Progress in 2010 - Chickpeas

A total 20 prebreeding populations (five at EIAR, five at Egerton University, and 10 at ICRISAT–Kenya) were generated. Eight well-adapted and drought-tolerant lines from Ethiopia, Kenya and India have been selected for developing MAGIC populations, based on phenotypic variation. To make available a high-throughput and cost-effective SNP genotyping platform for at least 768 SNPs, the file of 2,002 genes containing SNPs were provided to KBioscience. For validating the KASPar assays, the DNA of 94 genotypes were also sent to KBioscience. The KASPar assays are anticipated to be available by the end of the first quarter of 2011.With supplementary funds from other partners, a genomewide physical map will be developed, over and above the previously planned identification of five candidate genomic regions for developing local physical maps. A proposal submitted to the Government of India Department of Biotechnology for funding for MABC and MARS research to enhance drought tolerance in chickpea was approved, with a total budget of about USD 1,037,000 over a period of three years.