The potential of gene technology and genome analysis for cool season food legume crops: theory and practice

Abstract

The potential of plant gene technology encompasses a multitude of different techniques ranging from the isolation of useful genes, their characterization and in vitro manipulation to the reintroduction of the modified constructs into target plants, where they are expressed at a rate that alters the phenotype of the plants. Genome analysis, on the other hand, aims at characterizing the genome architecture and function(s).

Plant gene technology has catalyzed progress in plant breeding, as will be exemplified by a few examples, but has not yet been applied to food legume improvement on a large scale. Genome analysis, however, has a series of practical implications, as is illustrated by the successful introduction of DNA fingerprint and PCR fingerprint techniques to chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) breeding and Ascochyta rabiei pathotyping. The present overview addresses both areas of plant molecular biology to illustrate their potential for food legume breeding.