Investigating starch properties of different adzuki beans provides an important theoretical basis for its application. A comparative study was conducted to evaluate the starch content, processing, digestion, and structural quality of 12 adzuki bean varieties. The variation ranges of the 12 adzuki bean varieties with specific analyzed parameters, including the amylose/amylopectin (AM/AP) ratio, bean paste rate, water separation rate, solubility, swelling power and resistant starch (RS) content level, were 5.52–39.05%, 44.7–68.2%, 45.56–54.29%, 6.79–12.07%, 11.83–15.39%, and 2.02–14.634%, respectively. The crystallinity varied from 20.92 to 37.38%, belonging to type BC(The starch crystal type is mainly type C, supplemented by type B). In correlation analysis, red and blue represent positive and negative correlation, respectively. Correlation analysis indicated that the termination temperature of adzuki bean starch was positively correlated with AM/AP ratio. Therefore, the higher the melting temperature, the better the freeze–thaw stability. The 12 varieties were divided into Class I, Class II, and Class III by cluster analysis, based on application field. Class I was unsuitable for the diabetics’ diet; Class II was suitable for a stabilizer; and Class III was suitable for bean paste, mixtures, and thickeners. The present study could provide a theoretical basis for their application in the nutritional and nutraceutical field.

Trihelix transcription factors have essential functions in plant development, growth, and coping with environmental stresses. Peas (Pisum sativum) are an important economic crop, rich in protein themselves, and their stems and leaves also serve as high-quality green manure and forage. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of the trihelix gene family in the pea, identifying a total of 56 PsTrihelix genes. These genes exhibited significant diversity in structure and were classified into six subfamilies based on their homology with Arabidopsis thaliana. Additionally, we found that trihelix genes in the pea were most densely distributed on chromosome 6, with segmental duplication events further confirming the importance of chromosome 6. In terms of gene structure, most PsTrihelix genes contained few introns, although two genes contained a higher number of introns, and the relationship between motif number and exon number was complex. Through evolutionary and collinearity analysis with other plants, we found that pea and tomato exhibit the highest number of collinear Trihelix genes, indicating a closer evolutionary relationship between the two species. Regarding functional prediction, trihelix genes were highly expressed in pea leaf and bean tissues and exhibited significant expression changes under specific stresses and hormone treatments, suggesting their important roles in plant growth, development, and adaptation strategies. Particularly, the PsTrihelix55 showed significant upregulation under multiple stress treatments, making it a promising candidate gene for further study. These results offer valuable perspectives on the role and evolutionary history of the trihelix gene family in peas, and lay the groundwork for subsequent studies in this field.