Daduwal Harmanpreet Singh, Bhardwaj Ruchika, Lamba Jaspal Singh, Vikal Yogesh, Srivastava Rakesh K
Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, 141004, India.
International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, Patancheru, India.
BMC Plant Biol. 2025 Mar 31;25(1):404. doi: 10.1186/s12870-025-06381-5.
Pearl millet is an excellent forage crop with significant potential for forage production. Its fodder is rich in protein, calcium, phosphorus and other essential minerals while being low in undesirable components such as hydrocyanic acid and oxalic acid. Globally, the shortage of high-quality fodder poses challenges for maintaining animal health and productivity, ultimately impacting dairy farmers. Therefore, improving pearl millet for fodder traits should be a priority to meet the global demand for nutritious livestock feed.
Significant variability was observed for all forage quality related traits at both locations. A linkage map was constructed using 755 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) markers, spanning a total length of 3080.44 cM. A total 8, 6 and 10 QTLs were identified for Ludhiana, Abohar and across the locations, respectively, for fodder quality. A common genomic interval with flanking markers S6_234379851- S6_64109715 was associated with IVOMD, CP and ME at all locations, with 10-34% phenotypic variance. Further, expression analysis identified BHLH 148, Resistance to phytophthora, Laccase 15, cytochrome P450, PLIM2c, GRF11, NEDD AXR1, NAC 92 and TF 089 as differentially expressed candidate genes in the leaf tissues of parental lines. A phylogenetic tree constructed using these genes revealed two clades identified with six paralogous events. Additionally, a phylogenetic tree of eight cereal species showed that the majority of shared similarity with the Pgl genes, suggestinga recent speciation event among them. Common genes, including cytochrome P450, PLIM2c, NEDD AXR1 and NAC domains were identified between QTL regions and expression analysis.
The differentially expressed genes incorporating the regulatory elements governing the lignin pathway have direct or indirect effects on fodder digestibility and quality. Exploiting these factors can contribute to the direct improvement of fodder quality. The identified QTLs and candidate genes from this study could facilitate the development of gene based markers for fodder improvement.
珍珠粟是一种优良的饲料作物，具有巨大的饲料生产潜力。其饲料富含蛋白质、钙、磷和其他必需矿物质，而氰氢酸和草酸等不良成分含量较低。在全球范围内，优质饲料的短缺对维持动物健康和生产力构成挑战，最终影响奶农。因此，改善珍珠粟的饲料特性应成为满足全球对营养丰富的牲畜饲料需求的优先事项。
在两个地点观察到所有与饲料质量相关的性状都存在显著变异。使用755个单核苷酸多态性（SNP）标记构建了一个连锁图谱，总长度为3080.44厘摩。分别在卢迪亚纳、阿博哈尔以及不同地点总共鉴定出8个、6个和10个与饲料质量相关的数量性状基因座（QTL）。一个侧翼标记为S6_234379851 - S6_64109715的共同基因组区间在所有地点都与体外有机物消化率（IVOMD）、粗蛋白（CP）和代谢能（ME）相关，表型变异为10 - 34%。此外，表达分析确定了BHLH 148、抗疫霉、漆酶15、细胞色素P450、PLIM2c、GRF11、NEDD AXR1、NAC 92和TF 089为亲本系叶片组织中差异表达的候选基因。使用这些基因构建的系统发育树揭示了两个分支，鉴定出六个旁系同源事件。此外，八种谷物物种的系统发育树表明，它们中的大多数与Pgl基因具有共同的相似性，表明它们之间最近发生了物种形成事件。在QTL区域和表达分析之间鉴定出了包括细胞色素P450、PLIM2c、NEDD AXR1和NAC结构域在内的共同基因。
包含调控木质素途径的调控元件的差异表达基因对饲料消化率和质量有直接或间接影响。利用这些因素有助于直接改善饲料质量。本研究中鉴定出的QTL和候选基因可为基于基因的饲料改良标记的开发提供便利。
