1
|
Fiscus CJ, Herniter IA, Tchamba M, Paliwal R, Muñoz-Amatriaín M, Roberts PA, Abberton M, Alaba O, Close TJ, Oyatomi O, Koenig D. The pattern of genetic variability in a core collection of 2,021 cowpea accessions. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2024; 14:jkae071. [PMID: 38708794 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkae071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
Cowpea is a highly drought-adapted leguminous crop with great promise for improving agricultural sustainability and food security. Here, we report analyses derived from array-based genotyping of 2,021 accessions constituting a core subset of the world's largest cowpea collection, held at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Ibadan, Nigeria. We used this dataset to examine genetic variation and population structure in worldwide cowpea. We confirm that the primary pattern of population structure is two geographically defined subpopulations originating in West and East Africa, respectively, and that population structure is associated with shifts in phenotypic distribution. Furthermore, we establish the cowpea core collection as a resource for genome-wide association studies by mapping the genetic basis of several phenotypes, with a focus on seed coat pigmentation patterning and color. We anticipate that the genotyped IITA Cowpea Core Collection will serve as a powerful tool for mapping complex traits, facilitating the acceleration of breeding programs to enhance the resilience of this crop in the face of rapid global climate change.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J Fiscus
- Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Ira A Herniter
- Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Marimagne Tchamba
- International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan 200001, Nigeria
| | - Rajneesh Paliwal
- International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan 200001, Nigeria
| | | | - Philip A Roberts
- Department of Nematology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Michael Abberton
- International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan 200001, Nigeria
| | - Oluwafemi Alaba
- Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Timothy J Close
- Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
- Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Olaniyi Oyatomi
- International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan 200001, Nigeria
| | - Daniel Koenig
- Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
- Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Wu X, Hu Z, Zhang Y, Li M, Liao N, Dong J, Wang B, Wu J, Wu X, Wang Y, Wang J, Lu Z, Yang Y, Sun Y, Dong W, Zhang M, Li G. Differential selection of yield and quality traits has shaped genomic signatures of cowpea domestication and improvement. Nat Genet 2024; 56:992-1005. [PMID: 38649710 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-024-01722-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Cowpeas (tropical legumes) are important in ensuring food and nutritional security in developing countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Herein, we report two high-quality genome assemblies of grain and vegetable cowpeas and we re-sequenced 344 accessions to characterize the genomic variations landscape. We identified 39 loci for ten important agronomic traits and more than 541 potential loci that underwent selection during cowpea domestication and improvement. In particular, the synchronous selections of the pod-shattering loci and their neighboring stress-relevant loci probably led to the enhancement of pod-shattering resistance and the compromise of stress resistance during the domestication from grain to vegetable cowpeas. Moreover, differential selections on multiple loci associated with pod length, grain number per pod, seed weight, pod and seed soluble sugars, and seed crude proteins shaped the yield and quality diversity in cowpeas. Our findings provide genomic insights into cowpea domestication and improvement footprints, enabling further genome-informed cultivar improvement of cowpeas.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xinyi Wu
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Institute of Vegetables, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Zhongyuan Hu
- Laboratory of Vegetable Germplasm Innovation and Molecular Breeding, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Yan Zhang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for New Technology Research of Vegetables, Vegetable Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Mao Li
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Institute of Vegetables, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Vegetable Legumes Germplasm Enhancement and Molecular Breeding in Southern China (Co-construction by Ministry and Province), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Nanqiao Liao
- Laboratory of Vegetable Germplasm Innovation and Molecular Breeding, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Junyang Dong
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Institute of Vegetables, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Vegetable Legumes Germplasm Enhancement and Molecular Breeding in Southern China (Co-construction by Ministry and Province), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Baogen Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Institute of Vegetables, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Vegetable Legumes Germplasm Enhancement and Molecular Breeding in Southern China (Co-construction by Ministry and Province), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Jian Wu
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Institute of Vegetables, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Vegetable Legumes Germplasm Enhancement and Molecular Breeding in Southern China (Co-construction by Ministry and Province), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Xiaohua Wu
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Institute of Vegetables, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Vegetable Legumes Germplasm Enhancement and Molecular Breeding in Southern China (Co-construction by Ministry and Province), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Ying Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Institute of Vegetables, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Vegetable Legumes Germplasm Enhancement and Molecular Breeding in Southern China (Co-construction by Ministry and Province), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Jian Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Institute of Vegetables, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Vegetable Legumes Germplasm Enhancement and Molecular Breeding in Southern China (Co-construction by Ministry and Province), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Zhongfu Lu
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Institute of Vegetables, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Vegetable Legumes Germplasm Enhancement and Molecular Breeding in Southern China (Co-construction by Ministry and Province), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Yi Yang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for New Technology Research of Vegetables, Vegetable Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Yuyan Sun
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Institute of Vegetables, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Vegetable Legumes Germplasm Enhancement and Molecular Breeding in Southern China (Co-construction by Ministry and Province), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Wenqi Dong
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Institute of Vegetables, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Vegetable Legumes Germplasm Enhancement and Molecular Breeding in Southern China (Co-construction by Ministry and Province), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Mingfang Zhang
- Laboratory of Vegetable Germplasm Innovation and Molecular Breeding, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, P. R. China.
