Development and validation of a robust, breeder-friendly molecular marker for the vc - locus in faba bean

Abstract

Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) is a valuable feed and food crop with potential for development globally as a staple protein crop. Its consumption is limited by the anti-nutritional factors vicine and convicine (v-c) in its seeds. A single gene (vc - ) confers the low v-c phenotype in faba bean. Time-consuming and laborious quantitative chemical analysis is currently used in breeding programs to detect v-c concentration. Molecular markers within or linked to the vc - gene could facilitate rapid and cost-effective screening of early generation breeding populations for low v-c concentration. The large and complex faba bean genome has been an impediment to the progress of development of molecular breeding strategies. Here, we report a high-throughput low-cost KASP ( Kompetitive Allele Specific PCR ) marker for low v-c concentration in faba bean. The KASP assay successfully distinguished low and high v-c lines of faba bean. This marker is a significant and valuable molecular tool for faba bean breeding programs aiming to reduce v-c from faba beans worldwide.