Exploring Chickpea Germplasm Diversity for Broadening the Genetic Base Utilizing Genomic Resourses

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Plant Genetics
• Crop Improvement

Background:

• Legumes, particularly chickpeas, offer substantial human nutrition and soil benefits but face limited genetic improvement.
• Narrow genetic bases, biotic/abiotic stresses, and climate change hinder chickpea advancement compared to cereals.
• There is a critical need for advanced breeding strategies to enhance chickpea yield, resilience, and nutritional value.

Approach:

• Utilizing wild chickpea relatives and advanced breeding methods to broaden the genetic base.
• Employing 'Omics' sciences (genomics, transcriptomics) and high-throughput phenotyping for trait discovery.
• Implementing advanced molecular techniques like next-generation sequencing, SNP genotyping, and whole-genome re-sequencing.

Key Points:

• Identification of desirable trait donors within cultivated and wild chickpea germplasm.
• Development of methods for inter-specific hybridization and gene introgression from wild *Cicer* species.
• Successful application of diverse molecular markers and genotyping platforms for QTL mapping and trait analysis.

Conclusions:

• Advanced breeding approaches and 'Omics' technologies are crucial for overcoming chickpea genetic limitations.
• These strategies effectively broaden the narrow genetic base of chickpea germplasm.
• The research paves the way for developing climate-resilient, high-yielding, and nutritionally enhanced chickpea cultivars.