# Phenotypic, Genetic, and Metabolite Variability among Genotypes of _Vicia sativa_ L.
## 4 Discussion
According to [PERSON] and [PERSON] [12], cross-pollination within species may provoke/increase genetic similarities between lines and cultivars. The average PIC value of SCoT markers in the present study was 0.384, indicating that most of the loci have intermediate diversity (Table 4). Similar results, with intermediate to high diversity, are reported in [PERSON] et al. 's study [65], with an average PIC value = 0.50 using SSR molecular markers. Similar results were also obtained in [PERSON] et al.' study [5], with an average PIC value = 0.55, and [PERSON] et al. 's study [63], with an average PIC value = 0.903; these authors also used SSR molecular markers. SSR markers exhibit greater polymorphism, higher resolution, and superior accuracy compared to dominant markers, given their status as co-dominant markers. Those differences in the levels of polymorphism can be attributed to the variety of germplasm that was analyzed, as well as the impact of marker specificity on the process of polymorphism [26]. Also, our findings are consistent with diversity studies conducted on other germplasm collections using various molecular markers, demonstrating the challenge of comparing results across markers and varying levels of polymorphism. A cost-effective method of enhancing significant breeding characteristics, such as the seed protein content in grain legume crops, involves utilizing crop germplasm variability and investigating a wealth of genetic resources [66]. The metabolomic analysis that was carried out in both populations and commercial cultivars unraveled desirable characteristics in some genotypes with a particular interest for future breeding programs. The hierarchical tree derived from the metabolic profile of the six genotypes clearly separates M-6900 and BK45 from the others and produces slightly different clusters compared to the trees originated from morphological and genotypic data. Specifically, in the six genotypes of _V. sativa_ that were investigated, 89 metabolites from several typical plant natural product classes were annotated by the application of UPLC-MS technology. The seeds contained two main types of compounds: carbohydrates and amino acids. The quantitative variations among these primary classes were most related to genotypic discrimination. According to a study on the metabolome-based seed categorization of sixteen _Vicia_ species, the distinction between varieties was mostly influenced by the quantitative variations in flavonoids and fatty acids [33]. Numerous favorable traits related to seed quality, including a high concentration of sugars, polyols, amino acids, and derivatives of inositol, are present in the BK45 population. Moreover, all these compounds serve as osmolytes and protect plants against several abiotic stressors [67]. More specifically, erythroid, a sugar alcohol with a small molecular weight, is highly preferable in food manufacturing because it prevents gastrointestinal disturbances [68]. As these compounds are indicators of seed quality and resistance to unfavorable environmental factors, population BK45 can have a dual role, producing both highly nutritional and resilient plants. Moreover, population BK27 exhibited the most desirable fatty acid composition, as it contained the highest amount of unsaturated fatty acids (oleic and linolenic acid). Regarding the two commercial varieties, both had similar metabolomic profiles; however, variety M6900 exhibited higher levels of sugars and polyols compared to BI-65. As we have mentioned in previous studies regarding the metabolomic profile of legumes that are mainly used for animal feed [27; 38], high-effective metabolite characteristics are crucial for biomarker-assisted breeding, and by enabling a selection from earlier generations, they might speed up the process. It is also believed that metabolites serve as the link between the phenome and the DNA.