Prioritization of Microsatellite Markers Linked with Drought Tolerance Associated Traits in Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Abstract

Background: Being a vital source of high-quality dietary protein, chickpea is an unavoidable legume. The present investigation was performed to study the applicability of the microsatellite markers linked with drought tolerance in Indian chickpea genotypes collected from different genetic background. Methods: In Rabi 2021-22, forty chickpea genotypes including national check for drought tolerance, elite cultivars, released varieties and advanced breeding lines were screened employing forty microsatellite markers linked with drought tolerance associated traits. Results: Among forty drought tolerance related microsatellite markers, twenty-six were found to be polymorphic and produced a total of 66 alleles, with a mean of 2.5 alleles per locus. Genotype NCPGR127 had highest numbers of alleles, gene diversity and polymorphism information content tracked by genotype TR19. These genotypes may be used for selecting drought tolerant genotypes through marker assistant selection (MAS). Model-based population structure analysis clearly distinguished the drought tolerant genotypes including ICC4958, JG74, JAKI9218, JG16, JG6, JG14 and JG11. Principle coordinate analysis (PCoA) and analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) further confirmed these results. Findings of the present investigation have a greater potential for further utilization in breeding of drought specific chickpea cultivar(s).