Data from: Transcriptome sequencing and marker development for four underutilized legumes

Premise of the study: Combating threats to food and nutrition security in
the context of climate change and global population increase is one of the
highest priorities of major international organizations. Hundreds of
species are grown on a small scale in some of the most drought/flood-prone
regions of the world and as such may harbor some of the most
environmentally tolerant crops (and alleles). Methods and Results: In this
study, transcriptomes were sequenced, assembled, and annotated for four
underutilized legume crops. Microsatellite markers were identified in each
species, as well as a conserved orthologous set of markers for
cross-family phylogenetics and comparative mapping, which were
ground-truthed on a panel of diverse legume germplasm. Conclusions: An
understanding of these underutilized legumes will inform crop selection
and breeding by allowing the investigation of genetic variation and the
genetic basis of adaptive traits to be established.