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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Pullman, Washington » Plant Germplasm Introduction and Testing Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #435341
Research Project: Genetic Resource and Information Management for Pulse, Temperate Forage Legume, Oilseed, Vegetable, Grasses, Sugar, Ornamental, and Other Crops

Location: Plant Germplasm Introduction and Testing Research

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

Author
item SARI, HATICE - Washington State University
item COYNE, CLARICE - Washington State University
item Grusak, Michael
item Valkov, Veselina
item ZHANG, ZHIWU - Washington State University
item MCGEE, REBECCA - Washington State University
item MA, YU - The Ohio State University
item MAIN, DOREEN - Washington State University
item BANDILLO, NONOY - North Carolina State University
item HART, JONAH - Washington State University
item Bourland, Britton
item UHDRE, RENAN - Washington State University
item Warburton, Marilyn

Submitted to: The Plant Genome
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/12/2025
Publication Date: 10/12/2025
Citation: Sari, H., Coyne, C.J., Grusak, M.A., Valkov, V.A., Zhang, Z., McGee, R.J., Ma, Y., Main, D., Bandillo, N., Hart, J., Bourland, B.M., Uhdre, R., Warburton, M.L. 2025. Genome-wide association study of seed mineral nutrients in peas (Pisum sativum L.).. The Plant Genome. 18(4). Article e70137. https://doi.org/10.1002/tpg2.70137.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/tpg2.70137

Interpretive Summary: Peas are an important food crop, providing essential nutrients and supporting sustainable agriculture. However, the levels of important minerals like iron, zinc, and magnesium in pea seeds can vary. Our research studied 482 different types of peas for 15 mineral elements over 3 years to understand how genetics and the environment influence mineral concentrations in seeds. Using genetic analysis, we discovered 113 genetic markers linked to mineral levels and identified genes involved in nutrient transport. We also found three promising pea varieties that could help improve seed nutrition through breeding. These findings offer valuable tools to develop more nutritious pea varieties, contributing to better nutrition and global food security.

Technical Abstract: Pea (Pisum sativum L.) is an important crop with high nutritional value and agricultural benefits. This study aimed to identify genetic factors that influence the levels of mineral elements (B, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, P, S, Zn, Co, Mo, Ni, and Se) in pea seeds. A panel of 482 genetically variable pea accessions was grown in field trials for 3 years (2019–2021) and the seed mineral nutrients were analyzed. Individual accessions in the panel were genotyped using genotyping-by-sequencing, resulting in 79,608 high-quality single nucleotide polymorphisms after filtering. A genome-wide association study identified 113 SNPs significantly associated with mineral nutrient concentrations, explaining between 0.4% and 64.3% of the observed variation. Candidate genes linked to these SNPs were found to be involved in processes such as nutrient transport, metal binding, and stress responses, all of which affect mineral accumulation in seeds. The study also showed that genetic factors and environmental conditions interact to shape pea mineral concentration. Overall, genotype had a stronger effect on most mineral traits, particularly Mn and Na, while environmental effects were more prominent for elements like S and P. These findings offer valuable genetic tools for breeding programs aimed at improving pea nutritional quality, which can help address food insecurity and reduce malnutrition globally.