Project description:To identify novel microRNAs that are associated with drought tolerance in two different cowpea genotypes, we generated small RNA sequences from adult cowpea plants under control and dought stress treatments. Over 79 million raw reads were generated and numerous novel microRNAs are identified, including some associated with drought tolerance. Sequencing of small RNAs in two cowpea genotypes under control and drought stress conditions.
Project description:To identify novel microRNAs that are associated with drought tolerance in two different cowpea genotypes, we generated small RNA sequences from adult cowpea plants under control and dought stress treatments. Over 79 million raw reads were generated and numerous novel microRNAs are identified, including some associated with drought tolerance.
Project description:Background: Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) is an important food and fodder legume of the semiarid tropics and subtropics worldwide, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. High density genetic linkage maps are needed for marker assisted breeding but are not available for cowpea. A single feature polymorphism (SFP) is a microarray-based marker which can be used for high throughput genotyping and high density mapping. Results: Here we report detection and validation of SFPs in cowpea using a readily available soybean (Glycine max) genome array. Robustified projection pursuit (RPP) was used for statistical analysis using RNA as a surrogate for DNA. Using a 15% outlying score cut-off, 1058 potential SFPs were enumerated between two parents of a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population segregating for several important traits including drought tolerance, Fusarium and brown blotch resistance, grain size and photoperiod sensitivity. Sequencing of 25 putative polymorphism-containing amplicons yielded a SFP probe set validation rate of 68%. Conclusions: We conclude that the Affymetrix soybean genome array is a satisfactory platform for identification of some 1000's of SFPs for cowpea. This study provides an example of extension of genomic resources from a well supported species to an orphan crop. Presumably, other legume systems are similarly tractable to SFP marker development using existing legume array resources. Keywords: Polymorphism discovery, array based genotyping
Project description:In this present work, photosynthetic and biochemical parameters in conjunction with gel-free/label-free proteomic analysis were assessed in a resistant cowpea genotype challenged with CPSMV and compared with the corresponding data of the mock-inoculated control as an attempt to find out some clues to the molecular mechanims by which this cowpea genotype is resistant to CPSMV.
Project description:In this study we have looked at the transcriptome profile of both incompatible and compatible cowpea-RKN interaction for two different time points using the Affymetrix soybean GeneChip. This is the first study of this kind in cowpea-RKN interaction. This study provides a broad insight into the Rk-mediated resistance in cowpea and creates an excellent dataset of potential candidate genes involved in both nematode resistance and parasitism, which can be further tested for their role in this biological process using functional genomics approaches. our results have shown that the root-knot nematode resistant pathway is still partially suppressed at 9 days post inoculation in resistant cowpea root. There is indication that subtle variation of ROS concentration, induction of toxins and other defense related genes play a role in this unique resistance mechanism. Further functional analysis of these differentially expressed genes will help us to understand this intriguing plant-nematode interaction in a more precise manner.