- Hainan Institute of Zhejiang University, Yazhou Bay Science and Technology City, Sanya, P. R. China.
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Growth and Development, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Hangzhou, P. R. China.
| | - Guojing Li
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Institute of Vegetables, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, P. R. China.
- Key Laboratory of Vegetable Legumes Germplasm Enhancement and Molecular Breeding in Southern China (Co-construction by Ministry and Province), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, P. R. China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Yong B, Zhu W, Wei S, Li B, Wang Y, Xu N, Lu J, Chen Q, He C. Parallel selection of loss-of-function alleles of Pdh1 orthologous genes in warm-season legumes for pod indehiscence and plasticity is related to precipitation. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2023; 240:863-879. [PMID: 37501344 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Pod dehiscence facilitates seed dispersal in wild legumes but results in yield loss in cultivated legumes. The evolutionary genetics of the legume pod dehiscence trait remain largely elusive. We characterized the pod dehiscence of chromosome segment substitution lines of Glycine max crossed with Glycine soja and found that the gene underlying the predominant quantitative trait locus (QTL) of soybean pod-shattering trait was Pod dehiscence 1 (Pdh1). A few rare loss-of-function (LoF) Pdh1 alleles were identified in G. soja, while only an allele featuring a premature stop codon was selected for pod indehiscence in cultivated soybean and spread to low-precipitation regions with increased frequency. Moreover, correlated interactions among Pdh1's haplotype, gene expression, and environmental changes for the developmental plasticity of the pod dehiscence trait were revealed in G. max. We found that orthologous Pdh1 genes specifically originated in warm-season legumes and their LoF alleles were then parallel-selected during the domestication of legume crops. Our results provide insights into the convergent evolution of pod dehiscence in warm-season legumes, facilitate an understanding of the intricate interactions between genetic robustness and environmental adaptation for developmental plasticity, and guide the breeding of new legume varieties with pod indehiscence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bin Yong
- State Key Laboratory of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanxincun 20, Xiangshan, Beijing, 100093, China
- China National Botanical Garden, Beijing, 100093, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yuquan Road 19A, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Weiwei Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanxincun 20, Xiangshan, Beijing, 100093, China
- China National Botanical Garden, Beijing, 100093, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yuquan Road 19A, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Siming Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanxincun 20, Xiangshan, Beijing, 100093, China
- China National Botanical Garden, Beijing, 100093, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yuquan Road 19A, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Bingbing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanxincun 20, Xiangshan, Beijing, 100093, China
- China National Botanical Garden, Beijing, 100093, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yuquan Road 19A, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanxincun 20, Xiangshan, Beijing, 100093, China
- China National Botanical Garden, Beijing, 100093, China
| | - Nan Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanxincun 20, Xiangshan, Beijing, 100093, China
- China National Botanical Garden, Beijing, 100093, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yuquan Road 19A, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Jiangjie Lu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Genetic Improvement and Quality Control of Medicinal Plants, College of Life and Environmental Science, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, China
| | - Qingshan Chen
- College of Agriculture, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150030, China
| | - Chaoying He
- State Key Laboratory of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanxincun 20, Xiangshan, Beijing, 100093, China
- China National Botanical Garden, Beijing, 100093, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yuquan Road 19A, Beijing, 100049, China
- The Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Smýkal P, Parker T. Domestication-related changes in seed dispersal and pigmentation: Visual selection and functional trait? MOLECULAR PLANT 2023; 16:1240-1242. [PMID: 37491816 DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2023.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Petr Smýkal
- Department of Botany, Palacký University in Olomouc, 779 00 Olomouc, Czech Republic.
