Pea (Pisum sativum L.) in biology prior and after Mendel's discovery

Abstract

Smýkal P. (2014): Pea (Pisum sativum L.) in biology prior and after Mendel's discovery. Czech. J. Genet. Plant Breed., 50: 52-64.Pea (Pisum sativum L.) has been extensively used in early hybridization studies and it was the model organism of choice for Mendel's discovery of the laws of inheritance, making pea part of the foundation of modern genetics. Pea has also been used as model for experimental morphology and physiology. However, subsequent progress in pea genomics has lagged behind many other plant species, largely as a consequence of its genome size and low economic significance. The availability of the genome sequences of five legume species (Medicago truncatula, Lotus japonicus, Glycine max, Cajanus cajan and Cicer aerietinum) offers opportunities for genome wide comparison. The combination of a candidate gene and synteny approach has allowed the identification of genes underlying agronomically important traits such as virus resistances and plant architecture. Useful genomic resources already exist and include several types of molecular marker sets as well as both transcriptome and proteome datasets. The advent of greater computational power and access to diverse germplasm collections enable the use of association mapping to identify genetic variation related to desirable agronomic traits. Current genomic knowledge and technologies can facilitate the allele mining for novel traits and their incorporation from wild Pisum sp. into elite domestic backgrounds. Fast neutron and targeting-induced local lesions in genomes (TILLING) pea mutant populations are available for reverse genetics approaches, BAC libraries for positional gene cloning as well as transgenic and in vitro regeneration for proof of function through gene silencing or over-expression. Finally, recently formed International Pea Genome Sequencing Consortium, holds promise to provide the pea genome sequence by 2015, a year of 150 anniversary of Mendel's work.

Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles Affect Heavy Metals Uptake by Pea in a Divergent Way than Their Ionic and Bulk Counterparts

“…Pea is an important nonmodel plant in a postgenomic era of applied system biology (Kulaeva et al 2017). It has been an object of experimental work well before Mendel's genetic discoveries (Smýkal 2014). Pea genetic diversity is a challenge for genome studies.…”

Legume Crops Phylogeny and Genetic Diversity for Science and Breeding

“…Legumes' symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing bacteria provides not only added value in agriculture, but also plays an important role in natural ecosystems. Moreover, the legume species Pisum sativum L., pea, was the key experimental organism for Mendel's pioneering work (1866) in establishing the underlying basis of heredity (Smýkal, 2014).…”

Legumes’ contributions to genetic research, a historical perspective from Mendelism up to massive sequencing

“…), or the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Munich in 1834 on the definition and variability of species (Roberts, 1919;Jahn et al, 1990). Yet experiments involving plant hybridization can be traced back to 1694 undertaken by Rudolf Jacob Camerarius or Camerer (1666-1721, director of the Botanical Garden of Tübingen and author of "De sexu plantarum epistola" (1694), thereafter continued by Joseph Gottlieb Kölreuter (1733-1806) and Carl Friedrich von Gärtner (1772-1850) (Smykal, 2014). It is not surprising therefore that in a scientific environment in which hybridization, the fixation or variation of species' characters, the sterility of certain hybrid plant forms, the "dilution" of hybrid characters in subsequent generations, the possibility to obtain new species by hybridization, etc., were all subject of intense discussions and the underlying framework supporting Mendel's work.…”

“…The first study to assess variation in pea, and the transmission of some characteristics from one generation to the next, was carried out by Thomas Andrew Knight (1759-1838) who, although more interested in fruit trees realized that it was better to develop this kind of studies with annual species, such as pea, instead of perennial species with long life cycles as fruit trees (Smykal, 2014). Some 70 years before Mendel, Knight had studied the inheritance of flower color in pea and his work made some introductory considerations that recall those delivered by Mendel.…”

“…Some 70 years before Mendel, Knight had studied the inheritance of flower color in pea and his work made some introductory considerations that recall those delivered by Mendel. It is likely that Mendel was familiar with Knight's work and that this influenced the material's choice to work with (Roberts, 1929;Hellens et al, 2010;Smykal, 2014). Knight's paper, read before the Horticultural Society, June 3, 1823 was, in part, a reply to certain experiments by John Goss using the same plant species.…”