Legume biology: the basis for crop improvement
Rajeev K. Varshney A B C and Himabindu Kudapa A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru 502324, India.
B School of Plant Biology, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Perth, WA 6009, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: r.k.varshney@cgiar.org
Functional Plant Biology 40(12) v-viii https://doi.org/10.1071/FPv40n12_FO
Published: 15 November 2013
Abstract
Legumes represent the most valued food sources in agriculture after cereals. Despite the advances made in breeding food legumes, there is a need to develop and further improve legume productivity to meet increasing food demand worldwide. Several biotic and abiotic stresses affect legume crop productivity throughout the world. The study of legume genetics, genomics and biology are all important in order to understand the limitations of yield of legume crops and to support our legume breeding programs. With the advent of huge genomic resources and modern technologies, legume research can be directed towards precise understanding of the target genes responsible for controlling important traits for yield potential, and for resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses. Programmed and systematic research will lead to developing high yielding, stress tolerant and early maturing varieties. This issue of Functional Plant Biology is dedicated to ‘Legume Biology’ research covering part of the work presented at VI International Conference on Legume Genetics and Genomics held at Hyderabad, India, in 2012. The 13 contributions cover recent advances in legume research in the context of plant architecture and trait mapping, functional genomics, biotic stress and abiotic stress.
Additional keywords: candidate genes, chickpea, functional genomics, Lotus, Medicago, peanut, soybean, trait mapping, transcriptome.
References
Barker D, Bianchi S, Blondon F, Dattee Y, Duc G, Essad S, Flament T, Gallusci T, Genier G, Guy P, Muel X, Tourner J, Denarie J, Huguet T (1990) Medicago truncatula, a model plant for studying the molecular genetics of the Rhizobium-legume symbiosis. Plant MoI. Biol. Rep. 8, 40–49.| Medicago truncatula, a model plant for studying the molecular genetics of the Rhizobium-legume symbiosis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bustos-Sanmamed P, Mao G, Deng Y, Elouet M, Khan GA, Bazin J, Lelandais-Brière C (2013) Overexpression of miR160 affects root growth and nitrogen-fixing nodule number in Medicago truncatula. Functional Plant Biology 40, 1208–1220.
| Overexpression of miR160 affects root growth and nitrogen-fixing nodule number in Medicago truncatula.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Cheung F, Haas BJ, Goldberg SMD, May GD, Xiao Y, Town CD (2006) Sequencing Medicago truncatula expressed sequenced tags using 454 Life Sciences technology. BMC Genomics 7, 272
| Sequencing Medicago truncatula expressed sequenced tags using 454 Life Sciences technology.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Cook DR (1999) Medicago truncatula-a model in the making! Current Opinion in Plant Biology 2, 301–304.
| Medicago truncatula-a model in the making!Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Dang PM, Chen CY, Holbrook CC (2013) Evaluation of five peanut (Arachis hypogaea) genotypes to identify drought responsive mechanisms utilising candidate-gene approach. Functional Plant Biology 40, 1323–1333.
| Evaluation of five peanut (Arachis hypogaea) genotypes to identify drought responsive mechanisms utilising candidate-gene approach.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Deschamps S, Campbell MA (2010) Utilization of next-generation sequencing platforms in plant genomics and genetic variant discovery. Molecular Breeding 25, 553–570.
| Utilization of next-generation sequencing platforms in plant genomics and genetic variant discovery.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Domoney C, Knox M, Moreau C, Ambrose M, Palmer S, Smith P, Christodoulou V, Isaac PG, Hegarty M, Blackmore T, Swain M, Ellis N (2013) Exploiting a fast neutron mutant genetic resource in Pisum sativum (pea) for functional genomics. Functional Plant Biology 40, 1261–1270.
| Exploiting a fast neutron mutant genetic resource in Pisum sativum (pea) for functional genomics.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Duranti M, Gius C (1997) Legume seeds: protein content and nutritional value. Field Crops Research 53, 31–45.
| Legume seeds: protein content and nutritional value.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Garg R, Patel RK, Tyagi AK, Jain M (2011) De novo assembly of chickpea transcriptome using short reads for gene discovery and marker identification. DNA Research 18, 53–63.
| De novo assembly of chickpea transcriptome using short reads for gene discovery and marker identification.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gupta S, Bhar A, Das S (2013) Understanding the molecular defence responses of host during chickpea–Fusarium interplay: where do we stand? Functional Plant Biology 40, 1285–1297.