| | - Travis Parker
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Marsh JI, Nestor BJ, Petereit J, Tay Fernandez CG, Bayer PE, Batley J, Edwards D. Legume-wide comparative analysis of pod shatter locus PDH1 reveals phaseoloid specificity, high cowpea expression, and stress responsive genomic context. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2023. [PMID: 36970933 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.16209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Pod dehiscence is a major source of yield loss in legumes, which is exacerbated by aridity. Disruptive mutations in "Pod indehiscent 1" (PDH1), a pod sclerenchyma-specific lignin biosynthesis gene, has been linked to significant reductions in dehiscence in several legume species. We compared syntenic PDH1 regions across 12 legumes and two outgroups to uncover key historical evolutionary trends at this important locus. Our results clarified the extent to which PDH1 orthologs are present in legumes, showing the typical genomic context surrounding PDH1 has only arisen relatively recently in certain phaseoloid species (Vigna, Phaseolus, Glycine). The notable absence of PDH1 in Cajanus cajan may be a major contributor to its indehiscent phenotype compared with other phaseoloids. In addition, we identified a novel PDH1 ortholog in Vigna angularis and detected remarkable increases in PDH1 transcript abundance during Vigna unguiculata pod development. Investigation of the shared genomic context of PDH1 revealed it lies in a hotspot of transcription factors and signaling gene families that respond to abscisic acid and drought stress, which we hypothesize may be an additional factor influencing expression of PDH1 under specific environmental conditions. Our findings provide key insights into the evolutionary history of PDH1 and lay the foundation for optimizing the pod dehiscence role of PDH1 in major and understudied legume species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jacob I Marsh
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
- Centre for Applied Bioinformatics, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Benjamin J Nestor
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
- Centre for Applied Bioinformatics, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Jakob Petereit
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
- Centre for Applied Bioinformatics, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Cassandria G Tay Fernandez
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
- Centre for Applied Bioinformatics, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Philipp E Bayer
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
- Centre for Applied Bioinformatics, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Jacqueline Batley
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - David Edwards
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
- Centre for Applied Bioinformatics, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Lazaridi E, Bebeli PJ. Cowpea Constraints and Breeding in Europe. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:1339. [PMID: 36987026 PMCID: PMC10052078 DOI: 10.3390/plants12061339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) is a legume with a constant rate of cultivation in Southern European countries. Consumer demand for cowpea worldwide is rising due to its nutritional content, while Europe is constantly attempting to reduce the deficit in the production of pulses and invest in new, healthy food market products. Although the climatic conditions that prevail in Europe are not so harsh in terms of heat and drought as in the tropical climates where cowpea is mainly cultivated, cowpea confronts with a plethora of abiotic and biotic stresses and yield-limiting factors in Southern European countries. In this paper, we summarize the main constraints for cowpea cultivation in Europe and the breeding methods that have been or can be used. A special mention is made of the availability plant genetic resources (PGRs) and their potential for breeding purposes, aiming to promote more sustainable cropping systems as climatic shifts become more frequent and fiercer, and environmental degradation expands worldwide.
Collapse
|
7
|
Parker TA, Cetz J, de Sousa LL, Kuzay S, Lo S, Floriani TDO, Njau S, Arunga E, Duitama J, Jernstedt J, Myers JR, Llaca V, Herrera-Estrella A, Gepts P. Loss of pod strings in common bean is associated with gene duplication, retrotransposon insertion and overexpression of PvIND. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2022; 235:2454-2465. [PMID: 35708662 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Fruit development has been central in the evolution and domestication of flowering plants. In common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), the principal global grain legume staple, two main production categories are distinguished by fibre deposition in pods: dry beans, with fibrous, stringy pods; and stringless snap/green beans, with reduced fibre deposition, which frequently revert to the ancestral stringy state. Here, we identify genetic and developmental patterns associated with pod fibre deposition. Transcriptional, anatomical, epigenetic and genetic regulation of pod strings were explored through RNA-seq, RT-qPCR, fluorescence microscopy, bisulfite sequencing and whole-genome sequencing. Overexpression of the INDEHISCENT ('PvIND') orthologue was observed in stringless types compared with isogenic stringy lines, associated with overspecification of weak dehiscence-zone cells throughout the pod vascular sheath. No differences in DNA methylation were correlated with this phenotype. Nonstringy varieties showed a tandemly direct duplicated PvIND and a Ty1-copia retrotransposon inserted between the two repeats. These sequence features are lost during pod reversion and are predictive of pod phenotype in diverse materials, supporting their role in PvIND overexpression and reversible string phenotype. Our results give insight into reversible gain-of-function mutations and possible genetic solutions to the reversion problem, of considerable economic value for green bean production.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Travis A Parker
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616-8780, USA
| | - Jose Cetz
- National Laboratory of Genomics for Biodiversity, CINVESTAV, Irapuato, Guanajuato, C.P. 36821, Mexico
| | - Lorenna Lopes de Sousa
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616-8780, USA
| | - Saarah Kuzay
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616-8780, USA
| | - Sassoum Lo
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616-8780, USA
| | - Talissa de Oliveira Floriani
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616-8780, USA
