If you like Around the World Wednesday, you are also going to love Team Member Friday! Every Friday, a team member from the CU Pulse Quality and Breeding Lab will be selected to talk about! Topics may include papers the team members are currently working on, past papers that are in new stages of trials, presentations on works done, and many others! Pulse crops are amazing parts of the agricultural world and it is the people in this lab who are paving way for new innovations with in the world of pulses. Make sure to read any of their papers linked in these blog posts to find out more about what they are researching! To start off Team Member Friday, we look to one of the lead graduate students who makes a huge difference in the lab. Give it up for Sonia Salaria!
Sonia Salaria embarked on her many research project focused on genome-wide association studies of chickpea nutritional traits a semester or two ago. This genetic study involves comparing genes to identify genetic markers associated with specific phenotypes. Sonia’s quest is centered on unraveling the composition of fatty acids in chickpeas, marking a pioneering effort in GWAS studies concerning chickpeas. Unlike most studies in this domain that concentrate on proteins as the primary macromolecule, Sonia’s research specifically delves into the realm of fats.
Quoting Sonia’s paper introduction, “Fats provide significant calories and energy for human well-being and healthy living.” It serves as a reminder that fats, as a substantial macromolecule, play a crucial role in our survival and prosperity, especially for those in developing nations grappling with hidden hunger. The study outlines a hypothesis aiming to unravel the makeup of fatty acids within chickpeas and sets clear objectives to establish the existence of genetic diversity in chickpea fatty acid composition.
This research has yielded compelling findings, identifying five significant SNPs for palmitic acid. Palmitic acid, known for its role in activating cells in the immune system and other cells, holds substantial importance. The study also uncovered seven distinct subpopulations, reflecting the rich history of chickpeas. These findings showcase the potential for biofortification of chickpeas using both conventional and genomic breeding techniques. The ultimate goal is to develop superior cultivars with enhanced fatty acid profiles, contributing to improved human health and enhanced plant stress responses. Many people tend to associate fats with negative heath effects rather than focusing on what good they can provide. A well-balanced inclusion of fats in diets, sourced from healthy options such as chickpeas, can contribute to a decreased risk of obesity, lowered blood cholesterol, and a reduced likelihood of other cardiovascular diseases.
Looking forward, initiatives like chickpea biofortification offer hope for a future where producers and governments can better address the nutritional needs of starving populations. The prospect of cultivating unique chickpea varieties right here in South Carolina adds to the optimism surrounding the potential impact of this research.
As of recently, a chickpea cultivar has been chosen and trials to grow said chickpea are already underway! Make sure to look out for more on that as the trials progress!
Read Sonia’s paper here if you want to learn more: Fatty acid composition and genome-wide associations of a chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) diversity panel for biofortification efforts
