Root system architecture and seed weight relations in forage pea (Pisum sativum ssp. arvense L. Poir.)

Semih Acikbas,Harun Bektas,Mehmet Arif Ozyazici

doi:10.1590/0103-8478cr20210032

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Forage pea (Pisum sativum ssp. arvense (L.) Poir.) is an important legume crop for fresh and dry herbage production with high input costs as irrigation and fertilization. Selection and breeding of accessions for improved drought tolerance, water, and mineral uptake efficiency become a necessity, rather than a choice. This study evaluated a set of forage pea accessions for the seedling root system architecture diversity and seed reserve utilization, under controlled conditions. Eight cultivars and an elite breeding line were evaluated for the first time in a plexiglass system. The number and lengths of the roots in each depth zone (0, 5, 10, 15+ cm) were evaluated and significant diversity was identified. The cultivar Livioletta had the highest number of roots and total root length. There was a significant correlation between seed weight, seed reserve utilization ratio, and root system vigor. Accessions with the highest seed reserve utilization had the highest total root length and numbers. Seedling root system vigor seems to be effective in predicting the fate of the accessions through maturity. The results suggested a possibility of “seedling root selection” for forage crop breeding.

Highlights

Forage pea (Pisum sativum ssp. arvense L.) is an annual legume crop and can be planted as a primary, mixed or secondary crop for herbage or grain production
In addition to root traits, we evaluated the effect of seed weight on root development
The results presented are the first report of seedling root architecture diversity in forage pea

Summary

Introduction

Forage pea (Pisum sativum ssp. arvense L.) is an annual legume crop and can be planted as a primary, mixed or secondary crop for herbage or grain production. Arvense L.) is an annual legume crop and can be planted as a primary, mixed or secondary crop for herbage or grain production. The global annual green herbage production of forage pea is about 21 million tonnes on 2.7 million ha area, and 452.776 tonnes on about 24 thousand ha area in Turkey (FAOSTAT, 2019; TÜİK, 2020). It has wide adaptation potential and its ability to fix free nitrogen through nodules provide an advantage for the plants of the following season (KADIOGLU & TAN, 2018). Legumes can improve the physical conditions of the soil, increase soil fertility, provide better structure, reduce dependency on synthetic fertilizers, and allow better water holding capacity and aeration (YAVAS & UNAY, 2018)

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