- Department of Genetics, Escola Superior de Agricultura 'Luiz de Queiroz', Universidade de São Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, 13418-900, Brazil
| | - Serah Njau
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616-8780, USA
- Department of Water and Agricultural Resource Management, University of Embu, Embu, 60100, Kenya
| | - Esther Arunga
- Department of Water and Agricultural Resource Management, University of Embu, Embu, 60100, Kenya
| | - Jorge Duitama
- Department of Systems and Computing Engineering, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Judy Jernstedt
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616-8780, USA
| | - James R Myers
- Department of Horticulture, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA
| | | | - Alfredo Herrera-Estrella
- National Laboratory of Genomics for Biodiversity, CINVESTAV, Irapuato, Guanajuato, C.P. 36821, Mexico
| | - Paul Gepts
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, 95616-8780, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Panzeri D, Guidi Nissim W, Labra M, Grassi F. Revisiting the Domestication Process of African Vigna Species (Fabaceae): Background, Perspectives and Challenges. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 11:plants11040532. [PMID: 35214865 PMCID: PMC8879845 DOI: 10.3390/plants11040532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Revised: 02/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2022] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Legumes are one of the most economically important and biodiverse families in plants recognised as the basis to develop functional foods. Among these, the Vigna genus stands out as a good representative because of its relatively recent African origin as well as its outstanding potential. Africa is a great biodiversity centre in which a great number of species are spread, but only three of them, Vigna unguiculata, Vigna subterranea and Vigna vexillata, were successfully domesticated. This review aims at analysing and valorising these species by considering the perspective of human activity and what effects it exerts. For each species, we revised the origin history and gave a focus on where, when and how many times domestication occurred. We provided a brief summary of bioactive compounds naturally occurring in these species that are fundamental for human wellbeing. The great number of wild lineages is a key point to improve landraces since the domestication process caused a loss of gene diversity. Their genomes hide a precious gene pool yet mostly unexplored, and genes lost during human activity can be recovered from the wild lineages and reintroduced in cultivated forms through modern technologies. Finally, we describe how all this information is game-changing to the design of future crops by domesticating de novo.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Davide Panzeri
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioscience, University of Milan-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 2, 20126 Milano, Italy; (W.G.N.); (M.L.)
- Correspondence: (D.P.); (F.G.)
| | - Werther Guidi Nissim
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioscience, University of Milan-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 2, 20126 Milano, Italy; (W.G.N.); (M.L.)
- Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry (DAGRI), University of Florence, Viale delle Idee 30, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Massimo Labra
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioscience, University of Milan-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 2, 20126 Milano, Italy; (W.G.N.); (M.L.)
| | - Fabrizio Grassi
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioscience, University of Milan-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 2, 20126 Milano, Italy; (W.G.N.); (M.L.)
- Correspondence: (D.P.); (F.G.)
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Omomowo OI, Babalola OO. Constraints and Prospects of Improving Cowpea Productivity to Ensure Food, Nutritional Security and Environmental Sustainability. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:751731. [PMID: 34745184 PMCID: PMC8570086 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.751731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Providing safe and secure food for an increasing number of people globally is challenging. Coping with such a human population by merely applying the conventional agricultural production system has not proved to be agro-ecologically friendly; nor is it sustainable. Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp) is a multi-purpose legume. It consists of high-quality protein for human consumption, and it is rich in protein for livestock fodder. It enriches the soil in that it recycles nutrients through the fixation of nitrogen in association with nodulating bacteria. However, the productivity of this multi-functional, indigenous legume that is of great value to African smallholder farmers and the rural populace, and also to urban consumers and entrepreneurs, is limited. Because cowpea is of strategic importance in Africa, there is a need to improve on its productivity. Such endeavors in Africa are wrought with challenges that include drought, salinity, the excessive demand among farmers for synthetic chemicals, the repercussions of climate change, declining soil nutrients, microbial infestations, pest issues, and so forth. Nevertheless, giant strides have already been made and there have already been improvements in adopting sustainable and smart biotechnological approaches that are favorably influencing the production costs of cowpea and its availability. As such, the prospects for a leap in cowpea productivity in Africa and in the enhancement of its genetic gain are good. Potential and viable means for overcoming some of the above-mentioned production constraints would be to focus on the key cowpea producer nations in Africa and to encourage them to embrace biotechnological techniques in an integrated approach to enhance for sustainable productivity. This review highlights the spectrum of constraints that limit the cowpea yield, but looks ahead of the constraints and seeks a way forward to improve cowpea productivity in Africa. More importantly, this review investigates applications and insights concerning mechanisms of action for implementing eco-friendly biotechnological techniques, such as the deployment of bio inoculants, applying climate-smart agricultural (CSA) practices, agricultural conservation techniques, and multi-omics smart technology in the spheres of genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, for improving cowpea yields and productivity to achieve sustainable agro-ecosystems, and ensuring their stability.
Collapse
|