Validation of a splice-site polymorphism in LprTFL across diverse Indian bean germplasm reveals photoperiod-dependent modulation of determinacy

Architecture determines stability of the plant structure, which is not only related with strength or weakness but flexibility. Plant architectural traits play very important role in their survival, reproduction, adaptation, domestication and evolution. Looking to the role of LprTFL locus in governing growth habit and photoperiod responsive flowering in Indian bean, the present experiment was conducted to validate the splice site SNP on a wider germplasm scale. SNP bearing splice site region was sequenced from fifty three genotypes including variety, breeding lines and local germplasm differing for growth habit. Guanine was present in all the indeterminate genotypes while adenine was found in all the determinate lines at splice site junction after 3rd exon. The present study validates involvement of G to A transition in governing growth habit in Indian bean. Base editing may be utilized to further confirm the role of this splice site mutation and convert valuable indeterminate germplasm into determinate one for short day condition. Photoperiod responsive growth habit observed in the present study indicates involvement of other environmental sensitive loci or epigenetic mechanism which needs further explorations.