Abstract
Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] is an essential food crop cultivated in arid and semi-arid regions of the world. Here, the cowpea genome-wide database was accessed to search for genomic sequences coding for globulins, specifically cupin superfamily members. Seventy-seven sequences were found and clustered into six families, which in turn were divided into two subgroups: classical cupins with one cupin domain (fifty-nine sequences) and bicupins with two cupin domains (eighteen sequences). Several orthologous cupin members were identified in other closely related Fabaceae species. In order to investigate the possible role of cupin genes in plant abiotic stress response, RT-qPCR was performed to analyze β-vignins (bicupins) expression in two cowpea genotypes with contrasting responses to insect (Callosobruchus maculatus) attack: IT81D-1053 (resistant) and EPACE-10 (susceptible). Our results show a higher expression of β-vignins in the resistant genotype. This study is an attempt to investigate the cowpea cupin superfamily genes and their possible role in cowpea development and survival. Given the high the copy number and widespread distribution of those genes across cowpea chromosomes, more studies are needed in order to fully investigate cupin function and regulation.
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