Abstract
Whole-genome resequencing (WGRS) of 396 lines, consisting of 104 hybrid parental lines and 292 germplasm lines, were used to study the molecular basis of mid-parent heterosis (MPH) and to identify complementary heterotic patterns in pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] hybrids. The lines and hybrids were assessed for yield and yield-related traits in multiple environments. Our analysis showed positive MPH values in 78.6% of hybrids, confirming the potential of hybrid breeding in pigeonpea. By using genome-wide prediction and association mapping approaches, we identified 129 single nucleotide polymorphisms and 52 copy number variations with significant heterotic effects and also established a high-yielding heterotic pattern in pigeonpea. In summary, our study highlights the role of WGRS data in the study and use of heterosis in crops where hybrid breeding is expected to boost selection gain in order to ensure global food security.
Highlights
Plant-based proteins are the best solution for providing cheap and high-quality protein
A hybrid pigeonpea population consisting of 435 single-cross hybrids was generated in a partial factorial design that crossed 104 parental lines including nine cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) or cytoplasmic male-sterile lines (A-lines), 13 maintainer (B-lines), and 82 restorer lines (R-lines) (Supplemental Table S1)
Our results indicated that the genetic architecture of heterosis for grain yield in pigeonpea is complex and is caused by many loci with small dominance and digenic epistatic effects with very small effects resulting from copy number variation (CNV)
Summary
Plant-based proteins are the best solution for providing cheap and high-quality protein. Pigeonpea suffers from a low yield plateau, and there is a need to enhance the productivity of this crop. The development and promotion of high-yielding hybrids appears to be a game-changing step in the right direction. With this objective, an efficient hybrid breeding technology with an on-farm yield advantage of 30 to 40% has been developed in pigeonpea (Saxena et al, 2018). An efficient hybrid breeding technology with an on-farm yield advantage of 30 to 40% has been developed in pigeonpea (Saxena et al, 2018) This breakthrough has made pigeonpea a unique pulse and legume crop where commercial hybrids have become available. The success of hybrid pigeonpea breeding will depend on an understanding of the mechanism underlying the process of heterosis and its extensive utilization through clustering suitable germplasm into genetically complementary heterotic groups
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