Trait Expression and Environmental Responses of Pea (Pisum sativum L.) Genetic Resources Targeting Cultivation in the Arctic

Abstract

In the Arctic part of the Nordic region, cultivated crops need to specifically adapt to adverse and extreme climate conditions, such as low temperatures, long days, and a short growing season. Under the projected climate change scenarios, higher temperatures and an earlier spring thaw will gradually allow the cultivation of plants that could not be previously cultivated there. For millennia, Pea (Pisum sativum L.) has been a major cultivated protein plant in Nordic countries but is currently limited to the southern parts of the region. However, response and adaptation to the Arctic day length/light spectrum and temperatures are essential for the productivity of the pea germplasm and need to be better understood. This study investigated these factors and identified suitable pea genetic resources for future cultivation and breeding in the Arctic region. Fifty gene bank accessions of peas with a Nordic landrace or cultivar origin were evaluated in 2-year field trials at four Nordic locations in Denmark, Finland, Sweden, and Norway (55° to 69° N). The contrasting environmental conditions of the trial sites revealed differences in expression of phenological, morphological, crop productivity, and quality traits in the accessions. The data showed that light conditions related to a very long photoperiod partly compensated for the lack of accumulated temperature in the far north. A critical factor for cultivation in the Arctic is the use of cultivars with rapid flowering and maturation times combined with early sowing. At the most extreme site (69°N), no accession reached full maturation. Nonetheless several accessions, predominantly landraces of a northern origin, reached a green harvest state. All the cultivars reached full maturation at the sub-Arctic latitude in northern Sweden (63°N) when plants were established early in the season. Seed yield correlated positively with seed number and aboveground biomass, but negatively with flowering time. A high yield potential and protein concentration of dry seed were found in many garden types of pea, confirming their breeding potential for yield. Overall, the results indicated that pea genetic resources are available for breeding or immediate cultivation, thus aiding in the northward expansion of pea cultivation. Predicted climate changes would support this expansion.

Unraveling the Genetic Basis of Key Agronomic Traits of Wrinkled Vining Pea (Pisum sativum L.) for Sustainable Production

“…Field/dry peas and vegetable peas are the two broad categories of pea types, and vegetable peas are further grouped into green/garden/shelling peas, snow peas, and snap/sugar peas ( Myers et al, 2001 ). Currently, various types of peas are cultivated across the country, covering the areas from the southern tip of Sweden to near the polar circle ( Vanhala et al, 2016 ; Carlson-Nilsson et al, 2021 ). In addition, efforts have been made to adapt pea genotypes to new environments in the Arctic region ( Carlson-Nilsson et al, 2021 ).…”

“…Currently, various types of peas are cultivated across the country, covering the areas from the southern tip of Sweden to near the polar circle ( Vanhala et al, 2016 ; Carlson-Nilsson et al, 2021 ). In addition, efforts have been made to adapt pea genotypes to new environments in the Arctic region ( Carlson-Nilsson et al, 2021 ). Hence, several abiotic stresses are of key importance in the Nordic region including early spring frost, early spring drought, and late summer drought, which affects all agricultural crops grown in the region ( Chawade et al, 2018 ).…”

Distinct Cold Acclimation of Productivity Traits in Arabidopsis thaliana Ecotypes

“…IT completes its life cycle over a relatively shorter period (fewer months) between fall and spring and is finished by the end of April (Figure 1; [28][29][30]). Agricultural strategies that involve a move to a higher latitude will likewise expose plants not only to seasonally cooler temperatures but also to an increased total light supply with longer days in the summer [5][6][7][8].…”

“…The movement of agriculture to a cooler time of the year or a higher latitude, as an increasingly discussed agricultural approach [5][6][7][8], should be accompanied by crop development for each specific scenario. The design of climate-resilient crops should take into consideration the specific target latitude and associated degree of environmental variability.…”

“…For example, early sowing of summer crops is used to shift crop production to cooler months of the year, thus evading the most intense summer heat/drought and improving water-use efficiency [4]. Another evasive strategy involves the relocation of agricultural operations (as well as migration of natural plant communities) to higher latitudes where plants experience cooler temperatures and longer photoperiods in the summer [5][6][7][8]. Crops utilized for these strategies must be capable of high productivity in environments with varying levels of exposure to cold temperatures.…”