Genetic variation in CaTIFY4b contributes to drought adaptation in chickpea

• DOI: 10.1111/pbi.13840
• Publication Date: 2022-05-10T05:02:05Z
• Authors: Rutwik Barmukh; Manish Roorkiwal; Vanika Garg; Aamir W. Khan; Liam German; Deepa Jaganathan; Annapurna Chitiki...; Jana Kholova; Himabindu Kudapa; Kaliamoorthy Siva...; Srinivasan Samineni; Sandip M. Kale; Pooran M. Gaur; Someswar Rao Sagu...; Yoselin Benitez‐A...; Rajeev K. Varshney
• Keywords: Drought Tolerance; Genetic architecture; Ectopic expression; Anthesis

Chickpea production is vulnerable to drought stress. Identifying the genetic components underlying adaptation crucial for enhancing chickpea productivity. Here, we present fine mapping and characterization of 'QTL-hotspot', a genomic region controlling growth with positive consequences on crop under drought. We report that non-synonymous substitution in transcription factor CaTIFY4b regulates seed weight organ size chickpea. Ectopic expression Medicago truncatula enhances root water deficit. Our results suggest allelic variation 'QTL-hotspot' improves pre-anthesis use, transpiration efficiency, architecture canopy development, enabling high-yield performance terminal conditions. Gene analysis indicated may regulate deficit by modulating GRF-INTERACTING FACTOR1 (GIF1), transcriptional co-activator Growth-Regulating Factors. Taken together, our study offers new insights into role diverse physiological molecular mechanisms underpinning specific scenarios.