Browsing by Author "Thakro, Virevol"

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ABC transporter-mediated transport of glutathione conjugates enhances seed yield and quality in chickpea
(American Society of Plant Biologists, 2019) Basu, Udita; Upadhyaya, Hari D.; Srivastava, Rishi; Daware, Anurag; Malik, Naveen; Sharma, Akash; Bajaj, Deepak; Narnoliya, Laxmi; Thakro, Virevol; Kujur, Alice; Tripathi, Shailesh; Bharadwaj, Chellapilla; Hegde, V. S.; Pandey, Ajay K.; Singh, Ashok K.; Tyagi, Akhilesh K.; Parida, Swarup K.
The identification of functionally relevant molecular tags is vital for genomics-assisted crop improvement and enhancing the seed yield, quality and productivity in chickpea. The simultaneous improvement of yield/productivity as well as quality traits often requires pyramiding of multiple genes, which remains a major hurdle given various associated epistatic and pleotropic effects. Unfortunately, no single gene that can improve yield/productivity along with quality and other desirable agromorphological traits is known, hampering the genetic enhancement of chickpea. Using a combinatorial genomics-assisted breeding and functional genomics strategy, this study identified natural alleles and haplotypes of an ABCC3-type transporter gene that regulates seed weight, an important domestication trait, by transcriptional regulation and modulating the transport of glutathione conjugates in seeds of desi and kabuli chickpea. The superior allele/haplotype of this gene introgressed in desi and kabuli near-isogenic lines enhances the seed weight, yield, productivity and multiple desirable plant architecture and seed-quality traits without compromising the agronomic performance. These salient findings can expedite crop improvement endeavors and the development of nutritionally enriched high-yielding cultivars in chickpea.
Association mapping of genomic loci linked with Fusarium wilt resistance (Foc 2) in chickpea
(Cambridge University Press, 2021) Jha, Uday Chand; Jha, Rintu; Bohra, Abhishek; Manjunatha, Lakshmaiah; Saabale, Parasappa Rajappa; Parida, Swarup K.; Chaturvedi, Sushil Kumar; Thakro, Virevol; Singh, Narendra Pratap
Improving plant resistance against Fusarium wilt (FW) is key to sustaining chickpea production worldwide. Given this, the current study tested a set of 75 FW-responsive chickpea breeding lines including checks in a wilt-sick plot for two consecutive years (2016 and 2017). Genetic diversity analysis using 75 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) revealed a total of 267 alleles with an average of 3.56 alleles per marker. The entire set was divided into two major classes based on clustering method and factorial analysis. Similarly, STRUCTURE analysis placed the 75 genotypes into three distinct sub-groups (K = 3). Marker-trait association (MTA) analysis using the generalized linear model approach revealed nine and eight significant MTAs for FW resistance in the years 2016 and 2017, respectively. Three significant MTAs were obtained for FW resistance following the mixed linear model approach for both years. The SSR markers CESSR433, NCPGR21 and ICCM0284 could be potentially employed for targeted and accelerated improvement of FW resistance in chickpea. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on association mapping of the genomic loci controlling FW (Foc2) resistance in chickpea.
CLAVATA signaling pathway genes modulating flowering time and flower number in chickpea
(Springer Nature, 2019) Basu, Udita; Narnoliya, Laxmi; Srivastava, Rishi; Sharma, Akash; Bajaj, Deepak; Daware, Anurag; Thakro, Virevol; Malik, Naveen; Upadhyaya, Hari D.; Tripathi, Shailesh; Hegde, V. S.; Tyagi, Akhilesh K.; Parida, Swarup K.
