Construction of a Chickpea Linkage Map and Its Comparison With Maps of Pea and Lentil

Abstract

An integrated genetic linkage map of chickpea (Clcei) has been developed that consists of 9 morphological, 27 isozyme, 10 RFLP, and 45 RAPD markers covering 550 cM. The map was made from segregation data from populations of three interspecific crosses of cultivated chickpea (C. arietlnum, 2n = 16) and a closely related wild species (C. retlculatum, 2n = 16). The linkage map has 10 linkage groups representing the eight chromosomes of chickpea. Interspecific crosses were chosen for mapping because of the extremely low level of polymorphism found within the cultivated chickpea species. Several regions of the genome were found to be slightly skewed from the expected Mendellan ratios of alleles. The map was compared with published maps for pea (Plsum) and lentil (Lens). Five regions of the chickpea map have gene orders that are similar to those found in the pea genome. The degree of similarity is somewhat less than that found between pea and lentil, which is consistent with the evolutionary distances between these three genera. We have also observed that lentil genomlc DNA RFLP probes hybridize poorly to chickpea DNA, Indicating considerable divergence of these genomes at the sequence level.

Impact of Genomic Technologies on Chickpea Breeding Strategies

“…But, expression of these markers was influenced by the environment and their number was small, coupled with a low level of polymorphism in cultivated genotypes of chickpea. In some earlier studies, RFLP and RAPD markers were also used for genetic mapping and diversity studies [43]. However, the extensive use of molecular markers in chickpea genetics and breeding started only after development of simple sequence repeat (SSR) or microsatellite markers.…”

“…The first linkage map of chickpea was developed by Gaur and Slinkard [39,40] using isozyme markers and inter-specific crosses of C. arietinum with C. reticulatum and C. echinospermum. Later, DNA-based molecular markers, such as randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) were integrated into the chickpea linkage map by Simon and Muehlbauer [43].…”

Genetic diversity of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) germplasm in Pakistan as revealed by RAPD analysis

“…The utility of DNA markers for marker-assisted selection is the current trend in modern agriculture. These molecular (DNA) markers allow the construction of a complete genome map and can be integrated with conventional linkage maps, which play an important role in plant breeding strategies (Simon and Muehlbauer, 1997). Improvement of crops through the utilization of available genetic diversity in the germplasm is a key factor for a successful breeding program (Renganayaki et al, 2001).…”

Chickpea Improvement: Role of Wild Species and Genetic Markers

“…1993). Simon and Muehlbauer (1997) developed an integrated genetic linkage map of chickpea with morphological, isozyme and DNA markers covering the length of 550 cM. Since RFLPs and RAPDs detected low genetic polymorphism in cultivated species (Sant et al, 1999;Udupa et al, 1993), genetic maps based on highly polymorphic marker systems like SSR and AFLP would be of great value in marker assisted selection for trait(s) of interest.…”