Study of genetic polymorphism of grain pea cultivars

Abstract

Pea (Pisum sativum L., 1753) is an essential pulse crop of global importance, which is a source of complete high-quality protein. Breeding new pea cultivars with improved economic valuable traits and high adaptive abilities is important for increasing the production of valuable high-protein pea grain. The key role in breeding is assigned to the initial material. A decrease in the genetic diversity of the initial material of cultivated plants, including pea, has become the main problem of modern breeding. In this regard, the issue of studying and preserving the genetic polymorphism of pea is relevant. Molecular genetic markers of simple sequence repeat (SSR) are widely used for this purpose. Here we aim to (1) to assess morphobiological and economical valuable traits and (2) analyze the molecular genetic diversity of the original pea material. The object of the research work was 20 grain pea cultivars. The yield structure elements of these cultivars were evaluated, and their molecular genetic polymorphism was analyzed using SSR markers AA5, AA355, AB28, AB71, and AD147. Early-ripening and highly productive cultivars were identified; they can be recommended for use as the initial material for pea breeding. As a result of the SSR analysis, 26 polymorphic alleles were identified, on average 5.2 alleles per locus. All studied cultivars were distinguished by a unique combination of alleles at five microsatellite loci, which allowed them to be identified. Based on the data of molecular genetic analysis, a cluster analysis was carried out, and a dendrogram was constructed. On the dendrogram, the studied cultivars were grouped according to the features of their morphological and economically valuable traits.