Mapping genes for double podding and other morphological traits in chickpea

Seed traits are important considerations for improving yield and product quality of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). The purpose of this study was to construct an intraspecific genetic linkage map and determine map positions of genes that confer double podding and seed traits using a population of 76 F-10 derived recombinant inbred lines (RILs) from the cross of 'ICCV-2' (large seeds and single pods) x 'JG-62' (small seeds and double podded). We used 55 sequence-tagged microsatellite sites (STMS), 20 random amplified polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs), 3 inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSR) and 2 phenotypic markers to develop a genetic map that comprised 14 linkage groups covering 297.5 cM. The gene for double podding (s) was mapped to linkage group 6 and linked to Tr44 and Tr35 at a distance of 7.8 cM and 11.5 cM, respectively. The major gene for pigmentation, C, was mapped to linkage group 8 and was loosely linked to Tr33 at a distance of 13.5 cM. Four QTLs for 100 seed weight (located on LG4 and LG9), seed number plant 1 (LG4), days to 50% flower (LG3) were identified. This intraspecific map of cultivated chickpea is the first that includes genes for important morphological traits. Synteny relationships among STMS markers appeared to be conserved on six linkage groups when our map was compared to the interspecific map presented by Winter et al. (2000).