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The present investigation was conducted to assess the nutritional diverseness and identify novel genetic resources to be utilized in chickpea breeding for macro and micro nutrients. The plants were grown in randomized block design. Nutritional and phytochemical properties of nine chickpea genotypes were estimated. The EST sequences from NCBI database were downloaded in FASTA format, clustered into contigs using CAP3, mined for novel SSRs using TROLL analysis and primer pairs were designed using Primer 3 software. Jaccard's similarity coefficients were used to compare the nutritional and molecular indexes followed by dendrograms construction employing UPGMA approach. The genotypes PUSA-1103, K-850, PUSA-1108, PUSA-1053 and the EST-SSR markers including the 5 newly designed namely ICCeM0012, ICCeM0049, ICCeM0067, ICCeM0070, ICCeM0078, SVP55, SVP95, SVP96, SVP146, and SVP217 were found as potential donor/marker resources for the macro–micro nutrients. The genotypes differed (p < 0.05) for nutritional properties. Amongst newly designed primers, 6 were found polymorphic with median PIC (0.46). The alleles per primer ranged 1 to 8. Cluster analysis based on nutritional and molecular diversities partially matched to each other in principle. The identified novel genetic resources may be used to widen the germplasm base, prepare maintainable catalogue and identify systematic blueprints for future chickpea breeding strategies targeting macro–micro nutrients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genomics and genome editing promise enormous opportunities for crop improvement and elementary research. Precise modification in the specific targeted location of a genome has profited over the unplanned insertional events which are generally accomplished employing unadventurous means of genetic modifications. The advent of new genome editing procedures viz; zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs), homing endonucleases, transcription activator like effector nucleases (TALENs), Base Editors (BEs), and Primer Editors (PEs) enable molecular scientists to modulate gene expressions or create novel genes with high precision and efficiency. However, all these techniques are exorbitant and tedious since their prerequisites are difficult processes that necessitate protein engineering. Contrary to first generation genome modifying methods, CRISPR/ Cas9 is simple to construct, and clones can hypothetically target several locations in the genome with different guide RNAs. Following the model of the application in crop with the help of the CRISPR/Cas9 module, various customized Cas9 cassettes have been cast off to advance mark discrimination and diminish random cuts. The present study discusses the progression in genome editing apparatuses, and their applications in chickpea crop development, scientific limitations, and future perspectives for biofortifying cytokinin dehydrogenase, nitrate reductase, superoxide dismutase to induce drought resistance, heat tolerance and higher yield in chickpea to encounter global climate change, hunger and nutritional threats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: United Nations SDG-2 and SDG-3 pledges to end hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition and reduce premature deaths of children persisting amongst 821 million people globally. Chickpeas, the second largest food legume in the world, are important due to dietary, therapeutic and health values since Roman times and are ideal source of protein, carbohydrate, minerals and ß-carotene. Therefore, it is central to alleviate malnutrition and ensuring good health. Methods: We conducted experiments during Rabi crop season 2018-19 and 2019-20 and studied proximate nutritional compositions such as protein, its bioavailability enhancement procedures, optimum sprouting stage and potential genotypes. The present series experiment as 6th one was undertaken to find out the impacts of varying seed seedlings germination stages at 0, 3 and 6 days on observed estimates of protein contents in 12 potential genotypes of chickpea including Pusa-256 as standard (control) check. Result: We noticed erosion of reserved seed nutrients activating seedling growth and enhancing nutritional values, observed protein in the range of 18.96 to 28.69%, discovered 6 days sprouts giving highest digestible protein and identified genotypes BG-1092, ICC-11378, JG-74 as potential resources to be utilized in breeding programmes for harnessing their genetic potentials for enriching protein and other nutritional components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: STMS markers and morphological traits were used to investigate the genetic relationship and allelic diversity in chickpea. In this study, we focused on the selection and more efficient utilization of core germplasm in breeding programs for chickpea crop improvement using STMS and quantitative/morphological traits. Methods: Seeds of elite accessions of chickpea were obtained from ICRISAT, Patancheru, Andhra Pradesh, India. 50 STMS markers and 11 quantitative traits were used for exploring the genetic variability and relationship in 35 chickpea accessions. Result: A total of 97 alleles were produced out of the 32 polymorphic STMS loci with an average of 3.03 alleles per locus ranging between 2-6 alleles per primer. The PIC value ranged from 0.029 to 0.768 with an average of 0.502. PIC value showed a highly positive correlation (r = 0.718) with number of alleles at the STMS loci. In both molecular and morphological markers/traits-based clustering, out of 35 chickpea accessions only one accession ICC-13892 was isolated at the end of clustering. The results indicated that highly polymorphic microsatellite markers NCPGR 68, NCPGR 50, NCPGR 81, NCPGR 48 and NCPGR 77 along with the accessions ICC-13892 having distant associations with ICC-13816, ICC-15697, ICC-15610, ICC-15868, ICC-15888, ICC-15996 with novel findings should be useful resources for strategies of allele mining, association genetics, mapping and cloning of gene(s) and in applied breeding to broaden the genetic base of chickpea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought and high temperature stress affect chickpea growth and productivity. Often these stresses occur simultaneously in the field and lead to a wide range of molecular and metabolic adaptations. Two chickpea varieties; GPF2 (heat sensitive) and PDG4 variety (heat tolerant) were exposed to 35 °C for 24 h individually and along with drought stress. Five heat responsive signalling genes and 11 structural genes were analyzed using qPCR along