Genetic diversity and a population structure analysis of accessions in the Chinese cowpea [Vigna unguiculata(L.)Walp.]germplasm collection

Cowpea(Vigna imguicuiata) is an important legume crop with diverse uses. The species is presently a minor crop, and evaluation of its genetic diversity has been very limited. In this study, a total of 200 genic and 100 genomic simple sequence repeat(SSR) markers were developed from cowpea unigene and genome sequences, respectively. Among them, 27 genic and 27 genomic SSR markers were polymorphic and were used for assessment of genetic diversity and population structure in 105 selected cowpea accessions. A total of 155 alleles and 2.9 alleles per marker were identified, and the average polymorphic information content(PIC) value was 0.3615. The average PIC of genomic SSRs(0.3996) was higher than that of genic SSRs(0.3235), and most of the polymorphic genomic SSRs were composed of di-and trinucleotide repeats(51.9% and 37.0% of all loci, respectively). The low level of detected genetic diversity may be attributed to a severe genetic bottleneck that occurred during the cowpea domestication process. The accessions were classified by structure and cluster analysis into four subgroups that correlated well with their geographic origins or collection sites. The classification results were also consistent with the results from principal coordinate analysis and can be used as a guide during future germplasm collection and selection of accessions as breeding materials for cultivar improvement. The newly developed genic and genomic SSR markers described in this study will be valuable genomic resources for the assessment of genetic diversity, population structure, evaluation of germplasm accessions, construction of genetic maps, identification of genes of interest,and application of marker-assisted selection in cowpea breeding programs.

Plant coexistence can enhance phytoextraction of cadmium by tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) in contaminated soil

A mesocosm experiment was conducted to investigate whether plant coexistence affects cadmium （Cd） uptake by plant in contaminated soil. Tobacco （Nicotiana tabacum L. var. K326） and Japanese clover （Kummerowia striata （Thunb.） Schindl.） were used. Cadmium was applied as 3CdSO4.SH2O in solution at three levels （0, 1, and 3 mg/kg soil） to simulate an unpolluted soil and soils that were slightly and moderately polluted with Cd. Tobacco （crop）, Japanese clover （non-crop）, and their combination were grown under each Cd treatment. Compared to monoculture and under all Cd treatments, co-planting with Japanese clover did not affect tobacco biomass but significantly increased Cd concentration in all tobacco tissues and enhanced Cd accumulation in tobacco shoots and roots. Compared to monoculture, co-planting reduced soil pH and increased Cd bioavailability. For tobacco, co-planting with Japanese clover increased the Cd bioconcentration factor （BCF） in Cd contaminated soil. Japanese clover also accumulated substantial quantities of Cd in shoots and roots. Thus, total Cd uptake by the plants was much greater with co-planting than with monoculture. The results suggested that phytoextraction can be effectively increased through tobacco co-planting with Japanese clover in mildly Cd-contaminated soil.