Genome-Wide Identification of Genes Involved in Raffinose Family Oligosaccharides Metabolism in Pea (Pisum sativum L.)

The pea is an important cool-season pulse crop cultivated for animal and human consumption. However, the presence of “flatulence-causing factors” hinders its consumption and acceptance worldwide. The raffinose family oligosaccharides (RFOs) have been identified as the principal “flatulence causing factors”. Hence, reducing RFO level is the major goal to promote pea consumption and acceptance worldwide. However, very little is known about the genes involved in RFO metabolism at the genome-wide scale in pea. In the present study, genes for five key enzymes (galactinol synthase, raffinose synthase, stachyose synthase, alpha-galactosidase_Acid/Alkaline and beta-fructofuranosidase) involved in RFO metabolism pathway were identified at the genome-wide scale in pea. A total of two galactinol synthase, two raffinose synthase, one stachyose synthase, six alpha-galactosidase_Alkaline and three alpha-galactosidase_Acid and ten beta-fructofuranosidase genes were identified in the pea genome. Phylogenetic relationships analysis, exon/intron structure as well as conserved domain within each enzyme family and their chromosomal location were also determined to establish their relationship with the known proteins. In silico anlaysis showed that pea RFO genes contain 26 microsatellite loci. Taken together, this study provides useful candidate genes for improving the nutritional quality of pea through genetic engineering approaches as well as microsatellite loci for the development of SSR markers for the introgression of low RFO trait through marker assisted selection.