PROGRESS REPORT: EFFORTS TO DEVELOP PINKEYE-TYPE SOUTHERNPEA CULTIVARS WITH AN ENHANCED PERSISTENT GREEN SEED PHENOTYPE

Abstract

The USDA has developed four pinkeye-type southernpea candidate cultivars (Experimental designations: US-1090, US-1092, US-1094, and US-1096) that have a persistent green seed phenotype conditioned by both the green cotyledon gene (gc) and the green testa (gt) gene. Each of the candidate cultivars produces dry seeds that have a richer and more uniform green color than seeds of either green cotyledon or green testa phenotype cultivars. Seeds of these candidate cultivars are much less susceptible to color loss due to blanching when harvest is delayed than are seeds of green cotyledon phenotype cultivars. Color loss is a critical problem in production systems where pre-harvest chemical desiccants are used to facilitate mechanical harvesting operations. The 7-day delay between application of the desiccant and initiation of harvesting operations can result in serious color degradation. The results of four 6-replicate field trials indicate that the yield potential of each of the four candidate cultivars is equal to that of the green cotyledon pinkeye-type cultivar Charleston Greenpack. Additionally, each of the candidate cultivars is resistant to blackeye cowpea mosaic virus and do not produce hard seeds that are troublesome to frozen food processors. The seed shape, seed size, and seed eye pattern traits of the candidate cultivars are similar to those of Charleston Greenpack.