Unraveling the genetic components involved in CLAVATA (CLV) signaling is crucial for modulating important shoot apical meristem (SAM) characteristics and ultimately regulating diverse SAM-regulated agromorphological traits in crop plants. A genome-wide scan identifed 142 CLV1-, 28 CLV2- and 6 CLV3-like genes, and their comprehensive genomic constitution and phylogenetic relationships were deciphered in chickpea. The QTL/fne mapping and map-based cloning integrated with high-resolution association analysis identifed SNP loci from CaCLV3_01 gene within a major CaqDTF1.1/ CaqFN1.1 QTL associated with DTF (days to 50% fowering) and FN (fower number) traits in chickpea, which was further ascertained by quantitative expression profling. Molecular haplotyping of CaCLV3_01 gene, expressed specifcally in SAM, constituted two major haplotypes that diferentiated the early-DTF and high-FN chickpea accessions from late-DTF and low-FN. Enhanced accumulation of transcripts of superior CaCLV3_01 gene haplotype and known fowering promoting genes was observed in the corresponding haplotype-introgressed early-DTF and high-FN near-isogenic lines (NILs) with narrow SAM width. The superior haplotype-introgressed NILs exhibited early-fowering, high-FN and enhanced seed yield/ productivity without compromising agronomic performance. These delineated molecular signatures can regulate DTF and FN traits through SAM proliferation and diferentiation and thereby will be useful for translational genomic study to develop early-fowering cultivars with enhanced yield/productivity.
Delineation of genes for a major QTL governing heat stress tolerance in chickpea
(Springer Nature Publishing AG, 2024) Mohanty, Jitendra K.; Thakro, Virevol; Yadav, Antima; Nayyar, Harsh; Dixit, Girish P.; Agarwal, Pinky; Parida, Swarup K.; Jha, Uday Chand
Chickpea (Cicer arietinum) is a cool season grain legume experiencing severe yield loss during heat stress due to the intensifying climate changes and its associated gradual increase of mean temperature. Hence, understanding the genetic architecture regulating heat stress tolerance has emerged as an important trait to be addressed for enhancing yield and productivity of chickpea under heat stress. The present study is intended to identify the major genomic region(s) governing heat stress tolerance in chickpea. For this, an integrated genomics-assisted breeding strategy involving NGS-based high-resolution QTL-seq assay, QTL region-specifc association analysis and molecular haplotyping was deployed in a population of 206 mapping individuals and a diversity panel of 217 germplasm accessions of chickpea. This combinatorial strategy delineated a major 156.8 kb QTL genomic region, which was subsequently narrowed-down to a functional candidate gene CaHSFA5 and its natural alleles associated strongly with heat stress tolerance in chickpea. Superior natural alleles and haplotypes delineated from the CaHSFA5 gene have functional signifcance in regulating heat stress tolerance in chickpea. Histochemical staining, interaction studies along with diferential expression profling of CaHSFA5 and ROS scavenging genes suggest a cross talk between CaHSFA5 with ROS homeostasis pertaining to heat stress tolerance in chickpea. Heterologous gene expression followed by heat stress screening further validated the functional signifcance of CaHSFA5 for heat stress tolerance. The salient outcomes obtained here can have potential to accelerate multiple translational genomic analysis including marker-assisted breeding and gene editing in order to develop high-yielding heat stress tolerant chickpea varieties.
Discerning molecular diversity and association mapping for phenological, physiological and yield traits under high temperature stress in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)
(Springer Nature Publishing AG, 2021) Jha, Uday Chand; Jha, Rintu; Thakro, Virevol; Kumar, Anurag; Gupta, Sanjeev; Nayyar, Harsh; Basu, Parthasarathi; Parida, Swarup K.; Singh, Narendra Pratap
High temperature (HT) stress is assuming serious production constraint for chickpea production worldwide. A collection of 182 diverse chickpea genotypes was assessed for genetic variation in 15 traits including phenological, physiological and yield-related traits under both normal sown (NS) and late sown (LS) conditions for two years 2017–2018 and 2018–2019, which revealed significant variation for all the traits. Association mapping of chickpea genotypes was also conducted with 120 simple sequence repeat markers distributed across all the chickpea chromosomes to discern the molecular diversity and to capture the significant marker-trait association (MTA). MTA analysis based on mixed linear model (MLM) revealed a total of 24 and 14 significant associations for various traits evaluated under NS conditions in 2017 and 2018, respectively. Similarly, a total of 17 and 34 significant associations for various traits were also recorded under LS conditions in 2018 and 2019, respectively. Notably, ICCM0297, NCPGR150, TAA160 and NCPGR156 markers showed significant MTA under both NS and LS conditions and GA11 exhibited significant MTA for filled pod% under late sown condition for both years. Thus, these markers could be useful for genomics-assisted breeding for developing heat-tolerant chickpea genotype.
