Project description:Heterosis is defined as increased performance of the F1 hybrid relative to its parents. In the current study, a cohort of populations and parents were created to evaluate and understand heterosis across generations (i.e., F1 to F3) in lentil, a self-pollinated annual diploid (2n = 2× = 14) crop species. Lentil plants were evaluated for heterotic traits in terms of plant height, biomass fresh weight, seed number, yield per plant and 100 grain weight. A total of 47 selected lentil genotypes were cross hybridized to generate 72 F1 hybrids. The F1 hybrids from the top five crosses exhibited between 31%-62% heterosis for seed number with reference to the better parent. The five best performing heterotic crosses were selected with a negative control for evaluation at the subsequent F2 generation and only the tails of the distribution taken forward to be assessed in the F3 generation as a sub selection. Overall, heterosis decreases across the subsequent generations for all traits studied. However, some individual genotypes were identified at the F2 and sub-selected F3 generations with higher levels of heterosis than the best F1 mean value (hybrid mimics). The phenotypic data for the selected F2 and sub selected F3 hybrids were analysed, and the study suggested that 100 grain weight was the biggest driver of yield followed by seed number. A genetic diversity analysis of all the F1 parents failed to correlate genetic distance and divergence among parents with heterotic F1's. Therefore, genetic distance was not a key factor to determine heterosis in lentil. The study highlights the challenges associated with different breeding systems for heterosis (i.e., F1 hybrid-based breeding systems and/or via hybrid mimics) but demonstrates the potential significant gains that could be achieved in lentil productivity.
Project description:We present an atlas of global gene expression covering embryo and seed coat development in lentil, providing insights into the evolution of gene expression in embryogenesis of lentil species.
Project description:Chickpea and lentil are two important pulse crops used for human consumption as sources of vegetable protein, rich in amino acids and bioactive compounds. The search for elite cultivars with better architecture has been a demand by farmers of these two crops, which aims to systematize their mechanized planting and harvesting on a large scale. Therefore, the identification of genes associated with the regulation of the branching and architecture of these plants has currently gained great importance. This work aimed to gain insight into transcriptomic changes of two contrasting chickpea and lentil cultivars in terms of branching pattern (little versus highly branched cultivars). In addition, we aimed to identify candidate genes involved in the regulation of shoot branching that could be used as future targets for molecular breeding. The axillary and apical buds of chickpea cultivars Blanco lechoso and FLIP07-318C, and lentil cultivars Castellana and Campisi, considered as little and highly branched, respectively, were harvested.
Project description:Drought stress is one of the main environmental factors that affects growth and productivity of crop plants, including lentil. To gain insights into the genome-wide transcriptional regulation in lentil root and leaf under short- and long-term drought conditions, we performed RNA-seq on a drought-sensitive lentil cultivar (Lens culinaris Medik. cv. Sultan). After establishing drought conditions, lentil samples were subjected to de novo RNA-seq-based transcriptome analysis. The 207,076 gene transcripts were successfully constructed by de novo assembly from the sequences obtained from root, leaf, and stems. Differentially expressed gene (DEG) analysis on these transcripts indicated that period of drought stress had a greater impact on the transcriptional regulation in lentil root. The numbers of DEGs were 2915 under short-term drought stress while the numbers of DEGs were increased to 18,327 under long-term drought stress condition in the root. Further, Gene Ontology analysis revealed that the following biological processes were differentially regulated in response to long-term drought stress: protein phosphorylation, embryo development seed dormancy, DNA replication, and maintenance of root meristem identity. Additionally, DEGs, which play a role in circadian rhythm and photoreception, were downregulated suggesting that drought stress has a negative effect on the internal oscillators which may have detrimental consequences on plant growth and survival. Collectively, this study provides a detailed comparative transcriptome response of drought-sensitive lentil strain under short- and long-term drought conditions in root and leaf. Our finding suggests that not only the regulation of genes in leaves is important but also genes regulated in roots are important and need to be considered for improving drought tolerance in lentil.
Project description:Lentils (Lens culinaris) are produced in diverse agroecological regions and are consumed as one of the most important food legumes at world-wide. Lentils possess a nutritional profile from a human health perspective that is not only nutrient-dense but also offers a better balance between protein and carbohydrates. However, lentil causes food allergy which has been a significant concern due to increased consumption in parts of the world. Len c3, a none-specific Lipid Transfer Protein (LTP), was identified as one of the allergens in lentil seeds. In this study, we firstly identified the Len c3 encoding gene LcLTP3b via peptide sequence blasting. We then focused on screening natural variations to search for lentil germplasms that harbors natural mutated allergen-encoding genes. A natural variation 11 was identified with mutations at LcLTP3b and low accumulation of vicilin through genomic-assisted approaches. Furthermore, we generated a pool of lentil germplasms with Len c3-free background through crossing the identified natural variation 11 with two lentil cultivars, CDC Redmoon and CDC Gold. These Len c3-free lentil germplasms can be used as a breeding resource targeting at reducing allergen risk in lentil consumption.
Project description:Using a cDNA microarray themed on Ascochyta-Pulse interaction resistance response was studied in two lentil varieties, specifically in response to A. lentis inoculation in a highly resistant (ILL7537) and highly susceptible (ILL6002) lentil variety. The experiments were conducted in reference design, where samples from mock-inoculated controls acted as references against post-inoculation samples and the plants were grown using a uniform and standardized experimental system that minimized environmental effects. Robust and high quality data was obtained through the use of three biological replicates (including a dye-swap), the inclusion of negative controls, and stringent selection criteria for differentially expressed genes including a fold change cutoff determined by self-self hybridizations, Students t-test and FDR (Fasle Discovary Rate) multiple testing correction (P<0.05). Microarray observations were validated by quantitative real time RT-PCR using the RNA from one of the bioassay used in the original microarray experiment. Ninety genes were differentially expressed in ILL7537 and 95 genes were differentially expressed in ILL6002. The expression profiles of the two varieties showed substantial difference in type and time of genes that were expressed in response to A. lentis. The resistant variety showed early up-regulation of PR proteins and other defence related genes. The susceptible genotype showed mainly down-regulation of defence related genes. The microarray experiment, the first in lentil, conducted with a small number of genes themed on Asochyta and Pulse interactions was able to identify different components of the defence mechanism by comparing the transcriptional profiles of the susceptible and resistant genotypes. This study will thus form the basis of future experiments to elaborate and corroborate the genomics of lentils defence to A. lentis. Keywords: time course, disease state analysis