A genomic toolkit for improvement of faba bean

Abstract

My group has led the collaborative development of a set of over 950 SNP markers for Vicia faba; of these approximately 650 have been mapped so far. Our current consensus linkage map of faba bean consists of just 6 linkage groups (=six physical chromosomes), each covered with a reasonable density of SNP markers. The Vicia faba genetic map shows a high level of synteny and relatively few chromosomal rearrangements with respect to the model sequenced legume, Medicago truncatula. All the SNP markers developed are available as easy-to-use KASP marker assays, and subsets of the full SNP panel polymorphic in different segregating populations have been used to locate and obtain linked markers for traits (so far) such as vicine-convicine and tannin content of seeds, hilum colour, and height. In one study, we have been able to exploit local conservation of synteny to identify and validate a candidate gene underlying the zero tannin trait. My group has recently initiated a large EMS mutagenesis programme based the highly inbred Hedin/2. It is our intention to screen the resulting mutant population for resistance to herbicides to which Orobanche is sensitive