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

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.