Functional allele of a MATE gene selected during domestication modulates seed color in chickpea
(John Wiley & Sons, 2024) Thakro, Virevol; Varshney, Nidhi; Malik, Naveen; Daware, Anurag; Srivastava, Rishi; Mohanty, Jitendra K; Basu, Udita; Narnoliya, Laxmi; Jha, Uday Chand; Tripathi, Shailesh; Tyagi, Akhilesh K.; Parida, Swarup K.
Seed color is one of the key target traits of domestication and artificial selection in chickpeas due to its implications on consumer preference and market value. The complex seed color trait has been well dissected in several crop species; however, the genetic mechanism underlying seed color variation in chickpea remains poorly understood. Here, we employed an integrated genomics strategy involving QTL mapping, high-density mapping, map-based cloning, association analysis, and molecular haplotyping in an inter-specific RIL mapping population, association panel, wild accessions, and introgression lines (ILs) of Cicer gene pool. This delineated a MATE gene, CaMATE23, encoding a Transparent Testa (TT) and its natural allele (8-bp insertion) and haplotype underlying a major QTL governing seed color on chickpea chromosome 4. Signatures of selective sweep and a strong purifying selection reflected that CaMATE23, especially its 8-bp insertion natural allelic variant, underwent selection during chickpea domestication. Functional investigations revealed that the 8-bp insertion containing the third cis-regulatory RY-motif element in the CaMATE23 promoter is critical for enhanced binding of CaFUSCA3 transcription factor, a key regulator of seed development and flavonoid biosynthesis, thereby affecting CaMATE23 expression and proanthocyanidin (PA) accumulation in the seed coat to impart varied seed color in chickpea. Consequently, overexpression of CaMATE23 in Arabidopsis tt12 mutant partially restored the seed color phenotype to brown pigmentation, ascertaining its functional role in PA accumulation in the seed coat. These findings shed new light on the seed color regulation and evolutionary history, and highlight the transcriptional regulation of CaMATE23 by CaFUSCA3 in modulating seed color in chickpea. The functionally relevant InDel variation, natural allele, and haplotype from CaMATE23 are vital for translational genomic research, including marker-assisted breeding, for developing chickpea cultivars with desirable seed color that appeal to consumers and meet global market demand.
Genetic dissection of photosynthetic efficiency traits for enhancing seed yield in chickpea
(John Wiley & Sons, 2019) Basu, Udita; Bajaj, Deepak; Sharma, Akash; Malik, Naveen; Daware, Anurag; Narnoliya, Laxmi; Thakro, Virevol; Upadhyaya, Hari D.; Kumar, Rajendra; Tripathi, Shailesh; Bharadwaj, Chellapilla; Tyagi, Akhilesh K.; Parida, Swarup K.
Understanding the genetic basis of photosynthetic efficiency (PE) contributing to enhanced seed yield per plant (SYP) is vital for genomics-assisted crop improvement of chickpea. The current study employed an integrated genomic strategy involving photosynthesis pathway gene-based association mapping, genome-wide association study, QTL mapping and expression profiling. This identified 16 potential SNP loci linked to major QTLs underlying 16 candidate genes significantly associated with PE and SYP traits in chickpea. The allelic variants were tightly linked to positively interacting QTLs regulating both enhanced PE and SYP traits as exemplified by a chlorophyll A-B binding protein-coding gene. The leaf tissue-specific pronounced up-regulated expression of 16 associated genes in germplasm accessions and homozygous individuals of mapping population was evident. Such combinatorial genomic strategy coupled with gene haplotype-specific association as well as in silico protein-protein interaction study delineated natural alleles and superior haplotypes from a chlorophyll A-B binding protein-coding gene and its interacting gene, Timing of CAB Expression 1, which appear to be most-promising candidates in modulating chickpea PE and SYP traits. These functionally pertinent molecular signatures identified have efficacy to drive marker-assisted selection for developing PE-enriched cultivars with high seed yield in chickpea.
