Translational Chickpea Genomics Consortium to Accelerate Genetic Gains in Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Ramesh Palakurthi,Mohammad Yasin,Biswajit Mondal,Rajeev K Varshney,Anilkumar Vemula,Manish Roorkiwal,Chellapilla Bharadwaj,Abhishek Rathore,Mahendar Thudi,Khela Ram Soren,Pooran M Gaur,Yogesh Kumar,Sushil K Chaturvedi,C Laxuman ,Narendra Pratap Singh ,Pawan L Kulwal ,N S Kute ,S Srinivasan ,Sharanabasappa B Yeri ,V Jayalakshmi ,G P Dixit

doi:10.3390/plants10122583

Abstract

The Translational Chickpea Genomics Consortium (TCGC) was set up to increase the production and productivity of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). It represents research institutes from six major chickpea growing states (Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh) of India. The TCGC team has been engaged in deploying modern genomics approaches in breeding and popularizing improved varieties in farmers’ fields across the states. Using marker-assisted backcrossing, introgression lines with enhanced drought tolerance and fusarium wilt resistance have been developed in the genetic background of 10 elite varieties of chickpea. Multi-location evaluation of 100 improved lines (70 desi and 30 kabuli) during 2016–2017 and 2018–2019 enabled the identification of top performing desi and kabuli lines. In total, 909 Farmer Participatory Varietal Selection trials were conducted in 158 villages in 16 districts of the five states, during 2017–2018, 2018–2019, and 2019–2020, involving 16 improved varieties. New molecular breeding lines developed in different genetic backgrounds are potential candidates for national trials under the ICAR-All India Coordinated Research Project on Chickpea. The comprehensive efforts of TCGC resulted in the development and adoption of high-yielding varieties that will increase chickpea productivity and the profitability of chickpea growing farmers.

Highlights

IntroductionOf the area and 40.92% of production, followed by Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh (http://dpd.gov.in/Annual%20Report%202017-18.pdf; Last accessed on 25 July 2021)
Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.; 2x = 2n = 16) is an important food legume crop cultivated on 13.72 M ha with a total production of 14.25 M t [1]
This paper reports on the significant achievements of the Translational Chickpea Genomics Consortium (TCGC) that can guide future chickpea improvement programs and lead to the development and popularization of improved varieties in important regions where the crop is grown in India

Summary

Introduction

Of the area and 40.92% of production, followed by Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh (http://dpd.gov.in/Annual%20Report%202017-18.pdf; Last accessed on 25 July 2021). Limited genetic diversity coupled with climate change during recent years has increased the frequency and severity of biotic and abiotic stresses and emerging diseases that are serious threats to chickpea production [2–4]. Modern breeding technologies have proven useful in developing superior varieties in crops such as maize, rice, wheat, barley and soybean [5]. This was not the case in chickpea until recently, primarily due to limited information on genes and the ability to deploy genomics tools. The tremendous progress made in developing novel genomic tools in chickpea, such as the draft genome sequence [6], several millions of SNP markers from whole genome sequence information on germplasm lines [7–9] and cost-effective genotyping platforms including low- to high-density SNP arrays [10,11]

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Conclusion