Identification of DNA markers associated with Fe, Zn, Ca, Mn, Mg elements and nutritional value components in seeds through genome wide association studies (GWAS) in wild (Cicer reticulatum) and cultivated chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Chickpea, is the one of the most economically important legumes used for as food for human beings. Due to its rich content, it has taken an important place in human nutrition for centuries. Iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn) elements and protein, lutein, vitamin C, glucose, fructose, saccharose nutritional value components are vital in terms of human health and many health problems arise in their deficiencies. In this study, the main goal was to detect DNA markers which are associated with seed nutritional elements and nutritional value components in cultivated (Cicer arietinum L.) and wild (Cicer reticulatum) chickpea populations. In this study, 180 genotypes consisting of 73 cultivated and 107 wild type were used and genotyped using 121,840 Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) markers. Population structure was identified in STRUCTURE software and 180 genotypes divided into 2 (K=2) groups. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Neighbour Joining (NJ) tree analysis confirmed STRUCTURE results. A total 154 significantly associated SNPs related to 11 phenotypic traits were identified in TASSEL (Trait Analysis by Association, Evolution and Linkage) software by Mixed Lineer Model (MLM) method. The markers detected in this study can be used for improvement of nutrient rich chickpea genotypes.