A genome-wide association analysis identifies a key candidate gene controlling plant growth habit in chickpea
(Springer Nature Publishing AG, 2026) Kumbhakar, Rajib; Mondal, Mayulika; Thakro, Virevol; Yadava, Yashwant K.; Jha, Uday Chand; Tripathi, Shailesh; Parida, Swarup K.
Identification of molecular markers governing plant growth habit (PGH) traits that enable mechanical harvestability is pivotal for boosting production efficiency of crops under changing climates and increasing global food demand. With a combinatorial integrated genomics-assisted breeding strategy comprising of association mapping, haplotype-based association, molecular haplotyping and gene expression analysis in a 286 association panel of chickpea (Cicer arietinum), we dissected the genetic basis of PGH traits. This study employed 382,171 genome-wide SNPs (single-nucleotide polymorphisms) obtained from whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of 286 desi and kabuli chickpea accessions and delineated a major genomic locus associated with PGH traits variation, particularly between erect (E)/semi-erect (SE) versus spreading (S)/semi-spreading (SS) types. Within this genomic loci, CaPAR1 (Cicer arietinum PAR1) and its derived natural alleles/haplotypes was identified as the candidate gene. These findings can facilitate generation of high-yielding, erect/semi-erect, mechanically harvestable cultivars through translational genomics and molecular breeding for genetic enhancement of chickpea.
Genome-wide cis-regulatory signatures for modulation of agronomic traits as exemplified by drought yield index (DYI) in chickpea
(Springer Nature Publishing AG, 2019) Sharma, Akash; Basu, Udita; Malik, Naveen; Daware, Anurag; Thakro, Virevol; Narnoliya, Laxmi; Bajaj, Deepak; Tripathi, Shailesh; Hegde, V. S.; Upadhyaya, Hari D.; Tyagi, Akhilesh K.; Parida, Swarup K.
Developing functional molecular tags from the cis-regulatory sequence components of genes is vital for their deployment in efficient genetic dissection of complex quantitative traits in crop plants including chickpea. The current study identified 431,194 conserved non-coding SNP (CNSNP) from the cis-regulatory element regions of genes which were annotated on a chickpea genome. These genome-wide CNSNP marker resources are made publicly accessible through a user-friendly web-database (http://www.cnsnpcicarbase.com). The CNSNP-based quantitative trait loci (QTL) and expression QTL (eQTL) mapping and genome-wide association study (GWAS) were further integrated with global gene expression landscapes, molecular haplotyping, and DNA-protein interaction study in the association panel and recombinant inbred lines (RIL) mapping population to decode complex genetic architecture of one of the vital seed yield trait under drought stress, drought yield index (DYI), in chickpea. This delineated two constituted natural haplotypes and alleles from a histone H3 protein-coding gene and its transcriptional regulator NAC transcription factor (TF) harboring the major QTLs and trans-acting eQTL governing DYI in chickpea. The effect of CNSNPs in TF-binding cis-element of a histone H3 gene in altering the binding affinity and transcriptional activity of NAC TF based on chromatin immunoprecipitationquantitative PCR (ChIP-qPCR) assay was evident. The CNSNP-led promising molecular tags scanned will essentially have functional significance to decode transcriptional gene regulatory function and thus can drive translational genomic analysis in chickpea.
Genome-wide generation and genotyping of informative SNPs to scan molecular signatures for seed yield in chickpea
(Springer Nature Limited, 2018) Basu, Udita; Srivastava, Rishi; Bajaj, Deepak; Thakro, Virevol; Daware, Anurag; Malik, Naveen; Upadhyaya, Hari D.; Parida, Swarup K.
