2nd November 2022, Puttur
In a major achievement, the scientists of ICAR-Directorate of Cashew Research, Puttur have sequenced and assembled the genome of the Cashew tree (Anacardium occidentale L.) for the first time. Cashewnut is the second most important edible tree nut crop after almonds and is cultivated in more than 30 countries with a production of over 3.80 million tons. The global cashew nut market is worth nearly US$ 6 billion (INC, 2021). Cashew industry provides huge employment opportunities especially to the rural youth and women in many developing countries. Cashew kernels are rich in healthy fatty acids and minerals, and demand for cashew kernels is progressively increasing annually across the globe.
Despite its socio-economic importance, genomic resources are limited in cashew, which has therefore limited the application of advanced molecular breeding tools for genetic improvement of economic traits. Scientists of the bio-technology section of ICAR-DCR took up the task of cashew genome assembly of a high yielding cashew cultivar: Bhaskara, and identified potential disease resistance (R) genes in the cashew genome.
The whole genome information of cashew tree has potential application in the marker assisted selections, genomic selection and breeding of cashew for the genetic improvement of the economic traits viz., yield and quality of cashewnut and cashew apple, pest and disease resistance, and sustainable production.
Gene ontology of cashew genome Shared and unique orthologous gene families in cashew and other trees
The first genome sequence of A. occidentale is a major achievement for cashew research. The cashew genome contains 31,263 protein coding genes and out of it 3,104 are potential Rgenes.
This work is published in the reputed journal: Scientific Reports published by Springer Nature. Recently, the team of scientists of ICAR-DCR, Puttur was also involved generation of transcriptome (a set of all the genes expressing in a cell or situation) of cashew shoots and developed first set of gene based molecular markers.
The whole genome sequence assembly generated for the first time for cashew tree along with the predicted protein sequences would help to gain further in-sights into molecular basis ofeconomic traits through the development of molecular markers, gene expression studies and genetic associations analyses. The whole genome assembly would provide the basic information needed for devising molecular tools and strategies for genetic improvement cashew cultivars.
The team of scientists involved in the cashew genome assembly was Dr. Siddanna Savadi, Dr. Muralidhara B.M., Dr. Jeffrey Godwin, Dr. J.D. Adiga, Dr. G.S. Mohana, Dr. E. Eradasappa, Dr. Shamsudheen M. and Dr. Anitha Karun. The Director (Acting) Dr. T.N. Raviprasad supported the scientists in the carrying out the project.
The genome sequencing and assembly was carried out in the projects funded by the ICAR, New Delhi and RKVY-RAFTAAR, Govt. of Karnataka.
(Source: ICAR-Directorate of Cashew Research, Puttur, Karnataka)
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