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PLoS One

Title:		Identification of QTL for perenniality and floral scent in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata [L.] Walp.)
Author(s):		Lo S; Fatokun C; Boukar O; Gepts P; Close TJ; Munoz-Amatriain M;
Address:		"Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA, United States of America. International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria. Department of Plant Sciences, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, United States of America. Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States of America"
Journal Title:		PLoS One
Year:		2020
Volume:		20200428
Issue:		4
Page Number:		e0229167 -
DOI:		10.1371/journal.pone.0229167
ISSN/ISBN:		1932-6203 (Electronic) 1932-6203 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Perennial habit and floral scent are major traits that distinguish domesticated cowpeas from their wild relatives. However, the genetic basis of these two important traits remains largely unknown in cowpea. Plant longevity, a perenniality-related trait, and floral scent, an outcrossing trait, were investigated using a RIL population derived from a cross between a domesticated and a wild cowpea. QTL analysis revealed three significant loci, one on chromosome 8 associated with plant longevity and two, on chromosomes 1 and 11, for floral scent. Genes within the QTL regions were identified. Genes encoding an F-box protein (Vigun08g215300) and two kinases (Vigun08g217000, Vigun08g217800), and involved in physiological processes including regulation of flowering time and plant longevity, were identified within the perenniality QTL region. A cluster of O-methyltransferase genes (Vigun11g096800, Vigun11g096900, Vigun11g097000, Vigun11g097600, and Vigun11g097800) was identified within the floral scent QTL region. These O-methyltransferase cowpea genes are orthologs of the Arabidopsis N-acetylserotonin O-methyltransferase (ASMT) gene, which is involved in the biosynthesis of melatonin. Melatonin is an indole derivative, which is an essential molecule for plant interactions with pollinators. These findings lay the foundation for further exploration of the genetic mechanisms of perenniality and floral scent in cowpea. Knowledge from this study can help in the development of new extended-growth cycle lines with increased yield or lines with increased outcrossing for population breeding"
Keywords:		"Chromosomes, Plant/chemistry Flowers/*genetics Genetic Association Studies Genetics, Population Inbreeding Linear Models Melatonin/biosynthesis Odorants/*analysis Phenotype Quantitative Trait Loci/*genetics Vigna/*genetics;"
Notes:		"MedlineLo, Sassoum Fatokun, Christian Boukar, Ousmane Gepts, Paul Close, Timothy J Munoz-Amatriain, Maria eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. 2020/04/29 PLoS One. 2020 Apr 28; 15(4):e0229167. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0229167. eCollection 2020"