Horticulturae (Feb 2024)

Identification of Candidate Genes Controlling Red Seed Coat Color in Cowpea (<i>Vigna unguiculata</i> [L.] Walp)

  • Ira A. Herniter,
  • María Muñoz-Amatriaín,
  • Sassoum Lo,
  • Yi-Ning Guo,
  • Stefano Lonardi,
  • Timothy J. Close

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10020161
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10, no. 2
p. 161

Abstract

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Seed coat color is an important consumer-related trait of the cowpea (Vigna unguiculata [L.] Walp.) and has been a subject of study for over a century. Utilizing newly available resources, including mapping populations, a high-density genotyping platform, and several genome assemblies, the red seed coat color has been mapped to two loci, Red-1 (R-1) and Red-2 (R-2), on Vu03 and Vu07, respectively. A gene model (Vigun03g118700) encoding a dihydroflavonol 4-reductase, a homolog of anthocyanidin reductase 1, which catalyzes the biosynthesis of epicatechin from cyanidin, has been identified as a candidate gene for R-1. Possible causative variants have also been identified for Vigun03g118700. A gene model on Vu07 (Vigun07g118500), with predicted nucleolar function and high relative expression in the developing seed, has been identified as a candidate for R-2. The observed red color is believed to be the result of a buildup of cyanidins in the seed coat.

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