Research Projects

The project entitiled “Unravelling the candidate genomic regions regulating multi-flowering in cultivated lentil (Lens culinaris L.) through RNA-Seq and QTL-Seq approaches using a RIL population” was conceived with the rationale that the flowering traits such as number of flowers per peduncle, number of flowering nodes per plant, and the number of flowers per plant are amendable, and they directly influence the total yield per plant. Multi-flowering lines (having 5 to 15 flowers per peduncle) identified by our group for the first time in the world in the cultivated lentils will be used for the identification and validation of QTLs and candidate genes governing this novel trait using RIL mapping population. Currently, many robust genotyping approaches like QTL-seq and RNA-Seq which are based on NGS platforms are available. RNA-Seq provides deeper coverage and fine resolution of transcripts; while QTL-Seq has become the most popular approach for the identification of high-resolution robust and major QTLs. These approaches have been successfully applied in a number of organisms having complex and very large genome including lentil which is having nearly 4.2 Gb genome size. Hence, application of both RNA-Seq and QTL-Seq are proposed for the rapid elucidation of loci governing multi-flowering and fine mapping of major genes underlying robust QTLs controlling multi-flowering in cultivated lentil. The objectives of the proposed study include: (i) Identification of candidate genes and pathways regulating multi-flowering in cultivated lentil using RNA-Seq analysis. (ii) Identification of QTLs regulating multi-flowering in cultivated lentil (RILs) through QTL seq approach. (iii) Validation of candidate genes identified (RNA-Seq and QTL-Seq) by qRT-PCR analysis. (iv) Development of InDel markers and its validation in a set of lentil genotypes differing for multi-flowering trait. The linked SNPs with multi-flowering trait will help to precisely select for this trait; which in turn will help in quick transfer of multi-flowering trait in the cultivated lentil genotypes. These will ultimately help in the quick development of multi-flowering genotypes, and also improvement of existing ruling lentil varieties by incorporation of multi-flowering. The inclusion of more than three flowers per peduncle at multiple flowering nodes in the cultivated lentil genotypes will ultimately assist in increasing the overall grain yield of the developed genotypes. Besides, SNPs and Indels will also help in further fine mapping of the mapped QTLs. In future, the information generated about the genes regulating the multi-flowering trait will help in the development of customised lines using CRISPER/Cas based gene editing protocol in lentil.