We discovered 2150 desi and 2199 kabuli accessions-derived SNPs by cultivar-wise individual assembling of sequence-reads generated through genotyping-by-sequencing of 92 chickpea accessions. Subsequent large-scale validation and genotyping of these SNPs discovered 619 desi accessions-derived (DAD) SNPs, 531 kabuli accessions-derived (KAD) SNPs, 884 multiple accessions-derived (MAD) SNPs and 1083 two accessions (desi ICC 4958 and kabuli CDC Frontier)-derived (TAD) SNPs that were mapped on eight chromosomes. These informative SNPs were annotated in coding/non-coding regulatory sequence components of genes. The MAD-SNPs were efcient to detect high intra-specifc polymorphic potential and wide natural allelic diversity level including high-resolution admixed-population genetic structure and precise phylogenetic relationship among 291 desi and kabuli accessions. This signifes their efectiveness in introgression breeding and varietal improvement studies targeting useful agronomic traits of chickpea. Six trait-associated genes with SNPs including quantitative trait nucleotides (QTNs) in combination explained 27.5% phenotypic variation for seed yield per plant (SYP). A pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) gene with a synonymous-coding SNP/QTN signifcantly associated with SYP trait was found most-promising in chickpea. The essential information delineated can be of immense utility in genomics-assisted breeding applications to develop high-yielding chickpea cultivars.
Natural alleles of Mediator subunit genes modulate plant height in chickpea
(John Wiley & Sons, 2023) Malik, Naveen; Basu, Udita; Srivastava, Rishi; Daware, Anurag; Ranjan, Rajeev; Sharma, Akash; Thakro, Virevol; Mohanty, Jitendra K.; Jha, Uday Chand; Tripathi, Shailesh; Tyagi, Akhilesh K.; Parida, Swarup K.
Plant height (PH) is an important plant architectural trait targeted during Green Revolution to enhance crop yields. Identification of genes and natural alleles governing plant height without compromising agronomic performance can fill the lacuna of knowledge connecting ideal plant architecture with maximum achievable yield in chickpea. Through coherent strategy involving genome-wide association study, QTL/fine mapping, map-based cloning, molecular haplotyping, and downstream functional genomics, the current study identified two Mediator subunit genes namely, CaMED23 and CaMED5b and their derived natural alleles/haplotypes underlying the major QTLs and trans-acting eQTLs regulating plant height in chickpea. Differential accumulation of haplotype-specific transcripts of these two Mediator genes in corresponding haplotype-introgressed near-isogenic lines (NILs) correlates negatively with the plant height trait. Quantitative as well as qualitative estimation based on histology, scanning electron microscopy, and histochemical assay unraveled the reduced lengths and cell sizes of internodes along with compromised lignin levels in dwarf/semi-dwarf chickpea NILs introgressed with superior CaMED23 and CaMED5b gene haplotypes. This observation, supported by global transcriptome profiling-based diminished expression of various phenylpropanoid pathway genes upstream of lignin biosynthesis in dwarf/semi-dwarf NILs, essentially links plant height with lignin accumulation. The identified molecular signatures in the Mediator subunit genes can be efficiently utilized to develop desirable dwarf/semi-dwarf-type chickpea cultivars without affecting their yield per plant via modulating lignin/phenylpropanoid biosynthesis.
A next-generation combinatorial genomic strategy scans genomic loci governing heat stress tolerance in chickpea
(John Wiley & Sons, 2025) Mohanty, Jitendra K.; Yadav, Antima; Narnoliya, Laxmi; Thakro, Virevol; Nayyar, Harsh; Dixit, Girish P.; Jha, Uday Chand; Prasad, P. V. Vara; Agarwal, Pinky; Parida, Swarup K.
