Genome‐wide association study of seed mineral nutrients in peas (Pisum sativum L.)

BackgroundMarker-assisted breeding is now routinely used in major crops to facilitate more efficient cultivar improvement. This has been significantly enabled by the use of next-generation sequencing technology to identify loci and markers associated with traits of interest. While rich in a range of nutritional components, such as protein, mineral nutrients, carbohydrates and several vitamins, pea (Pisum sativum L.), one of the oldest domesticated crops in the world, remains behind many other crops in the availability of genomic and genetic resources. To further improve mineral nutrient levels in pea seeds requires the development of genome-wide tools. The objectives of this research were to develop these tools by: identifying genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) using genotyping by sequencing (GBS); constructing a high-density linkage map and comparative maps with other legumes, and identifying quantitative trait loci (QTL) for levels of boron, calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, phosphorous, sulfur, and zinc in the seed, as well as for seed weight.ResultsIn this study, 1609 high quality SNPs were found to be polymorphic between ‘Kiflica’ and ‘Aragorn’, two parents of an F6-derived recombinant inbred line (RIL) population. Mapping 1683 markers including 75 previously published markers and 1608 SNPs developed from the present study generated a linkage map of size 1310.1 cM. Comparative mapping with other legumes demonstrated that the highest level of synteny was observed between pea and the genome of Medicago truncatula. QTL analysis of the RIL population across two locations revealed at least one QTL for each of the mineral nutrient traits. In total, 46 seed mineral concentration QTLs, 37 seed mineral content QTLs, and 6 seed weight QTLs were discovered. The QTLs explained from 2.4% to 43.3% of the phenotypic variance.ConclusionThe genome-wide SNPs and the genetic linkage map developed in this study permitted QTL identification for pea seed mineral nutrients that will serve as important resources to enable marker-assisted selection (MAS) for nutritional quality traits in pea breeding programs.

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Peas (Pisum sativum) are an important legume crop known for their high nutritional value and role in crop rotation systems. Despite their numerous benefits, pea seed germination and early seedling growth can be influenced by various environmental factors, often leading to reduced crop yield. To address this, seed priming has emerged as a technique to improve germination and seedling vigor. This study, conducted in 2024, aimed to evaluate the impact of priming with various concentrations of Moringa Leaf Extract (MLE) on germination and seedling characteristics of peas.The experiment was performed following a Completely Randomized Design (CRD), with three replications. The treatments included a control (no priming) and six different concentrations of MLE (1%, 3%, 5%, 7%, and 9%). Key parameters assessed included germination percentage, germination index, seedling vigor index, seedling height, root length, biomass of roots and shoots, and chlorophyll content. The results indicated that priming with 3% MLE significantly enhanced the germination rate (100%) and seedling vigor index (1513.3), outperforming all other treatments. The 3% MLE treatment also maximized seedling height (15.133 cm) and root length (6.5 cm). Furthermore, this treatment yielded the highest biomass for both roots (0.8667 g) and shoots (1.3233 g), as well as the highest chlorophyll content (64.867). At 35 days after sowing, the 7% MLE treatment produced the highest number of leaves, branches, and root length, while the 5% MLE treatment resulted in the highest shoot biomass. Overall, the study suggests that priming with MLE can be an effective technique for improving germination, growth, and biomass production in pea seeds, with the optimal concentration varying depending on the specific growth parameter being measured.

The goal of the trial was to reduce the content of antinutritional substances in pea (Pisum sativum L.) seeds in order to enhance its use in livestock nutrition. A variety of field pea (Pisum sativum L.) with a high content of antinutritional substances and favourable production traits (Gotik) was chosen. Native and heat-treated pea seeds were used to collect representative samples (n = 6) for analytical purposes. The technology (V-0 technology, Czech patent No. 285745) was further modified by adjusting the reactor temperature, the duration of exposure to that temperature, and the duration of ageing of the material treated in this way (V-I and V-II technologies). The methodology of treatment is based on exposing pea seeds to vapour, organic acids and selected oxides.The monitored parameters included antinutritional substances. As far as the antinutritional substances were concerned, the content of trypsin inhibitors in native pea seeds (P) was around 15.4 ± 0.5 TIU. After treatment with technologies V-0, V-I, and V-II its activity dropped by 83.8, 80.5 and 83.8%, respectively. The pre-treatment titre of lectins (P) was 717 ± 376. It dropped by 70.3, 35.7 and 73.2% after treatment with technologies V-0, V-I and V-II, respectively. The content of tannins measured by the amount of gallic acid in native pea seeds was 49.1 ± 2.7 mg per kg. It dropped by 41.4, 32.0 and 46.2% after the application of the above-mentioned technologies. The content of indigestible oligosaccharides causing flatulence was less affected by the treatments. The pre-treatment content of raffinose was 9.5 ± 0.5 g/kg. The drop associated with the treatment was 9.5, 6.3 and 10.5%, respectively. The pre-treatment content of stachyose was 21.4 ± 0.8 g/kg and after treatment with technologies V-0 and V-II it dropped by 7.0% and by 16.4%, respectively. The application of technology V-I did not result in a drop in the content of stachyose. The content of verbascose in native pea seeds was 16.1 g/kgand the treatment with technologies V-0; V-I and V-II resulted in a drop by 7.5, 5.6 and 20.5%, respectively. As for the detected phenolic acids, with the exception of caffeic acid, not a drop, but an increase in their content was recorded. Isoflavone oestrogens such as daidzein and genistein also recorded a small increase in their content. The results of the trial lead us to conclude that the above-described methods of pea seed treatment, especially the V-II variant, proved to be useful and can be recommended for practical use.  

