickpea.
• To identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with salinity tolerance and yield components.

Main Methods:

• A recombinant inbred line (RIL) population was screened under field conditions.
• Genotyping was performed using the Axiom CicerSNP array to construct a linkage map.
• Phenotypic and genotypic data were analyzed to identify QTLs.

Main Results:

• 28 QTLs were identified, explaining up to 28.40% of phenotypic variance for salinity tolerance.
• QTL clusters on CaLG03 and CaLG06 were found to harbor major QTLs for yield and yield components under stress.
• Key genes associated with salinity tolerance, including those encoding protein kinases and transcription factors, were identified.

Conclusions:

• The identified QTLs and associated molecular markers provide valuable targets for marker-assisted breeding.
• This research will facilitate the development of enhanced, salinity-tolerant chickpea varieties.
• Understanding the genetic architecture of salinity tolerance is key to improving chickpea resilience.