In the wake of rising earth temperature, chickpea crop production is haunted by the productivity crisis. Chickpea, a cool season legume manifests tolerance in several agro-physiological level, which is complex quantitative in nature, and regulated by multiple genes and genetic networks. Understanding the molecular genetic basis of this tolerance and identifying key regulators can leverage chickpea breeding against heat stress. This study employed a genomics-assisted breeding strategy utilizing multi-locus GWAS to identify 10 key genomic regions linked to traits contributing to heat stress tolerance in chickpea. These loci subsequently delineated few key candidates and hub regulatory genes, such as RAD23b, CIPK25, AAE19, CK1 and WRKY40, through integrated genomics, transcriptomics and interactive analyses. The differential transcript accumulation of these identified candidates in contrasting chickpea accessions suggests their potential role in heat stress tolerance. Differential ROS accumulation along with their scavengers' transcript abundance aligning with the expression of identified candidates in the contrasting chickpea accessions persuade their regulatory significance. Additionally, their functional significance is ascertained by heterologous expression and subsequent heat stress screening. The high confidence genomic loci and the superior genes and natural alleles delineated here has great potential for swift genomic interventions to enhance heat resilience and yield stability in chickpea.
Population structure and association analysis of heat stress relevant traits in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)
(Springer, 2018) Jha, Uday Chand; Jha, Rintu; Bohra, Abhishek; Parida, Swarup K.; Kole, Paresh Chandra; Thakro, Virevol; Singh, Deepak; Singh, Narendra Pratap
Understanding genetic diversity and population structure is prerequisite to broaden the cultivated base of any crop. In the current investigation, we report discovery of a total of 319 alleles by assaying 81 SSRs on 71 chickpea genotypes. The cluster analysis based on Jaccard coefficient and unweighted neighbor joining algorithm categorized all genotypes into two major clusters. Cultivars grown within the same agro-climatic zones were clustered together, whereas the remaining genotypes particularly advanced breeding lines and accessions assigned to another cluster. Population structure analysis separated the entire collection into two subpopulations (K = 2) and the clustering pattern remained in close agreement with those of distance-based methods. Importantly, we also discovered marker trait association for membrane stability index (MSI) and leaf chlorophyll content measured as SPAD chlorophyll meter reading (SCMR), the two important physiological parameters indicative of heat stress (HS) tolerance in chickpea. Association analysis using both general linear and mixed linear models of the mean phenotypic data of traits recorded in 2016 and 2017 uncovered significant association of NCPGR206 and H2L102 with the MSI trait. Likewise, SSR markers GA9, TR31 and TA113 exhibited significant association with SCMR trait. The genomic regions putatively linked with two traits may be investigated in greater detail to further improve knowledge about the genetic architecture of HS tolerance in chickpea.
Shaping the future: Unravelling regulators modulating plant architecture for next-generation crops
(Elsevier B.V., 2025) Kumbhakar, Rajib; Mondal, Mayulika; Thakro, Virevol; Tripathi, Shailesh; Parida, Swarup K.
Plant architecture traits in crops are modulated through intricate interactions of various genetic pathways, which helps them to adapt to diverse environmental conditions. Key developmental pathways involved in forming plant architecture include the LAZY-TAC (Tiller Angle Control) module regulating branch and tiller angle, the CLAVATA-WUSCHEL pathway controlling shoot apical meristem fate and the GID1-DELLA pathway governing plant height and tillering in major food crops. These pathways function in concert to shape the overall architecture of plants, which is essential for optimizing light capture, resource allocation, reproductive success and eventual crop yield enhancement. Presently, plant architecture of modern crops has been shaped especially by artificial selection of natural alleles that target yield traits. Recent advances in CRISPR-Cas-based genome editing and genomics-assisted breeding strategies have enabled precise genetic manipulation of natural alleles in the functionally relevant genes regulating plant architecture traits in crops. This will assist researchers to select and introgress superior natural alleles in popular cultivars strategically for restructuring their desirable plant-types suitable for mechanical harvesting as well as enhancing the crop yield potential.
A superior gene allele involved in abscisic acid signaling enhances drought tolerance and yield in chickpea
(Oxford University Press, 2023) Thakro, Virevol; Malik, Naveen; Basu, Udita; Srivastava, Rishi; Narnoliya, Laxmi; Daware, Anurag; Varshney, Nidhi; Mohanty, Jitendra K; Bajaj, Deepak; Dwivedi, Vikas; Tripathi, Shailesh; Jha, Uday Chand; Dixit, Girish Prasad; Singh, Ashok K; Tyagi, Akhilesh K.; Upadhyaya, Hari D; Parida, Swarup K.
