Winter Pea Cultivar/Breeding Line Screening for Grain Crop Potential in the Southeastern United States

Abstract

Core Ideas Winter pea is desirable for grain production in the southeastern USA. Many pea cultivars/lines survive the NC winter with minimal cold damage. Regional breeding efforts are needed for disease resistance in pea cultivars. Pea grain yield was restricted by excessive heat during flowering. Pea and wheat can be grown together and harvested simultaneously. Winter pea (Pisum sativum L.) is desirable for grain production in the southeastern United States to increase feed protein availability; however, there has not been any previous effort devoted to maximizing pea genetics for grain production in this region. Studies were conducted at six environments in North Carolina to assess pea grain potential. Nineteen pea cultivars/breeding lines were planted in monoculture and in mixture with three wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars of differing maturities. Pea cold tolerance, biomass production, disease incidence, maturity, lodging, and pea and wheat grain yield were assessed. The growth of only one pea cultivar/breeding line was severely inhibited by cold injury. Disease incidence was influenced by pea cultivars/breeding lines but not growth in monoculture or mixture with wheat. At the environments with heavy Sclerotinia pressure, grain yield of all pea cultivars/breeding lines was severely inhibited. All wheat cultivars reached physiological maturity prior to any pea cultivar/breeding line, and both species were harvested simultaneously using a combine with minimal difficulties. Pea yield was influenced by pea cultivar/breeding line but not growth in monoculture or mixture. Pea yield was greater with early maturing varieties. Pea grain yield potential across all pea cultivars/breeding lines was likely restricted by excessive heat during flowering. Many pea cultivars/breeding lines screened in this study out‐yielded the current pea available in North Carolina. Results indicated that pea and wheat can be grown simultaneously and that regional pea cultivar recommendations will enhance pea grain yield in the southeastern United States.