Details for Association studies and legume synteny reveal haplotypes determining seed size in Vigna unguiculata

Lucas MR, Huynh B-L, da Silva Vinholes P, Cisse N, Drabo I, Ehlers JD, Roberts PA and Close TJ (2013). Association studies and legume synteny reveal haplotypes determining seed size in Vigna unguiculata. Frontiers in Plant Science 4:95. (DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2013.00095). (G6010.02/ G7010.07).

Highly specific seed market classes for cowpea and other grain legumes exist because grain is most commonly cooked and consumed whole. Size, shape, color, and texture are critical features of these market classes and breeders target development of cultivars for market acceptance. Resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses that are absent from elite breeding material are often introgressed through crosses to landraces or wild relatives. When crosses are made between parents with different grain quality characteristics, recovery of progeny with acceptable or enhanced grain quality is problematic. Thus genetic markers for grain quality traits can help in pyramiding genes needed for specific market classes.

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