Identifying Agronomic, Nutrition and Leaf Vein Quantitative Trait Loci in the Orphan Crop Gynandropsis gynandra

A sustainable food supply is vital for addressing the challenges of a growing global population and climate change. Gynandropsis gynandra , a nutritious C ₄ orphan crop native to Africa and Asia, thrives in low-input agricultural systems, making it a valuable candidate for future food security. This crop also serves as a model for studying C ₄ photosynthesis. However, research on its genetic improvement is limited. In this study, two mapping populations from diverse parental lines were used to identify Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) linked to agronomically relevant traits like plant height, leaf area, flowering time, nutritional content, and photosynthesis. Fifteen QTL were identified, with two affecting both leaf size and flowering time across populations, which can be applied for marker assisted selection for crop improvement. Additionally, QTL linked to C ₄ photosynthesis provide insights into the genetic mechanisms behind this pathway. Overall, this research enhances the potential of G. gynandra as a climate-resilient crop.