Frost is a major abiotic stress impacting winter pea crops, necessitating the identification of genetic factors for breeding frost-tolerant varieties.
A genome-wide association study (GWAS) of 365 pea accessions revealed 62 significant SNPs linked to frost tolerance, confirming previous QTLs and identifying new loci.
The study also identified 50 candidate genes associated with frost damage and defined beneficial haplotypes, aiding in future breeding efforts for resilience against frost.
To increase yield in pea (Pisum sativum L.), autumn sowing would be preferable. Hence, frost tolerance of pea became a major trait of interest for breeders.