University of Saskatchewan (USask) researchers, including Dr. Bunyamin Tar’an (PhD) and Dr. Amit Deokar (PhD) of the USask College of Agriculture and Bioresources, were involved in the overall study of the chickpea.
Zero hunger and good health could be achieved by 2030 for much of the world through effective conservation, characterization, and utilization of germplasm resources.
This international team of researchers used the genetics of 200 Canadian chickpea plants to track the evolution and migration of chickpeas and perform associated data analysis. This offered insights that could lead to more nutritious and adaptable varieties.
“Chickpeas are one of the main protein sources for hundreds of millions of people — especially in South Asia, Africa and other parts of the world,” said Tar’an. “The research provides an avenue to support global efforts to develop chickpeas with even better nutritional value as well as more climate-resilient varieties.”
The research provides a complete overview of genetic variation within chickpea and a validated roadmap for using the knowledge and genomic resources to improve the crop.
“By employing whole genome sequencing, we have been able to affirm the history of chickpea’s origin in the Fertile Crescent and identify two paths of diffusion or migration of chickpea to the rest of the world. states Professor Rajeev Varshney, leader of the study and a research program Director at International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics.
“One path indicates diffusion to South Asia and East Africa, and the other suggests diffusion to the Mediterranean region (probably through Turkey), as well as to the Black Sea and Central Asia (up to Afghanistan),” says Varshney.
To view the whole research article on the study’s findings, visit here.