Cultivated peanut, or groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.), is an important oilseed crop with an allotetraploid genome (AABB, 2n = 4x = 40). In recent years, many efforts have been made to construct linkage maps in cultivated peanut, but almost all of these maps were constructed using low-throughput molecular markers, and most show a low density, directly influencing the value of their applications. With advances in next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology, the construction of high-density genetic maps has become more achievable in a cost-effective and rapid manner. The objective of this study was to establish a high-density single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based genetic map for cultivated peanut by analyzing next-generation double-digest restriction-site-associated DNA sequencing (ddRADseq) reads. We constructed reduced representation libraries (RRLs) for two A. hypogaea lines and 166 of their recombinant inbred line (RIL) progenies using the ddRADseq technique. Approximately 175 gigabases of data containing 952,679,665 paired-end reads were obtained following Solexa sequencing. Mining this dataset, 53,257 SNPs were detected between the parents, of which 14,663 SNPs were also detected in the population, and 1,765 of the obtained polymorphic markers met the requirements for use in the construction of a genetic map. Among 50 randomly selected in silico SNPs, 47 were able to be successfully validated. One linkage map was constructed, which was comprised of 1,685 marker loci, including 1,621 SNPs and 64 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. The map displayed a distribution of the markers into 20 linkage groups (LGs A01–A10 and B01–B10), spanning a distance of 1,446.7 cM. The alignment of the LGs from this map was shown in comparison with a previously integrated consensus map from peanut. This study showed that the ddRAD library combined with NGS allowed the rapid discovery of a large number of SNPs in the cultivated peanut. The first high density SNP-based linkage map for A. hypogaea was generated that can serve as a reference map for cultivated Arachis species and will be useful in genetic mapping. Our results contribute to the available molecular marker resources and to the assembly of a reference genome sequence for the peanut.

Plant bZIP proteins characteristically harbor a highly conserved bZIP domain with two structural features: a DNA-binding basic region and a leucine (Leu) zipper dimerization region. They have been shown to be diverse transcriptional regulators, playing crucial roles in plant development, physiological processes, and biotic/abiotic stress responses. Despite the availability of six completely sequenced legume genomes, a comprehensive investigation of bZIP family members in legumes has yet to be presented. In this study, we identified 428 bZIP genes encoding 585 distinct proteins in six legumes, Glycine max, Medicago truncatula, Phaseolus vulgaris, Cicer arietinum, Cajanus cajan, and Lotus japonicus. The legume bZIP genes were categorized into 11 groups according to their phylogenetic relationships with genes from Arabidopsis. Four kinds of intron patterns (a–d) within the basic and hinge regions were defined and additional conserved motifs were identified, both presenting high group specificity and supporting the group classification. We predicted the DNA-binding patterns and the dimerization properties, based on the characteristic features in the basic and hinge regions and the Leu zipper, respectively, which indicated that some highly conserved amino acid residues existed across each major group. The chromosome distribution and analysis for WGD-derived duplicated blocks revealed that the legume bZIP genes have expanded mainly by segmental duplication rather than tandem duplication. Expression data further revealed that the legume bZIP genes were expressed constitutively or in an organ-specific, development-dependent manner playing roles in multiple seed developmental stages and tissues. We also detected several key legume bZIP genes involved in drought- and salt-responses by comparing fold changes of expression values in drought-stressed or salt-stressed roots and leaves. In summary, this genome-wide identification, characterization and expression analysis of legume bZIP genes provides valuable information for understanding the molecular functions and evolution of the legume bZIP transcription factor family, and highlights potential legume bZIP genes involved in regulating tissue development and abiotic stress responses.

