Genetic diversity, population structure and genome-wide marker-trait association analysis emphasizing seed nutrients of the USDA pea (Pisum sativum L.) core collection

Genetic diversity, population structure and genome-wide marker-trait association analysis was conducted for the USDA pea (Pisum sativum L.) core collection. The core collection contained 285 accessions with diverse phenotypes and geographic origins. The 137 DNA markers included 102 polymorphic fragments amplified by 15 microsatellite primer pairs, 36 RAPD loci and one SCAR (sequence characterized amplified region) marker. The 49 phenotypic traits fall into the categories of seed macro- and micro-nutrients, disease resistance, agronomic traits and seed characteristics. Genetic diversity, population structure and marker-trait association were analyzed with the software packages PowerMarker, STUCTURE and TASSEL, respectively. A great amount of variation was revealed by the DNA markers at the molecular level. Identified were three sub-populations that constituted 56.1%, 13.0% and 30.9%, respectively, of the USDA Pisum core collection. The first sub-population is comprised of all cultivated pea varieties and landraces; the second of wild P. sativum ssp. elatius and abyssinicum and the accessions from the Asian highland (Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, China and Nepal); while the third is an admixture containing alleles from the first and second sub-populations. This structure was achieved using a stringent cutoff point of 15% admixture (q-value 85%) of the collection. Significant marker-trait associations were identified among certain markers with eight mineral nutrient concentrations in seed and other important phenotypic traits. Fifteen pairs of associations were at the significant levels of P ?? 0.01 when tested using the three statistical models. These markers will be useful in marker-assisted selection to breed pea cultivars with desirable agronomic traits and end-user qualities.