Fine mapping of QTLs responsible for Ascochyta blight in chickpea
S. PURAYANNUR (1), K. Kumar (2), C. Vemula (3) (1) National Institute of Plant Genome Research, India; (2) National Institute of Plant Genome Reseach, India; (3) School of Life Sciences, Central University of Gujarat, India

 Ascochyta blight (AB) is a devastating disease that affects chickpea (Cicer arietinum), a major legume crop. Conferring resistance in chickpea to AB is a prominent aim of chickpea breeders. Studies conducted in the past using classical markers have pointed out that resistance to AB is partial or incomplete with its inheritance being quantitative. We adopted NGS resequencing-based multiple QTL-seq approach to identify QTLs for AB resistance in chickpea using population bulks derived from two crosses, one inter-specific and the other intra-specific. We focused on two major QTLs and proceeded to confirm the NGS data with classical QTL analysis using thirteen polymorphic markers. We could bring down the area of one of the major QTLs to a narrow region harbouring four genes. Expression analysis of these four genes under AB stress showed induced expression of two genes in the resistant variety, both belonging to the same family and they interact physically in planta. Interestingly, this gene family was also identified in other minor QTLs responsible for AB. These genes were further employed for functional characterization. The area under this QTL was sequenced in different accessions of chickpea that are either resistant or susceptible to AB for association of the trait to the gene(s). Markers developed by us can be used in breeding programmes and other population studies.

Abstract Number: P17-589
Session Type: Poster