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Developmental Genes Have Pleiotropic Effects on Plant Morphology and Source Capacity, Eventually Impacting on Seed Protein Content and Productivity in Pea^1,[W],[OA]

Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, UR102 Genetics and Ecophysiology of Grain Legumes, 21110 Bretenières, France (J.B., P.M., M.H., A.M., N.M.-J., G.D.); Bioplante GIE, 59930 La Chapelle d'Armentieres, France (B.D.); Biogemma-Nickerson, 28130 Chartainvilliers, France (C.D.); and Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Biométrie et Intelligence Artificielle, 31326 Castanet Tolosan cedex, France (B.M.)

Increasing pea (Pisum sativum) seed nutritional value and particularly seed protein content, while maintaining yield, is an important challenge for further development of this crop. Seed protein content and yield are complex and unstable traits, integrating all the processes occurring during the plant life cycle. During filling, seeds are the main sink to which assimilates are preferentially allocated at the expense of vegetative organs. Nitrogen seed demand is satisfied partly by nitrogen acquired by the roots, but also by nitrogen remobilized from vegetative organs. In this study, we evaluated the respective roles of nitrogen source capacity and sink strength in the genetic variability of seed protein content and yield. We showed in eight genotypes of diverse origins that both the maximal rate of nitrogen accumulation in the seeds and nitrogen source capacity varied among genotypes. Then, to identify the genetic factors responsible for seed protein content and yield variation, we searched for quantitative trait loci (QTL) for seed traits and for indicators of sink strength and source nitrogen capacity. We detected 261 QTL across five environments for all traits measured. Most QTL for seed and plant traits mapped in clusters, raising the possibility of common underlying processes and candidate genes. In most environments, the genes Le and Afila, which control internode length and the switch between leaflets and tendrils, respectively, determined plant nitrogen status. Depending on the environment, these genes were linked to QTL of seed protein content and yield, suggesting that source-sink adjustments depend on growing conditions.

The author responsible for distribution of materials integral to the findings presented in this article in accordance with the policy described in the Instructions for Authors (www.plantphysiol.org) is: Judith Burstin (burstin{at}epoisses.inra.fr).

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www.plantphysiol.org/cgi/doi/10.1104/pp.107.096966

^* Corresponding author; e-mail burstin{at}epoisses.inra.fr; fax 33–3–80–69–32–63.

Received January 30, 2007; accepted April 13, 2007; published April 20, 2007.