Scientists Publish Chromosome-Scale Reference Genome of Grass Pea

A research team led by John Innes Centre scientists has sequenced and annotated the chromosome-scale genome assembly of grass pea (Lathyrus sativus), a promising legume crop with tolerance to a wide range of stress factors, and potential for climate-resilient agriculture.

Grass pea (Lathyrus sativus). Image credit: William Curtis / The Botanical Magazine.

Grass pea is a legume crop valued for its resilience in the face of environmental stress, including drought, flooding and salinity.

This crop has been cultivated for at least 8,000 years and has been widely distributed around parts of Europe, Asia and Africa, although most present-day cultivation takes place in South Asia and the highlands of Ethiopia and Eritrea.

Grass pea’s widespread cultivation has been hampered due to a toxin contained within its seeds and shoots, which can, in malnourished people, cause the disease neurolathyrism, a condition which causes irreversible paralysis.

Another major barrier preventing crop breeding improvements was the lack of a genome reference for the crop.

The availability of the new genome sequence means researchers could use gene editing and modern breeding methods to develop varieties of grass pea with improved agronomic characteristics or low or zero toxin content.

This means that grass pea could be poised to make an important contribution to a more diversified and climate resilient food system in the future.

“We want to establish this new genome sequence as the reference genome for the grass pea community, and we’re delighted to share this valuable resource for other scientists to use and learn about grass pea,” said Dr. Peter Emmrich, a researcher at Norwich Institute for Sustainable Development and the John Innes Centre.

“At a time of increasing weather shocks, this genome allows us to unlock the secrets of grass pea’s resilience, to further improve this crop for farmers, and inform development of other crops, such as peas.”

Nearly twice the size of the human genome, the grass pea genome sequence was assembled from scratch and improves on an earlier draft assembly of the vigorous grass pea line LS007.

“As we prepare for a future of increased climate change, we are going to need crops that can cope with drought, or flooding or inundations of salt water,” said Dr. Anne Edwards, a researcher at the John Innes Centre.

“This new genome sequence means that we are even closer to adding grass pea to the list of climate-smart crops of tomorrow.”

“It’s an exciting time to be in the grass pea research community.”

The findings were published in the journal Scientific Data.

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M. Vigouroux et al. 2024. A chromosome-scale reference genome of grasspea (Lathyrus sativus). Sci Data 11, 1035; doi: 10.1038/s41597-024-03868-y

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