A linkage map of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) based on population from ILC3279×ILC588 crosses: Location of genes for time to flowering, seed size and plant height

Quantitative traits of seed size, plant height and days to flowering were studied in a chickpea intraspecific F3:4 lines population derived from a ILC3279×ILC588 cross. The lines were genotyped with random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), universal rice primer (URP) and sequence tagged microsatellite site (STMS) markers, and a genetic map composed of 7 linkage groups (LGs) covering 285.3 cM was constructed. Quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for the three characters were detected in LG2, LG3 and LG4. Two QTLs for days to flowering were detected on LG2 and LG3. These two QTLs accounted for 58% of the total phenotypic variation for days to flowering. A QTL for plant height was located in LG3 explaining around 42% of the variation. This trait was shown to be under a major gene control. For 100-seed weight, a QTL located in LG4 explained around 37% of the phenotypic variations. This information can be used to formulate the an efficient breeding strategy for improvement of time to flowering in short-season temperate environments, plant height with more reproductive biomass and improved yield with bigger seed size in chickpea