Identifying potential molecular tags for drought tolerance is essential for achieving higher crop productivity under drought stress. We employed an integrated genomics-assisted breeding and functional genomics strategy involving association mapping, fine mapping, map-based cloning, molecular haplotyping and transcript profiling in the introgression lines (ILs)- and near isogenic lines (NILs)-based association panel and mapping population of chickpea (Cicer arietinum). This combinatorial approach delineated a bHLH (basic helix-loop-helix) transcription factor, CabHLH10 (Cicer arietinum bHLH10) underlying a major QTL, along with its derived natural alleles/haplotypes governing yield traits under drought stress in chickpea. CabHLH10 binds to a cis-regulatory G-box promoter element to modulate the expression of RD22 (responsive to desiccation 22), a drought/ABA-responsive gene (via a trans-expression QTL), and two strong yield-enhancement photosynthetic efficiency (PE) genes. This, in turn, upregulates other downstream drought-responsive and abscisic acid signaling genes, as well as yield-enhancing PE genes, thus increasing plant adaptation to drought with reduced yield penalty. We showed that a superior allele of CabHLH10 introgressed into the NILs improved root and shoot biomass and PE, thereby enhancing yield and productivity during drought without compromising agronomic performance. Furthermore, overexpression of CabHLH10 in chickpea and Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) conferred enhanced drought tolerance by improving root and shoot agro-morphological traits. These findings facilitate translational genomics for crop improvement and the development of genetically-tailored, climate-resilient, high-yielding chickpea cultivars.
Trans-QTL alliance of HKT1 and PHL7 modulate salinity stress tolerance and enhance crop yield endurance
(John Wiley & Sons, 2026) Mohanty, Jitendra K.; Yadav, Antima; Narnoliya, Laxmi; Thakro, Virevol; Rathore, Deepanshi; Tripathi, Shailesh; Sinharoy, Senjuti; Agarwal, Pinky; Parida, Swarup K.
Salinity stress can cause significant yield losses in crops because of its major impact on reproductive success. The complexity of salinity stress responses, particularly their tissue- and cell-specific regulation, continues to challenge the translation of molecular insights into tangible crop yield improvements. In the present study, the authors deployed a genomic strategy combining a genome-wide association study, regional association analysis, QTL mapping, fine mapping, and map-based cloning to delineate a pair of novel CaPHL7 and CaHKT1 alleles that regulate yield under salinity stress. The selected contrasting accessions, developed near-isogenic lines (NILs), overexpressed chickpea lines and complemented Arabidopsis lines collectively underscore the functional significance of the identified alleles in relaying yield endurance under salinity stress conditions. Functional characterisation of the genes revealed the intricate transcriptional regulation of CaHKT1 by CaPHL7, which influences the degree of salinity stress tolerance. Furthermore, in our efforts to enhance yield endurance, we discovered a novel regulatory role for the phosphorus (P) starvation-responsive gene (PHL7) in legumes, facilitating salinity stress adaptation. This study provides the first functional validation of a trans-QTL regulatory model in chickpea, where CaPHL7, located on one chromosome, transcriptionally activates CaHKT1 on a separate chromosome. The regulatory mechanism plays a key role in excluding sodium from the transpiration stream, thereby protecting reproductive processes from salinity-induced damage and mitigating yield penalties. This inter-locus regulation explains yield stability and offers useful insights that may be considered in future efforts to enhance salt resilience in chickpea.
Transcriptional signatures modulating shoot apical meristem morphometric and plant architectural traits enhance yield and productivity in chickpea
(John Wiley & Sons, 2019) Narnoliya, Laxmi; Basu, Udita; Bajaj, Deepak; Malik, Naveen; Thakro, Virevol; Daware, Anurag; Sharma, Akash; Tripathi, Shailesh; Hegde, V.S.; Upadhyaya, Hari D.; Singh, Ashok K.; Tyagi, Akhilesh K.; Parida, Swarup K.
