The pea (Pisum sativum L.) is an excellent protein source for livestock and human nutrition. However, its growth is hampered by several factors including powdery mildew (Erysiphe pisi DC) and lodging in irrigation areas. These limitations may be solved through combining a Canada powdery mildew-resistant pea (Mp1807) with green cotyledon cultivar (Graf) by means of sexual hybridization. A bred semi-leafless pea, cultivar Longwan No. 6, was selected and evaluated in multiple ecological zones to investigate and evaluate high-yield, adaptability, and resistance to root rot (Aphanomyces euteiches Drechs. f. sp. pisi) and powdery mildew from 2012 to 2014. The results revealed that Longwan No. 6 was characterized by lodging resistance and moderate powdery mildew resistance. The average grain yield of Longwan No. 6 is 2855.3 kg/hm² in spring sowing and is increased by 18.4% compared to the control cultivar (Longwan No. 1). The average grain yield of Longwan No. 6 is 2349.9 kg/hm² in winter sowing and is increased by 12.8% when compared to the control cultivar. The results indicated that Longwan No. 6 has a greater potential to increase yield and wide adaptability. Adopting the Longwan No. 6 pea cultivar contributes to improvements in pea production in irrigation areas.

The pea weevil (Bruchus pisorum L.) causes severe yield losses in cultivated pea (Pisum sativum L.), yet the molecular basis of host resistance remains unclear. Here, we performed integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses on pods and seeds of resistant (YWD) and susceptible (LW1) pea genotypes to characterize the constitutive defence network against weevils. Extensive transcriptional and metabolic reprogramming was observed in resistant materials, with upregulation of defence pathways and suppression of primary metabolism. Pods directed phenylpropanoid flux toward isoflavonoid biosynthesis and enhanced cutin/wax pathways, while seeds redirected flux to flavone/flavonol biosynthesis, accumulating high levels of flavone C-glycosides including isovitexin (5260.46-fold) and vitexin (3771.09-fold). We identified Dof21 as a key transcription factor putatively regulating flavonoid biosynthesis, with its Dof domain predicted to bind promoters of 4CL1, CHS3 and CYP75B. A seed-specific lectin gene LG16 showed 8.99-fold higher expression in resistant seeds with negligible expression in pods. The ABA catabolite dihydrophaseic acid and semi-volatile compounds vanilloloside and cimidahurinine were significantly enriched in resistant seeds, implicating ABA turnover and glycosylation in defence compound stabilization. This study provides a multi-dimensional molecular framework for weevil resistance in pea and offers key candidate genes including Dof21, LG16, 4CL1, CHS3 and CYP75B for resistant germplasm screening and marker-assisted breeding.

Background: Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) play pivotal roles in plant growth, abiotic stress responses, detoxification of xenobiotics, and maintenance of redox homeostasis. Methods: In this study, transcriptomic analysis was employed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the pea cultivar DX27 under freezing stress (−4 °C) at 3, 6, and 12 h. Results:GO and KEGG enrichment analyses of global transcriptomic data further reveal that DEGs are significantly enriched in the following functional categories: oxidation–reduction processes, stress responses, glutathione metabolism, and secondary metabolite biosynthesis. A total of 52 PsatGST genes were identified and classified into nine subfamilies based on phylogenetic relationships. Chromosomal localization revealed a non-random distribution across seven chromosomes. Promoter cis-element analysis indicated that PsatGST genes harbor diverse regulatory elements associated with light responsiveness, hormone signaling (auxin, abscisic acid, gibberellin, salicylic acid, and MeJA), and abiotic/biotic stress responses. PsatGSTF2 expression analysis showed pronounced up-regulation under freezing stress (−4 °C) at 3, 6, and 12 h. Conclusions: These findings provide a foundational framework for understanding the evolutionary history and functional diversification of the PsatGST gene family and offer valuable candidate genes for the breeding of stress-tolerant pea varieties.