A community resource for exploring and utilizing genetic diversity in the USDA pea single plant plus collection. (26th April 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Holdsworth, William L; Gazave, Elodie; Cheng, Peng; Myers, James R; Gore, Michael A; Coyne, Clarice J; McGee, Rebecca J; Mazourek, Michael
• Is Part Of: Horticulture research. Volume 4(2017)
• Publication Date: 2017-04-26
• Subjects: Plant breeding -- Plant genetics; Horticulture -- Research -- Periodicals; 635.072
• DOI: 10.1038/hortres.2017.17
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2052-7276

Abstract

Abstract: Globally, pea ( Pisum sativum L.) is an important temperate legume crop for food, feed and fodder, and many breeding programs develop cultivars adapted to these end-uses. In order to assist pea development efforts, we assembled the USDA Pea Single Plant Plus Collection (PSPPC), which contains 431 P. sativum accessions with morphological, geographic and taxonomic diversity. The collection was characterized genetically in order to maximize its value for trait mapping and genomics-assisted breeding. To that end, we used genotyping-by-sequencing—a cost-effective method for de novo single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) marker discovery—to generate 66 591 high-quality SNPs. These data facilitated the identification of accessions divergent from mainstream breeding germplasm that could serve as sources of novel, favorable alleles. In particular, a group of accessions from Central Asia appear nearly as diverse as a sister species, P. fulvum, and subspecies, P. sativum subsp. elatius . PSPPC genotypes can be paired with new and existing phenotype data for trait mapping; as proof-of-concept, we localized Mendel's A gene controlling flower color to its known position. We also used SNP data to define a smaller core collection of 108 accessions with similar levels of genetic diversity as the entire PSPPC, resulting in a smaller germplasm set for research screening and evaluation under limited resources. Taken together, the results presented in this study along with the release of a publicly available SNP data set comprise a valuable resource for supporting worldwide pea genetic improvement efforts. Abstract : Plant breeding: Pea gene database A new database containing genetic information on more than 400 pea plants provides a valuable resource for future breeding. Peas ( Pisum sativum ) are a globally important, protein-rich crop, providing food for humans and animals, and grown as a soil-improving cover crop. Amid concerns over diminishing genetic diversity in highly bred crops such as pea, a team led by Michael Mazourek of Cornell University, USA, decided to document the existing genetic variety found in peas from across the world. Their publicly available database - which details over 66, 000 genetic sites - can be used to explore associations between genetic and morphological traits, and to source pea plants with beneficial characteristics. The researchers found particularly high diversity within peas from central Asia, which may harbor genes related to disease-resistance, cold-tolerance or other characters that could be incorporated into new cultivated varieties.