Genome‐Wide Association Studies of Micro‐and Macro‐Mineral Concentrations in Cultivated, Wild and Native Pea

ABSTRACT Pea ( Pisum sativum ) is a nutrient‐rich crop that can provide essential nutrients needed for human and animal health. Improving its mineral concentration through genetic selection can enhance its nutritional value and help combat micronutrient deficiencies. This study aimed to investigate the genetic basis of the accumulation of eight minerals (calcium [Ca], copper [Cu], potassium [K], magnesium [Mg], manganese [Mn], phosphorus [P], Fe, and Zn) in pea seeds. The analysis was performed with 323 diverse genotyped accessions of Pisum , including P. sativum , Pisum fulvum , Pisum abyssinicum , and several subspecies of P. sativum , cultivated across three growing seasons. Among all the studied accessions, P. sativum subsp. elatius showed the highest concentration of Ca, K, Mg, and Fe, whereas subsp. humile had the highest levels of P, Mn, and Zn. The highest Cu concentration was observed in subsp. jomardii . Conversely, the P. sativum “Indian ecotype” and subsp. arvense consistently displayed the lowest values across all minerals. The study also showed that accessions, environmental conditions, and their interactions are effective in regulating the mineral concentration of peas. Higher thermal variability during the 2017–2018 season resulted in lower levels of Ca, K, Cu, Fe, Zn, P, and Mn compared to the 2018–2019 and 2019–2020 seasons. Also, reduced rainfall in the 2018–2019 season led to increased Ca, P, Cu, and Zn content and the lowest Mg level in seeds. A genome‐wide association study identified 209 marker–trait associations significantly associated with mineral concentration. Sixty‐two candidate genes are proposed to be involved in processes such as transcriptional regulation, nutrient transport, proteolysis, organic acid metabolism and storage, and stress responses. These candidate pathways have potential implications for breeding high mineral concentration in pea. Future functional validation of these candidate genes would pave the way for marker‐assisted breeding.