Development of functional genomic platform for model legume medicago truncatula in Bulgaria

Abstract

Legumes, because of the high protein content of their seedsin grain legumes, and leaves in forage legumes, are major crop plants used in human food and animal feed. They have the unique capacity among plants to associate with soil bacteria of the genus Rhizobium to form nitrogen-fixing nodules, thereby limiting the need for exogenous nitrate. The use of the model legume Medicago truncatula over the last 10 years has dramatically improved our understanding of genomic structure and gene function for legumes in general. Nevertheless, the development of new molecular and genetic tools is essential in order to optimise the exploitation of this model plant. For example, insertional mutagenesis is necessary to construct the large-scale mutant collections which will help to identify both key symbiotic and developmental genes, as well as genes of agronomical importance. Although large-scale insertional mutagenesis using T-DNA is not feasible in legumes, the Tntl tobacco retrotransposon can be used as a very efficient mutagen in the M. truncatula 2HA Jemalong. This mini review comments utility and challenges of exploring forward and reverse genetic tools for functional genomic studies in M. truncatula and particular attention is paid on the use of tobacco Tntl retrotransposon as a tool for insertional mutagenesis in this model legume species. Current and future research activities of the AgroBioInstitute that concern this model species and the exploitation of Tntl insertional mutant collection will carry on in frame of the NSF funded DO02-105 "Centre for sustainable development of plant and animal genomics" project.