Fine‐mapping of the major locus for vicine and convicine in faba bean ( Vicia faba ) and marker‐assisted breeding of a novel, low vicine and convicine winter faba bean population

The versatility of faba bean Vicia faba grain as valuable protein feed is hampered by its relatively high level of the compounds vicine and convicine (VC), which are antinutritive factors in poultry and other non-ruminants. The objective of this study was to fine-map the major locus for VC and, based on this, to develop a novel low-VC winter faba bean. Bi-parental F-2-families and isogenic lines of three different genetic backgrounds were used for the linkage-mapping and to collect transcriptomic data. Furthermore, based on synteny to Medicago truncatula and Cicer arietinum, a candidate gene for the VC locus was identified. Zooming into the vicinity of the major VC locus resulted in eight DNA-markers suitable for breeding low VC winter faba beans. A novel, genetically low VC winter faba bean population was accordingly developed.