Scaling up orphan crop research: genebank genetics highlight geographic structure in cultivated cowpea from 10 617 global accessions.

Authors

Sofie Pearson, Adrian Hathorn, Shichao Sun, Alan Cruickshank, Tracey Shatte, Paulino Munisse, Mercy Macharia Wairimu, Joann Conner, Anna Koltunow, Jean-Philippe Vielle-Calzada, Peggy Ozias-Akins, Takayoshi Ishii, Matteo Dell'Acqua, Sally Norton, Yongfu Tao, David Jordan, Emma Mace

Published in

The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology. Volume 125. Issue 6. Pages e70777.

Abstract

Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. is a dryland legume crop, providing essential food and nutritional security for millions of people across the semi-arid tropics, in Africa, Asia and Latin America. However, as a typical 'orphan crop', cowpea has long remained underrepresented in global genomic research to support crop improvement. Here, we conducted the largest genetic diversity analysis of cowpea to date, comprising 10 617 accessions sourced from seven international collections. Using genotyping-by-sequencing, we characterised the global patterns of genetic diversity, assessed redundancy within and across collections, and examined the geographic structure of the cowpea global allele pool. Our results revealed nine distinct genetic groups with clear geographic associations and fine-scale population differentiation, reflecting dispersal history, regional adaptation and the influence of modern breeding. Duplication across collections was detected, highlighting the need for improved curation and integration of germplasm resources. Landraces from sub-Saharan Africa do not fully capture the genetic diversity present in several other geographic regions, indicating the existence of abundant and untapped genetic resources worldwide. These findings not only provide insights into the genetic structure and evolutionary history of cowpea but also offer a valuable foundation for harnessing global germplasm diversity to enhance breeding potential and accelerate crop improvement.

PMID:
41830563
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 15 Sep 2026.

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