Debjyoti Sen Gupta

Lentils (Lens culinaris L.), a Rich Source of Folates

The potential for genetic biofortification of U.S.-grown lentils ( Lens culinaris L.) with bioavailable folate has not been widely studied. The objectives of this study were (1) to determine the folate concentration of 10 commercial lentil cultivars grown in Minot and McLean counties, North Dakota, USA, in 2010 and 2011, (2) to determine the genotype (G) × environmental (E) interactions for folate concentration in lentil cultivars, and (3) to compare the folate concentration of other pulses [field peas ( Pisum sativum L.) and chickpea ( Cicer arietinum L.)] grown in the United States. Folate concentration in lentil cultivars ranged from 216 to 290 μg/100 g with a mean of 255 μg/100 g. In addition, lentil showed higher folate concentration compared to chickpea (42-125 μg/100 g), yellow field pea (41-55 μg/100 g), and green field pea (50-202 μg/100 g). A 100 g serving of lentils could provide a significant amount of the recommended daily allowance of dietary folates (54-73%) for adults. A significant year × location interaction on lentil folate concentration was observed; this indicates that possible location sourcing may be required for future lentil folate research.

Legumes in the omic era

Ch. 1. Legumes in Omic Era: Retrospects and Prospects Ch. 2. Advances in Functional Genomics in Legumes.- Ch. 3. Advances in Soybean Genomics.- Ch. 4. Advances in Chickpea Genomics.- Ch. 5. Advances in Pigeonpea Genomics.- Ch. 6. Advances in Lentil Genomics.- Ch. 7. Advances in Cowpea Improvement and Genomics.- Ch. 8. Advances in Greengram and Blackgram Genomics.- Ch. 9. Common Bean Genomics and its Applications in Breeding Programs.- Ch. 10. Pulses biofortification in genomic era: multidisciplinary opportunities and challenges.- Ch. 11. Towards Enriching Genomic Resources in Legumes.- Ch. 12. Bioinformatics for Legume Genomics Research.- Ch. 13. Genetics and genomics of resistance to rust and stemphylium blight in lentil.- Ch. 14. Genomics in studying the legume genome evolution.- Ch. 15. Advances in Pea Genomics

Pulses Biofortification in Genomic Era: Multidisciplinary Opportunities and Challenges

Agricultural production systems driven by green revolutionary efforts have resulted in the displacement of traditional food crops that provided greater levels of protein and essential micronutrients. This has led to half of the world’s population being deficient in essential micronutrients, with millions lacking in daily protein and micronutrient intakes. Biofortification of many commonly eaten staple foods is viewed as a sustainable solution to combat global micronutrient malnutrition. However, biofortification efforts with pulse crops [mainly lentils (Lens culinaris L.), field pea (Pisum sativum L.), and chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)] have been limited to certain regions in North America and no global pulse biofortification initiative exists. The majority of the world’s population lives in Asia and Africa, where there is an urgent need to produce micronutrient and protein rich pulses to prevent micronutrient malnutrition deficiencies. This chapter reviews the last 10 years of literature on pulse genetic biofortification, discusses current pulse biofortification research efforts in the USA and other countries, and suggests urgent pulse biofortification efforts involving modern genomic tools and techniques along with the sound phenotyping targeted at finding sustainable solutions for regions with the greatest micronutrient deficiencies.

Development of Molecular Markers for Iron Metabolism Related Genes in Lentil and Their Expression Analysis under Excess Iron Stress

Multiple genes and transcription factors are involved in the uptake and translocation of iron in plants from soil. The sequence information about iron uptake and translocation related genes is largely unknown in lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.). This study was designed to develop iron metabolism related molecular markers for Ferritin-1, BHLH-1 (Basic helix loop helix), or FER-like transcription factor protein and IRT-1 (Iron related transporter) genes using genome synteny with barrel medic (Medicago truncatula). The second objective of this study was to analyze differential gene expression under excess iron over time (2 h, 8 h, 24 h). Specific molecular markers were developed for iron metabolism related genes (Ferritin-1, BHLH-1, IRT-1) and validated in lentil. Gene specific markers for Ferritin-1 and IRT-1 were used for quantitative PCR (qPCR) studies based on their amplification efficiency. Significant differential expression of Ferritin-1 and IRT-1 was observed under excess iron conditions through qPCR based gene expression analysis. Regulation of iron uptake and translocation in lentil needs further characterization. Greater emphasis should be given to development of conditions simulating field conditions under external iron supply and considering adult plant physiology.

Rice, Wheat and Maize Biofortification

Cereals are the major energy source for humans throughout the world and hold a prominent position in a balanced diet to meet up carbohydrate demand of the body. Most of the cereals are deficient in micronutrient and vitamins and continuous dependency on cereal based diets resulted in human malnutrition. Biofortification is a novel concept defined as the enrichment of micronutrients through conventional plant breeding and modern biotechnology. In this post genomic era, an enormous amount of genetic information is available for staple food crops. This genetic information could be used to improve nutritional quality of the staple food crops to provide nutritional requirements. During last few decades, cereal biofortification research has been significantly contributed to reduce malnutrition around the world. Knowledge of precise phenotyping and genetics of the traits are prerequisite before starting of a genetic biofortification program. The inheritance of major micronutrients and vitamins in rice, wheat and maize were reported to be polygenic and in most of the cases the quantitative trait loci were mapped in the genome. A few commercial cereal cultivars are developed so far using genetic biofortification technique. The ongoing biofortification programs are more competitive as newer perspective of food matrix came into picture. In this article we reviewed an overview of current global cereal biofortification efforts, global malnutrition issues, and the promise of biotechnology techniques to improve cereals as a whole food solution to combat global malnutrition issues.

Inheritance of mutant and wild type leaf shape in greengram(Vigna radiata)and blackgram(Vigna mungo)

Leaf shape is an important phenotypic trait in Vigna spp. and to find out the inheritance of different leaf shape types in greengram (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek) and blackgram (Vigna mungo L. Hepper) intervarietal crosses were made among different leaf shape type bearing genotypes of greengram and blackgram during rainy season of year 2007. F2 and F3 populations are grown during rainy season of 2008 and 2009, respectively and they are phenotyped for the trait under study. Mendelian inheritance of ovate leaf shape in greengram and lanceolate leaf shape in blackgram was found to be controlled by single recessive gene in the entire cross combinations. The proposed gene symbols for leaf shape in greengram and blackgram are ov and OV, respectively. Since leaf shape is distinct morphological feature and is in case simply inherited, hence this can be used as potential phenotypic marker in genetic studies.