An international research collaboration has completed the most detailed
genome assembly to date of grass pea. The chromosome-scale reference genome
published in Scientific Data offers potential to accelerate modern breeding
of this underutilized legume for climate-smart agriculture.



Nearly twice the size of the human genome, the sequence was assembled from
scratch and improves on an earlier draft assembly of the vigorous grass pea
line LS007. Grass pea (Lathyrus sativus) is grown in many regions of the
world that is high in protein and resilient to drought and flooding. Grass
pea is one of the oldest known cultivated plants, now grown in Ethiopia,
Eritrea, India, Bangladesh, and Nepal. It has been used for centuries as an
insurance crop, as it survives when other crops fail, and is safe to eat as
part of a balanced diet.



An underutilized crop, grass pea is neglected, but plays a key role in local
nutrition and livelihoods, and its resilience to both drought and flooding
makes it a promising crop for ensuring food security in a changing climate.



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