A Review on Lablab purpureus: DNA Markers and Mapping

Success of any crop improvement programme always needs better knowledge about the genetic variation, which is available in the existing plant genetic resources or germplasms for different traits, their inheritance pattern and relationship with yield and the level of genetic diversity. True breeders always make use of the genetic diversity available in the existing germplasms. Available genetic variations among the existing germplasms supports the breeder’s decision on the selection of parental genotypes and in addition to this, it is also helpful to widen the genetic basis of a crop breeding programme. Conventionally Lablab cultivars have been identified based on phenotypic or morphological characters, which requires the establishment and maintenance of the crop plants till it matures. Though great advances in genomic technology observed in majority of the crop species, the molecular tools availability in Lablab is very scanty. A well saturated molecular map I not available till today and even trait specific markers are not identified in Lablab purpureus L. Sweet. Crop breeding programme through marker assisted selection always demands a well saturated genetic map. Assessment of genetic diversity using DNA markers is one of the key tools of crop improvement and germplasm conservation.