AUTHOR=Takahashi Yu , Kongjaimun Alisa , Muto Chiaki , Kobayashi Yuki , Kumagai Masahiko , Sakai Hiroaki , Satou Kazuhito , Teruya Kuniko , Shiroma Akino , Shimoji Makiko , Hirano Takashi , Isemura Takehisa , Saito Hiroki , Baba-Kasai Akiko , Kaga Akito , Somta Prakit , Tomooka Norihiko , Naito Ken 

TITLE=Same Locus for Non-shattering Seed Pod in Two Independently Domesticated Legumes, Vigna angularis and Vigna unguiculata

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Genetics

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/genetics/articles/10.3389/fgene.2020.00748

DOI=10.3389/fgene.2020.00748

ISSN=1664-8021

ABSTRACT=<p>Loss of pod shattering is one of the most important domestication-related traits in legume crops. The non-shattering phenotypes have been achieved either by disturbed formation of abscission layer between the valves, or by loss of helical tension in sclerenchyma of endocarp, that split open the pods to disperse the seeds. During domestication, azuki bean (<italic>Vigna angularis</italic>) and yard-long bean (<italic>Vigna unguiculata</italic> cv-gr. Sesquipedalis) have reduced or lost the sclerenchyma and thus the shattering behavior of seed pods. Here we performed fine-mapping with backcrossed populations and narrowed the candidate genomic region down to 4 kbp in azuki bean and 13 kbp in yard-long bean. Among the genes located in these regions, we found MYB26 genes encoded truncated proteins in azuki bean, yard-long bean, and even cowpea. As such, our findings indicate that independent domestication on the two legumes has selected the same locus for the same traits. We also argue that MYB26 could be a target gene for improving shattering phenotype in other legumes, such as soybean.</p>