| Understanding the molecular defence responses of host during chickpea–Fusarium interplay: where do we stand?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Handberg K, Stougaard J (1992) Lotus japonicus, an autogamous, diploid legume species for classical and molecular genetics. The Plant Journal 2, 487–496.
| Lotus japonicus, an autogamous, diploid legume species for classical and molecular genetics.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hiremath PJ, Farmer A, Cannon SB, Woodward J, Kudapa H, Tuteja R, Kumar A, Bhanuprakash A, Mulaosmanovic B, Gujaria N, et al (2011) Large-scale transcriptome analysis in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), an orphan legume crop of the semi-arid tropics of Asia and Africa. Plant Biotechnology Journal 9, 922–931.
| Large-scale transcriptome analysis in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), an orphan legume crop of the semi-arid tropics of Asia and Africa.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kamphuis L, Zulak K, Gao L, Anderson J, Singh K (2013) Plant â aphid interactions with a focus on legumes. Functional Plant Biology 40, 1271–1284.
| Plant â aphid interactions with a focus on legumes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kaushal N, Awasthi R, Gupta K, Gaur P, Siddique K, Nayyar H (2013) Heat-stress-induced reproductive failures in chickpea (Cicer arietinum) are associated with impaired sucrose metabolism in leaves and anthers. Functional Plant Biology 40, 1334–1349.
| Heat-stress-induced reproductive failures in chickpea (Cicer arietinum) are associated with impaired sucrose metabolism in leaves and anthers.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Krishnamurthy L, Kashiwagi J, Tobita S, Ito O, Upadhyaya H, Gowda CLL, Gaur PM, Sheshshayee MS, Singh S, Vadez V, Varshney R (2013) Variation in carbon isotope discrimination and its relationship with harvest index in the reference collection of chickpea germplasm. Functional Plant Biology 40, 1350–1361.
| Variation in carbon isotope discrimination and its relationship with harvest index in the reference collection of chickpea germplasm.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kudapa H, Bharti AK, Cannon SB, Farmer AD, Mulaosmanovic B, Kramer R, Bohra A, Weeks NT, Crow JA, Tuteja R, Shah T, Dutta S, Gupta DK, Singh A, Gaikwad K, Sharma TR, May GD, Singh NK, Varshney RK (2012) A comprehensive transcriptome assembly of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L.) using Sanger and second-generation sequencing platforms. Molecular Plant 5, 1020–1028.
| A comprehensive transcriptome assembly of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L.) using Sanger and second-generation sequencing platforms.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kudapa H, Ramalingam A, Nayakoti S, Chen X, Zhuang W-J, Liang X, Kahl G, Edwards D, Varshney RK (2013) Functional genomics to study stress responses in crop legumes: progress and prospects. Functional Plant Biology 40, 1221–1233.
| Functional genomics to study stress responses in crop legumes: progress and prospects.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kulcheski FR, de Oliveira LFV, Molina LG, Almerão MP, Rodrigues FA, Marcolino J, Barbosa JF, Stolf-Moreira R, Nepomuceno AL, Marcelino-Guimarães FC, Abdelnoor RV, Nascimento LC, Carazzolle MF, Pereira GAG, Margis R (2011) Identification of novel soybean microRNAs involved in abiotic and biotic stresses. BMC Genomics 12, 307
| Identification of novel soybean microRNAs involved in abiotic and biotic stresses.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Li HF, Chen XP, Zhu FH, Liu HY, Hong YB, Liang XQ (2013) Transcriptome profiling of peanut (Arachis hypogaea) gynophores in gravitropic response. Functional Plant Biology 40, 1249–1260.
| Transcriptome profiling of peanut (Arachis hypogaea) gynophores in gravitropic response.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
McClean PE, Burridge J, Beebe S, Rao IM, Porch TG (2011) Crop improvement in the era of climate change: an integrated, multi-disciplinary approach for common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris). Functional Plant Biology 38, 927–933.
| Crop improvement in the era of climate change: an integrated, multi-disciplinary approach for common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Michael TP, Jackson S (2013) The first 50 plant genomes. The Plant Genome
| The first 50 plant genomes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Miklas PN, Kelly JD, Beebe SE, Blair MW (2006) Common bean breeding for resistance against biotic and abiotic stresses: from classical to MAS breeding. Euphytica 147, 105–131.