Hedged stock plants of four full-sib families [27-2 × 27-5, 27-3 × 27-1, 27-2 × 27-1, and 27-6 × 27-1 (designated B, G, R, and W)] of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) were fertilized daily with a complete nutrient solution containing N at 10, 25, 40, 55, or 70 mg·L–1. In May, terminal softwood stem cuttings were taken and placed under intermittent mist. Families were combined to form composite poor-rooting (BR) and good-rooting (GW) families. At 0, 3, 6, 9, and 12 weeks after sticking, cuttings were evaluated for rooting and analyzed for mineral nutrient and carbohydrate content. Percent rooting by week 12 for cuttings from stock plants receiving N between 25 to 70 mg·L–1 was 28% to 33%, whereas significantly fewer (17%) cuttings from plants receiving 10 mg·L–1 had rooted. By week 12, 98% of cuttings taken from stock plants receiving N at 10 mg·L–1 were alive, while significantly fewer (81% and 82%) of the more succulent cuttings receiving 55 and 70 mg·L–1, respectively, had survived. Nearly all increases in cutting height occurred within the first 3 weeks. In contrast, top dry weight increased steadily throughout the experiment. There were no significant differences in rooting between the two composite families until week 12, when 32% of cuttings from family GW had rooted compared with 24% for family BR. Survival of cuttings was greater for the poor-rooting family (BR) (94%) than for the good-rooting family (GW) (82%) after 12 weeks. Levels of total nonstructural carbohydrates (TNC) and individual soluble sugars were initially higher in cuttings taken from stock plants that received higher rates of N, whereas the reverse was true for starch content. With the exception of sucrose, content of TNC and soluble carbohydrates generally increased over time. Starch was nearly depleted by week 3, but had increased by weeks 6 and 9. No correlation was found between TNC: N ratios and rooting percentage. Family GW contained greater quantities of myo-inositol, glucose, fructose, sucrose, total soluble carbohydrates (TSC), and TNC than did family BR. Mineral nutrient content was generally greater in cuttings taken from stock plants that received higher rates of N; these cuttings also maintained higher levels throughout the 12-week rooting period. As with the soluble carbohydrates, the good-rooting composite family (GW) contained greater amounts of all mineral nutrients than did the poor-rooting family BR.

Starch and amylose synthesis in seeds of garden and field peas In seeds of garden and field peas (Pisum sativum, ssp. medullare and ssp. sativum) the synthesis of starch, amylose, amylopectin and sugar was investigated during seed development in plants differing in potassium nutrition. Seed growth started about 2 weeks after flowering and was terminated 5 weeks later.At the beginning of seed growth synthesis of amylose and amylopectin was very low in both pea species with a small surplus of amylopectin. After the first third of seed development, however, synthesis of amylose and mainly of amylopectin was improved at different rates. While both species exhibited an almost analogous increase in amylose synthesis, synthesis of amylopectin differed widely in garden and field peas. In garden peas it fell behind amylose production, yielding an amylose/amylopectin ratio of 2: 1 in mature seeds. In field peas amylopectin synthesis greatly exceeded amylose production resulting in an amylose/amylopectin ratio of 1:2.The 50 % higher starch content in seeds of field peas was mainly due to the more intensive rate of amylopectin synthesis. This shows that starch production via amylopectin synthesis is probably the more effective metabolic pathway.Sugar contents were highest in the middle of the generative phase. Until maturity they rapidly declined to one quarter of the maximum level. At each stage of seed development sugar content in garden peas was twice as high as in field peas. Potassium nutrition had only a very small influence on the carbohydrates examined.

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Livestock gives a substantial contribution in sustaining rural economy and livelihood and up liftment of socio-economic status of rural people. The contribution is nearly 4.11 per cent to total GDP and 25.6% of total Agriculture GDP. Present livestock population of 535.78 million registered an increase of 4.6% over Livestock Census 2012. In India availability of feed stuffs both in quantitative and qualitative forms has been the major constraint for sustaining positive growth in Indian livestock sector. Latest estimate on demand-supply gap in fodder availability shows a net deficit of 30.65% green fodder and 11.85% dry crop residues in year 2020. Pea seeds are regarded as a highly valuable protein source for nutrition due to their high protein content (about 22-24%) which is intermediate between cereals and oil meals. Empty pea pods have been reported to contain 19.8% crude protein and 1.0% ether extract, rich in total soluble sugars (35.8%), total phenolics (9.4%) and macro and micro minerals. The digestion kinetic parameters for dry matter revealed that pea pods had 82.3 per cent degradable fractions and 68-69 per cent effective and true degradability. In India, total quantity of green pea pods available on annual basis accounts to 68.5×103 tones. Pea pods are relished by ruminants and are highly palatable with high nutritive value and an effective method of utilization of pea waste after removal of pea grains from pea pods as complete feed in ruminant animals.

Both the scientific community and society have shown interest in improving the content of amino acids, carbohydrates and mineral nutrients in maize because it represents an important staple food in many developing countries. Earlier studies demonstrated that the treatment of seeds using ascorbic acid (AsA-seed priming) enhanced soluble carbohydrates, proteins and soluble amino acids for other species. AsA seed priming in maize showed the potential for reducing abiotic stresses. The effects on grain quality have not been previously demonstrated. This study investigated the impacts of AsA seed priming on maize kernel quality of seeds produced by the plants generated from the primed seeds, based on the amino acid profile and carbohydrate and mineral nutrient contents. AsA seed priming improved the maize kernel quality with respect to the ascorbate content, boron allocation, total carbohydrate content and increased soluble amino acid levels, including serine, tyrosine, alanine, valine, glutamate, arginine, proline, aspartate, lysine and isoleucine, whereas soluble methionine was decreased. Therefore, AsA seed priming can represent a potential technique for improving maize grain quality.

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