Omics Approaches in Allium Research: Progress and Way Ahead
Omics approaches in Allium research: Progress and way ahead Kiran Khandagale1, Ram Krishna2, Praveen Roylawar3, Avinash B. Ade1, Ashwini Benke2, Bharat Shinde4, Major Singh2, Suresh J. Gawande2 and Ashutosh Rai5 1 Department of Botany, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, Maharashtra, India 2 ICAR-Directorate of Onion and Garlic Research, Rajgurunagar, India 3 Department of Botany, S. N. Arts, D. J. M. Commerce and B. N. S. Science College, Sangamner, India 4 Vidya Pratishthans's Arts Science and commerce college, Baramati, India 5 Crop Improvement, ICAR-Indian Institute of Vegetable Research, Varanasi, India ABSTRACT Background. The genus Allium (Family: Amaryllidaceae) is an economically important group of crops cultivated worldwide for their use as a vegetable and spices. Alliums are also well known for their nutraceutical properties. Among alliums, onion, garlic, leek, and chives cultivated worldwide. Despite their substantial economic and medicinal importance, the genome sequence of any of the Allium is not available, probably due to their large genome sizes. Recently evolved omics technologies are highly efficient and robust in elucidating molecular mechanisms of several complex life processes in plants. Omics technologies, such as genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, metagenomics, etc. have the potential to open new avenues in research and improvement of allium crops where genome sequence information is limited. A significant amount of data has been generated using these technologies for various Allium species; it will help in understanding the key traits in Allium crops such as flowering, bulb development, flavonoid biosynthesis, male sterility and stress tolerance at molecular and metabolite level. This information will ultimately assist us in speeding up the breeding in Allium crops.
[Show full text]