Disparate genetic variants associated with distinct components of cowpea resistance to the seed beetle Callosobruchus maculatus
- 12 June 2021
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in Theoretical and Applied Genetics
- Vol. 134 (9), 2749-2766
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s00122-021-03856-5
Abstract
Key message Polygenic genome-wide association mapping identified two regions of the cowpea genome associated with different components of resistance to its major post-harvest pest, the seed beetle Callosobruchus maculatus. Abstract Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) is an important grain and fodder crop in arid and semi-arid regions of Africa, Asia, and South America, where the cowpea seed beetle, Callosobruchus maculatus, is a serious post-harvest pest. Development of cultivars resistant to C. maculatus population growth in storage could increase grain yield and quality and reduce reliance on insecticides. Here, we use a MAGIC (multi-parent, advanced-generation intercross) population of cowpea consisting of 305 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) to identify genetic variants associated with resistance to seed beetles. Because inferences regarding the genetic basis of resistance may depend on the source of the pest or the assay protocol, we used two divergent geographic populations of C. maculatus and two complementary assays to measure several aspects of resistance. Using polygenic genome-wide association mapping models, we found that the cowpea RILs harbor substantial additive-genetic variation for most resistance measures. Variation in several components of resistance, including larval development time and survival, was largely explained by one or several linked loci on chromosome 5. A second region on chromosome 8 explained increased seed resistance via the induction of early-exiting larvae. Neither of these regions contained genes previously associated with resistance to insects that infest grain legumes. We found some evidence of gene–gene interactions affecting resistance, but epistasis did not contribute substantially to resistance variation in this mapping population. The combination of mostly high heritabilities and a relatively consistent and simple genetic architecture increases the feasibility of breeding for enhanced resistance to C. maculatus.Funding Information
- Utah Agricultural Experiment Station (1015989)
- Directorate for Biological Sciences (1638768)
This publication has 82 references indexed in Scilit:
- Genetic Architecture of Delayed Senescence, Biomass, and Grain Yield under Drought Stress in CowpeaPLOS ONE, 2013
- Polygenic Modeling with Bayesian Sparse Linear Mixed ModelsPLoS Genetics, 2013
- Application and Opportunities of Pulses in Food System: A ReviewCritical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 2013
- Baubles, Bangles, and Biotypes: A Critical Review of the use and Abuse of the Biotype ConceptJournal of Insect Science, 2010
- Identification of quantitative trait loci for bruchid (Callosobruchus maculatus) resistance in black gram [Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper]Euphytica, 2010
- A consensus genetic map of cowpea [ Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp.] and synteny based on EST-derived SNPsProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2009
- Tilting at Quixotic Trait Loci (QTL): An Evolutionary Perspective on Genetic CausationGenetics, 2008
- From mutations to MAGIC: resources for gene discovery, validation and delivery in crop plantsCurrent Opinion in Plant Biology, 2008
- Evolutionary diversification of the bean beetle genus Callosobruchus (Coleoptera: Bruchidae): traits associated with stored‐product pest statusMolecular Ecology, 2006
- Intraspecific variation in the egg-spacing behavior of the seed beetleCallosobruchus maculatusJournal of Insect Behavior, 1989