with untargeted metabolites analysis using GC MS. Expression of antioxidant genes (CaSOD and CaGPX, CaAPX and CaCAT), transcription factors (CaHSFB2, CaHSFB2A, CaHSFB2B, CaHSP17.5 and CaHSP22.7) and signalling genes (CaCAM, CaGAD, and CaMAPK) were upregulated in GPF2 as compared to PDG4 variety. Principal component analysis (PCA), partial least-square discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), and heat map analysis were applied to the metabolomics data to identify the differential response of metabolites in two chickpea varieties. GC-MS analysis identified 107 and 83 metabolites in PDG4 and GPF2 varieties respectively. PDG4 variety accumulated more sugars, amino acids, sugar alcohols, TCA cycle intermediates which provided heat resistance. Additionally, the differential metabolic pathways involved in heat tolerance were alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism, pantothenate CoA biosynthesis, fructose and mannose metabolism and pentose phosphate pathway in PDG4 variety. There was less accumulation of metabolites in the primed plants of both varieties as compared to the non-primed plants indicating less damage due to heat stress. The present study gives an overview of the molecular changes occurring in response to heat stress in sensitive and tolerant chickpea. • Chickpea is exposed to terminal heat and drought stress. • Five heat signaling genes and 11 structural genes were analyzed using qPCR along with GC-MS analysis. • High temperature and combinatorial stress enhanced the expression of almost all genes in GPF2. • In PDG4 only selective genes and metabolites were upregulated. • Priming modulates the transcriptional, metabolic activity and maintains cellular homeostasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experiments were conducted to evaluate response of two genetically different drought tolerant varieties of Cicer arietinum L. namely PUSA 1103, Desi variety and PUSA 1105, Kabuli variety to the basal applications of nickel chloride doses viz; 0, 0.62, 3.12, 12.5, 62.5 and 125 µg g-1. Significant increase in the growth was observed at 0.62 and 3.12 µg g-1 nickel chloride doses. Addition of nickel dose above this level reduced the leaf area, plant growth, root length and yield of the plants. Fruiting stage showed more severe toxicity symptoms in comparison to the vegetative stages. Protein contents in seeds and chlorophyll contents along with nitrate reductase activity increased significantly in the leaves at the lower nickel doses. Peroxidase and superoxide-dismutase activities increased in a concomitant manner with increasing nickel concentrations. Increased concentrations of the soil applied nickel demonstrated an increase in the content of nickel higher in shoots also followed by roots. Accumulation of nickel and grain yield was higher in Desi chickpea variety PUSA 1103, indicating for its potential utilization in crop improvement strategies to breed new chickpea genotypes for nickel and drought resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chickpea is one of the most important pulse crops in the world. However, chickpea productivity is not high enough to fulfill the requirements of an ever-increasing demand. One of the major constraints in the chickpea improvement is the narrow genetic base in the cultivated chickpea (Cicer arietinum L) and its sexual incompatibility with other Cicer species. Knowledge of molecular characterization, genetic diversity, and relatedness in the germplasm is a prerequisite for varietal registration, protection and overall crop improvement. The present study reports molecular characterization of 75 genotypes using 46 STMS markers. All the STMS loci were found to be highly polymorphic. A total of 132 alleles were found with an average of 2.87 per locus. The highest numbers of alleles were observed with marker TA-21. A cluster analysis arranged these 75 genotypes in 7 clusters. The genotypes ICRISAT 3073 and Pusa 212 showed remarkable genetic similarity (0.796) and the largest genetic distance was observed between C. reticulatum wild-1 and CSG 9505 (0.547). The present analysis provides an insight into the interrelationship among the genotypes and highlights the requirement for effective supplementation of morphological data with additional molecular markers to efficiently unearth the genetic inter-relationship among the genotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ascochyta Blight is a fungal disease caused by Ascochyta rabiei is a devastating disease of chickpea (C. arietinum) worldwide. A. rabiei completed its cycle in sporophytic and gametophytic both stages. Various approaches have been applied to determine genetics of resistance to Ascochyta Blight of chickpea and to map and tag the chromosomal regions using molecular markers. Mild resistance is present in many germplasms of chickpea but resistance clubbed with early flowering is the major breeding objective regarding this disease in chickpea. The RILs are scored for disease reactions in the field and genotyped for polymorphic molecular markers [isozyme, RAPD, SSR, ISSR, SNPs]. The disease occurrence scored quantitatively and QTLs have been analyzed. These DNA markers can be used for marker-assisted selection for Ascochyta Blight resistance in chickpea and to develop cultivars with durable resistance through gene pyramiding. This review reflects a status and strategy for molecular marker assisted breeding and widening of genetic base in chickpea for Ascochyta resistance for future use. Ascochyta Blight is a fungal disease caused by Ascochyta rabiei is a devastating disease of chickpea (C. arietinum) worldwide. A. rabiei completed its cycle in sporophytic and gametophytic both stages. Various approaches have been applied to determine genetics of resistance to Ascochyta Blight of chickpea and to map and tag the chromosomal regions using molecular markers. Mild resistance is present in many germplasms of chickpea but resistance clubbed with early flowering is the major breeding objective regarding this disease in chickpea. The RILs are scored for disease reactions in the field and genotyped for polymorphic molecular markers [isozyme, RAPD, SSR, ISSR, SNPs]. The disease occurrence scored quantitatively and QTLs have been analyzed. These DNA markers can be used for marker-assisted selection for Ascochyta Blight resistance in chickpea and to develop cultivars with durable resistance through gene pyramiding. This review reflects a status and strategy for molecular marker assisted breeding and widening of genetic base in chickpea for Ascochyta resistance for future use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]