Key message SSR-based QTL mapping provides useful information for map-based cloning of major QTLs and can be used to improve the agronomic and quality traits in cultivated peanut by marker-assisted selection. Abstract Cultivated peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is an allotetraploid species (AABB, 2n = 4× = 40), valued for its edible oil and digestible protein. Linkage mapping has been successfully conducted for most crops, and it has been applied to detect the quantitative trait loci (QTLs) of biotic and abiotic traits in peanut. However, the genetic basis of agronomic and quality-related traits remains unclear. In this study, high levels of phenotypic variation, broad-sense heritability and significant correlations were observed for agronomic and quality-related traits in an F _2:3 population. A genetic linkage map was constructed for cultivated peanut containing 470 simple sequence repeat (SSR) loci, with a total length of 1877.3 cM and average distance of 4.0 cM between flanking markers. For 10 agronomic traits, 24 QTLs were identified and each QTL explained 1.69–18.70 % of the phenotypic variance. For 8 quality-related traits, 12 QTLs were identified that explained 1.72–20.20 % of the phenotypic variance. Several QTLs for multiple traits were overlapped, reflecting the phenotypic correlation between these traits. The majority of QTLs exhibited obvious dominance or over-dominance effects on agronomic and quality traits, highlighting the importance of heterosis for breeding. A comparative analysis revealed genomic duplication and arrangement of peanut genome, which aids the assembly of scaffolds in genomic sequencing of Arachis hypogaea. Our QTL analysis results enabled us to clearly understand the genetic base of agronomic and quality traits in cultivated peanut, further accelerating the progress of map-based cloning of major QTLs and marker-assisted selection in future breeding.

Aflatoxin is considered a “hidden poison” due to its slow and adverse effect on various biological pathways in humans, particularly among children, in whom it leads to delayed development, stunted growth, liver damage, and liver cancer. Unfortunately, the unpredictable behavior of the fungus as well as climatic conditions pose serious challenges in precise phenotyping, genetic prediction and genetic improvement, leaving the complete onus of preventing aflatoxin contamination in crops on post-harvest management. Equipping popular crop varieties with genetic resistance to aflatoxin is key to effective lowering of infection in farmer’s fields. A combination of genetic resistance for in vitro seed colonization (IVSC), pre-harvest aflatoxin contamination (PAC) and aflatoxin production together with pre- and post-harvest management may provide a sustainable solution to aflatoxin contamination. In this context, modern “omics” approaches, including next-generation genomics technologies, can provide improved and decisive information and genetic solutions. Preventing contamination will not only drastically boost the consumption and trade of the crops and products across nations/regions, but more importantly, stave off deleterious health problems among consumers across the globe.

The cultivated peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is an important oil and food crop in the world. Pod- and kernel-related traits are direct factors involved in determining the yield of the peanut. However, the genetic basis underlying pod- and kernel-related traits in the peanut remained largely unknown, which hampered the improvement of peanut through marker-assisted selection. To understand the genetic basis underlying pod- and kernel-related traits in the peanut and provide more useful information for marker-assisted breeding, we conducted quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis for pod length and width and seed length and width by use of two F2:3 populations derived from cultivar Fuchuan Dahuasheng × ICG 6375 (FI population) and cultivar Xuhua 13 × cultivar Zhonghua 6 (XZ population) in this study. Two genetic maps containing 347 and 228 polymorphic markers were constructed for FI and XZ populations respectively. In total, 39 QTLs explaining 1.25–26.11 % of the phenotypic variations were detected in two populations. For the FI population, 26 QTLs were detected between the two environments, among which twelve were not mapped before. For the XZ population, thirteen QTLs were detected, among which eight were not reported before. One QTL for pod width was repeatedly mapped between the two populations. The QTL analyses for pod length and width and seed length and width were conducted in this study using two mapping populations. Novel QTLs were identified, which included two for pod length, four for pod width, five for seed length and one for seed width in the FI population, and three for pod length, three for pod width and two for seed width in the XZ population. Our results will be helpful for improving pod- and seed-related traits in peanuts through marker-assisted selection.

Summary: Bacterial wilt, caused by Ralstonia solanacearum, is a devastating disease affecting over 350 plant species. A few peanut cultivars were found to possess stable and durable bacterial wilt resistance (BWR). Genomics‐assisted breeding can accelerate the process of developing resistant cultivars by using diagnostic markers. Here, we deployed sequencing‐based trait mapping approach, QTL‐seq, to discover genomic regions, candidate genes and diagnostic markers for BWR in a recombination inbred line population (195 progenies) of peanut. The QTL‐seq analysis identified one candidate genomic region on chromosome B02 significantly associated with BWR. Mapping of newly developed single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers narrowed down the region to 2.07 Mb and confirmed its major effects and stable expressions across three environments. This candidate genomic region had 49 nonsynonymous SNPs affecting 19 putative candidate genes including seven putative resistance genes (R‐genes). Two diagnostic markers were successfully validated in diverse breeding lines and cultivars and could be deployed in genomics‐assisted breeding of varieties with enhanced BWR.