Plant & Animal Genomes XIII Conference

January 15-19, 2005
Town & Country Convention Center
San Diego, CA

Nucleotide Diversity Of Chalcone Isomerase In Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris)

Sujan Mamidi , Phillip E. McClean

  North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND USA

Chalcone isomerase (CHI) is a gene that converts chalcone to naringenin. It is part of the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway in legumes, produces flavonoids and isoflavonoids that have roles in legume microbe interactions, UV light protection and as floral and fruit pigments. The objective of this project is to compare the patterns of sequence diversity at CHI and several loci in common bean. Landraces which represent the domesticated diversity in common bean are being used for initial analysis. The approach is to sequence gene fragments by using primers based on published Tendergreen locus (2.1 Kb in length with four exons and three introns), and use phylogenetic analysis to study the relationship between these landraces. The results of the phylogenetic analysis along with the statistics will be provided. This research permits the broadening of current germplasm base allowing the development of new cultivars, designing SNPs and other primers to benefit breeders.