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Advances in Cowpea Improvement and Genomics

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Legumes in the Omic Era

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Abstract

Cowpea is a diploid (2n = 2× = 22) self pollinating legume species with a genome size of 613 Mbp. Since the available genomic resources are not adequate, the use of genomics tool in cowpea breeding programme has been very limited. However, a modest beginning in developing genomic resources has led the basic foundation of use of genomic resources in cowpea improvement. In order to perform genetic and genomic analysis various markers like RFLP, RAPD, AFLP, SSR and SNP have been employed in several studies. QTLs for striga and aphid resistance have been identified and validated. However, QTLs for other agronomic traits and important diseases and pests are still to be explored. Eight linkage maps including one consensus map published so far describes a good progress in development of linkage maps. Further efforts are required to construct high-density genetic map for analyzing inheritance of target gene and localization of specific genomic regions for map based cloning. Efforts are also on sequencing of genome of this important crop. With identification of micro RNAs, ESTs, BACs and transcriptomic data sets, the cowpea genomics is gaining momentum. The need of integration of all these efforts will promote the cowpea improvement. This paper presents an overview on advances made in development of genomic resources, gene expression and regulation, marker assisted breeding and progress towards sequencing cowpea genome.

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Acknowledgements

M.P.T. was supported by grants from the National Science Foundation (DBI-0701748 and IBN-0322420) and the Kirkhouse Trust.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Texas A&M University, Olsen Avenue, Heep Bldg. Rm. 428, College Station, TX, 77843, USA

    B. B. Singh Ph.D.

  2. Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA

    Michael P. Timko Ph.D.

  3. Embrapa Recursos Genéticos e Biotecnologia, Norte Brasília, DF, Brazil

    Francisco J. L. Aragao Ph.D.

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  1. B. B. Singh Ph.D.
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  2. Michael P. Timko Ph.D.
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  3. Francisco J. L. Aragao Ph.D.
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Correspondence to B. B. Singh Ph.D. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Indian Institute of Pulses Research, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Sanjeev Gupta

  2. Indian Institute of Pulses Research, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Nagasamy Nadarajan

  3. Department of Plant Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota, USA

    Debjyoti Sen Gupta

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Singh, B.B., Timko, M.P., Aragao, F.J.L. (2014). Advances in Cowpea Improvement and Genomics. In: Gupta, S., Nadarajan, N., Gupta, D. (eds) Legumes in the Omic Era. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-8370-0_7

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