Plant height (PH) and plant width (PW), two of the major plant architectural traits determining the yield and productivity of a crop, are defined by diverse morphometric characteristics of the shoot apical meristem (SAM). The identification of potential molecular tags from a single gene that simultaneously modulates these plant/SAM architectural traits is thus prerequisite to achieve enhanced yield and productivity in crop plants, including chickpea. Large‐scale multi‐environment phenotyping of the association panel and mapping population have ascertained the efficacy of three vital SAM morphometric trait parameters, SAM width, SAM height and SAM area, as key indicators to unravel the genetic basis of the wide PW and PH trait variations observed in desi chickpea. The present study integrated a genome‐wide association study (GWAS); QTL/fine‐mapping and map‐based cloning with molecular haplotyping; transcript profiling; and protein‐DNA interaction assays for the dissection of plant architectural traits in chickpea. These exertions delineated natural alleles and superior haplotypes from a CabHLH121 transcription factor (TF) gene within the major QTLs governing PW, PH and SAM morphometric traits. A genome‐wide protein‐DNA interaction assay assured the direct binding of a known stem cell master regulator, CaWUS, to the WOX‐homeodomain TF binding sites of a CabHLH121 gene and its constituted haplotypes. The differential expression of CaWUS and transcriptional regulation of its target CabHLH121 gene/haplotypes were apparent, suggesting their collective role in altering SAM morphometric characteristics and plant architectural traits in the contrasting near isogenic lines (NILs). The NILs introgressed with a superior haplotype of a CabHLH121 exhibited optimal PW and desirable PH as well as enhanced yield and productivity without compromising any component of agronomic performance. These molecular signatures of the CabHLH121 TF gene have the potential to regulate both PW and PH traits through the modulation of proliferation, differentiation and maintenance of the meristematic stem cell population in the SAM; therefore, these signatures will be useful in the translational genomic study of chickpea genetic enhancement. The restructured cultivars with desirable PH (semi‐dwarf) and PW will ensure maximal planting density in a specified cultivable field area, thereby enhancing the overall yield and productivity of chickpea. This can essentially facilitate the achievement of better remunerative outputs by farmers with rational land use, thus ensuring global food security in the present scenario of an increasing population density and shrinking per capita land area.
Uncovering DNA methylation landscapes to decipher evolutionary footprints of phenotypic diversity in chickpea
(Oxford University Press, 2024) Daware, Anurag; Mohanty, Jitendra K.; Narnoliya, Laxmi; Singh, Akansha; Rathore, Deepanshi; Thakro, Virevol; Francis, Aleena; Singh, Nagendra Pratap; Francis, Philip; Tripathi, Shailesh; Chattopadhyay, Debasis; Parida, Swarup K.
Genetic diversity and environmental factors are long believed to be the dominant contributor to phenotypic diversity in crop plants. However, it has been recently established that, besides genetic variation, epigenetic variation, especially variation in DNA methylation, plays a significant role in determining phenotypic diversity in crop plants. Therefore, assessing DNA methylation diversity in crop plants becomes vital, especially in the case of crops like chickpea, which has a narrow genetic base. Thus, in the present study, we employed whole-genome bisulfite sequencing to assess DNA methylation diversity in wild and cultivated (desi and kabuli) chickpea. This revealed extensive DNA methylation diversity in both wild and cultivated chickpea. Interestingly, the methylation diversity was found to be significantly higher than genetic diversity, suggesting its potential role in providing vital phenotypic diversity for the evolution and domestication of the Cicer gene pool. The phylogeny based on DNA methylation variation also indicates a potential complementary role of DNA methylation variation in addition to DNA sequence variation in shaping chickpea evolution. Besides, the study also identified diverse epi-alleles of many previously known genes of agronomic importance. The Cicer MethVarMap database developed in this study enables researchers to readily visualize methylation variation within the genes and genomic regions of their interest (http://223.31.159.7/cicer/public/). Therefore, epigenetic variation like DNA methylation variation can potentially explain the paradox of high phenotypic diversity despite the narrow genetic base in chickpea and can potentially be employed for crop improvement.