Evaluation of Southernpea Breeding Lines and Varietie for Earliness, Yield, and Maturity

Abstract

Evaluation of new southernpea cultivars and advanced breeding lines for spring and fall cropping is important for both producers and processors of this crop in South Texas. The spring trial included three commercially available cultivars and 17 advanced breeding lines from the Univ. of Arkansas breeding program. Foliage color ratings taken in the spring correlate with similar ratings taken in 1995 and indicate that Arkansas 435-87-68 may be tolerant to high pH soils that caused yellowing in several other cultivars. The highest producing varieties, Arkansas 87-435-68 and Arkansas 92-552, produced net yields > 1000 lb/acre. The fall trial included the same material as the spring trial plus four more commercially available cultivars. Maturity ratings taken in early October varied widely between cultivars and breeding lines. Recorded ratings represented growth stages ranging from cultivars with no flowering to those that had set pods that were filling. The most mature types included Arkansas breeding lines 96-593, 95-368, 96-556, and 95-301, which had maturity ratings of 3.8, 3.5, 3.5, and 3.3, respectively. Net yields varied widely among cultivars in the fall trial. Yields ranged from 23.8 to 522.8 lb/acre. Those with the highest net yields included 'Early Scarlet', Arkansas 91-285, Arkansas Blackeye #1, and Arkansas 95-368, with yields of 522.8,402.2, 401.2 and 400.5 pounds per acre, respectively. Although yields in the trial were considerably lower than expected, several cultivars produced 400 or more pounds of peas per acre compared to many commercial fields that were not harvested.