| Common bean breeding for resistance against biotic and abiotic stresses: from classical to MAS breeding.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Morgante CV, Brasileiro AC, Roberts PA, Guimaraes LA, Araujo AC, Fonseca LN, Leal-Bertioli SCM, Bertioli DJ, Guimaraes PM (2013) A survey of genes involved in Arachis stenosperma resistance to Meloidogyne arenaria race 1. Functional Plant Biology 40, 1298–1309.
| A survey of genes involved in Arachis stenosperma resistance to Meloidogyne arenaria race 1.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Pflieger S, Richard MMD, Blanchet S, Meziadi C, Geffroy V (2013) VIGS technology: an attractive tool for functional genomics studies in legumes. Functional Plant Biology 40, 1234–1248.
| VIGS technology: an attractive tool for functional genomics studies in legumes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Putterill J, Zhang L, Yeoh C, Balcerowicz M, Jaudal M, Varkonyi-Gasic E (2013) FT genes and regulation of flowering in the legume Medicago truncatula. Functional Plant Biology 40, 1199–1207.
| FT genes and regulation of flowering in the legume Medicago truncatula.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Sato S, Nakamura Y, Kaneko T, Asamizu E, Kato T, Nakao M, Sasamoto S, Watanabe A, Ono A, Kawashima K, et al (2008) Genome structure of the legume, Lotus japonicus. DNA Research 15, 227–239.
| Genome structure of the legume, Lotus japonicus.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Schmutz J, Cannon SB, Schlueter J, Ma J, Mitros T, Nelson W, Hyten DL, Song Q, Thelen JJ, Cheng J, et al (2010) Genome sequence of the palaeopolyploid soybean. Nature 463, 178–183.
| Genome sequence of the palaeopolyploid soybean.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Thudi M, Li Y, Jackson SA, May GD, Varshney RK (2012) Current state-of-art of sequencing technologies for plant genomics research. Briefings in Functional Genomics 11, 3–11.
| Current state-of-art of sequencing technologies for plant genomics research.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Vadez V, Kholova J, Zaman-Allah M, Belko N (2013) Water: the most important molecular component of water stress tolerance research. Functional Plant Biology 40, 1310–1322.
| Water: the most important molecular component of water stress tolerance research.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Varshney RK, Nayak SN, May GD, Jackson SA (2009) Next generation sequencing technologies and their application for crop genetics and breeding. Trends in Biotechnology 27, 522–530.
| Next generation sequencing technologies and their application for crop genetics and breeding.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Varshney RK, Glaszmann JC, Leung H, Ribaut JM (2010) More genomic resources for less-studied crops. Trends in Biotechnology 28, 452–460.
| More genomic resources for less-studied crops.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Varshney RK, Chen W, Li Y, Bharthi AK, Saxena RK, Schlueter JA, Donoghue MA, Azam S, Fan G, Whaley AM, et al (2012) Draft genome sequence of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan), an orphan legume crop of resource-poor farmers. Nature Biotechnology 30, 83–89.
| Draft genome sequence of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan), an orphan legume crop of resource-poor farmers.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Varshney RK, Mohan SM, Gaur PM, Gangarao NVPR, Pandey MK, Bohra A, Sawargaonkar S, Chitikineni A, Kimurto P, Janila P, et al (2013a) Achievements and prospects of genomics-assisted breeding in three legume crops of the semi-arid tropics. Biotechnology Advances
| Achievements and prospects of genomics-assisted breeding in three legume crops of the semi-arid tropics.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Varshney RK, Song C, Saxena RK, Azam S, Yu S, Sharpe AG, Cannon S, Baek J, Rosen BD, Tar’an B, et al (2013b) Draft genome sequence of chickpea (Cicer arietinum) provides a resource for trait improvement. Nature Biotechnology 31, 240–246.
| Draft genome sequence of chickpea (Cicer arietinum) provides a resource for trait improvement.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Young ND, Debellé F, Oldroyd GED, Geurts R, Cannon SB, Udvardi M, Benedito VA, Mayer KFX, Gouzy J, Schoof H, et al (2011) The Medicago genome provides insight into the evolution of rhizobial symbioses. Nature 480, 520–524.
| The Medicago genome provides insight into the evolution of rhizobial symbioses.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
