Characterization of a Chickpea Mutant Resistant to Phelipanche aegyptiaca Pers. and Orobanche crenata Forsk

Abstract

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is a major pulse crop in Israel grown on about 3000 ha spread, from the Upper Galilee in the north to the North-Negev desert in the south. In the last few years, there has been a gradual increase in broomrape infestation in chickpea fields in all regions of Israel. Resistant chickpea cultivars would be simple and effective solution to control broomrape. Thus, to develop resistant cultivars we screened an ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) mutant population of F01 variety (Kabuli type) for broomrape resistance. One of the mutant lines (CCD7M14) was found to be highly resistant to both Phelipanche aegyptiaca and Orobanche crenata. The resistance mechanism is based on the inability of the mutant to produce strigolactones (SLs)—stimulants of broomrape seed germination. LC/MS/MS analysis revealed the SLs orobanchol, orobanchyl acetate, and didehydroorobanchol in root exudates of the wild type, but no SLs could be detected in the root exudates of CCD7M14. Sequence analyses revealed a point mutation (G-to-A transition at nucleotide position 210) in the Carotenoid Cleavage Dioxygenase 7 (CCD7) gene that is responsible for the production of key enzymes in the biosynthesis of SLs. This nonsense mutation resulted in a CCD7 stop codon at position 70 of the protein. The influences of the CCD7M14 mutation on chickpea phenotype and chlorophyll, carotenoid, and anthocyanin content were characterized.

The Carotenoid Cleavage Dioxygenase Gene CCD7-B, at Large, Is Associated with Tillering in Common Wheat

“…Sun (2020) found that the tomato ccd7 mutant obtained by CRISPR/cas9 gene editing had the phenotype of lateral branches increasing and plant dwarfing [44]. Galili et al (2021) also reported that CCD7M14 encodes a truncated protein that resulted in a typical SL-deficient phenotype, increased branching, and reduced plant height, and was highly resistant to both Phelipanche aegyptiaca and Orobanche crenatain in chickpea [45].…”

“Parasitic Weeds: Biology and Control” Special Issue Editors Summary

“…Finally, 11 papers were collected for the SI; of them, five original research papers present new strategies in parasitic weeds management [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ], two focused on crop resistance to parasitic plants [ 16 , 17 ] and three provide new insights on plant—parasite interaction [ 18 , 19 , 20 ]. One Opinion Paper provides a personal view of the present status of parasitic weed problems and their control written by Chris Parker, who dedicated his entire long scientific career to parasitic plants and their management [ 21 ].…”