Pea Production Research Articles

Development of new powdery mildew resistant lines in garden pea (Pisum sativum L.) using induced mutagenesis and validation of resistance for the er1 and er2 gene through molecular markers

Powdery mildew (PM) caused by Erysiphie pisi Syd. is the most devastating disease of pea, affecting fresh pea production as well as the quality of the marketable harvest worldwide. The efforts were made to develop PM-resistant mutants of popular pea varieties “Lincoln” and “Azad P-1” through induced mutations by following gamma irradiation (300, 400, 500, and 600 Gy) and chemical mutagenesis, i.e., ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS) (0.3% and 0.4%). The screening of 13,868 M2 progenies at Kukumseri (summer season) followed by M3 generation at Palampur (winter season) resulted in the isolation of six putative PM-resistant mutants. The rigorous evaluation of these progenies under in vivo (field screening) and in vitro (artificial screening under greenhouse conditions and using the detached leaf assay method) conditions over the years resulted in the isolation of three PM-resistant mutants, viz., L-40-1014, L-0.3-139, and AP-0.3-129. SSR markers “PSMPSAD60 d” and “PSMPA5 c” linked to the er-1 gene indicated the presence of the “er1” gene in the mutant L-0.3-139 while the er-2 gene-linked SCAR marker “ScX171400” and SSR marker “AD141” indicated the probability of the “er-2” gene in mutant L-40-1014. The known markers linked to PM resistance genes could not be validated in the mutant AP-0.3-129, suggested to identify new markers linked to PM resistance. These PM-resistant mutants can be promising candidates as the new source of resistance for future pea breeding programs.

High-throughput precision assessment of pea-derived protein products using near infrared hyperspectral imaging.

This study aims to develop rapid and non-invasive methods based on near-infrared hyperspectral imaging and chemometrics for quantitative prediction of chemical compositions of pea-derived products. Hyperspectral imaging was used to acquire images from pea processing streams, namely pea flour, pea protein concentrate, and pea protein isolate. The PLS algorithm was used to develop quantitative prediction models based on the relationship between the hyperspectral image data and the chemical compositions of the pea products, including moisture, protein, ash, insoluble fiber, and total starch. Prediction results in terms of coefficient of determination (R2) and root mean square errors in the prediction (RMSEP) datasets show accurate results for moisture (R2=0.844, RMSEP = 0.407%), protein (R2=0.99, RMSEP = 2.074%), ash (R2=0.778, RMSEP = 0.474%), and total starch (R2=0.991, RMSEP = 2.316%) contents. Low prediction accuracy was obtained for insoluble fiber (R2=0.597, RMSEP 2.474%) content. The accurate prediction achieved by hyperspectral imaging highlights its suitability for high throughput multi-parameter assessment of pea-derived products, which is particularly important given their increasing market demand.

Testing of the new technology «TOR» on vegetable legum crops varieties by the FSBSI FSVC breeding the Arctic Circle

Relevance. In the harsh climate of the Arctic, where the warm season with a maximum average daily temperature above 10 °C lasts only three months, scientists in the crop industry are conducting tests and creating unique varieties of crops that will be able to provide the northern regions with fresh and vitamin-rich vegetable products.Materials and Methods. In the Nenets Autonomous Okrug, at the Naryan-Mar Experimental Agricultural Station, an innovative technology for priming seeds of vegetable legumes with electromagnetic exposure developed by JSC «Concern GRANIT» with the «TOR» device was tested on domestic varieties of Pisum sativum L. и Vicia Faba L. selected by the Federal Scientific Vegetable Center (FSBSI FSVС).Results. The tested varieties of vegetable legumes beyond the Arctic Circle were able to fully realize their productive potential, and the results of observations of the growth and development of crops confirmed the presence of favorable conditions for the selected crops. The quality of vegetable products and the obtained seeds of vegetable legumes in the Arctic in 2024 turned out to be higher than in the Moscow region due to a lower phytopathogenic load. Electromagnetic priming with the «TOR» device made it possible to obtain, in the conditions of the Far North, the productivity of green peas in responsive varieties and seed productivity in beans – by 3-16% and 12-35%, respectively, more than in control. Thanks to the use of the «TOR» device, acceleration of ripening, an increase in yield and product quality are noted, which is especially important in the conditions of a short growing season. Thus, favorable conditions and competitive opportunities for agriculture in the geographical location of the Russian North provide good opportunities to produce organic products in ecologically clean areas, which will be competitive not only in the regional, but also in the national and international food markets.

Optimizing land configuration and weed management practices for enhanced productivity of pigeon pea

A field investigation was conducted at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, to evaluate the effects of various land configurations and weed management practices on the productivity of pigeon pea. The study aimed to identify the most effective land configuration and weed management strategy to optimize pigeon pea growth and yield. The experiment comprised 15 treatment combinations arranged in a split-plot design with three replications. It included 3 land configurations (L1- flatbed, L2- ridges and furrows, L3- broad bed furrow (BBF)]. 5 weed management practices were tested: [W1- weedy check, W2- two-hand weeding at 20 and 40 days after sowing (DAS), W3- pre-emergence pendimethalin at 0.75 kg a.i. ha-1 followed by hand weeding at 30 DAS, W4- pre-emergence pendimethalin at 0.75 kg a.i. ha-1 followed by early post-emergence imazethapyr at 60 g a.i. ha-1, W5- pendimethalin at 0.75 kg a.i. ha-1 followed by power weeder at 30 DAS followed by post-emergence quizalofop ethyl at 50 g a.i. ha-1). The results indicated that, in comparison to ridge and furrow (L2) and flatbed (L1) layouts, the BBF (L3) configuration significantly reduced weed biomass and density. This configuration achieved superior Weed Control Efficiency (WCE) and Weed Control Index (WCI), resulting in enhanced crop growth and yield. Among the weed management practices, W5 (pendimethalin at 0.75 kg a.i. ha?¹ followed by power weeder at 30 DAS and post-emergence quizalofop ethyl at 50 g a.i. ha?¹) proved the most effective. It significantly reduced weed population and biomass while promoting robust crop growth. In conclusion, pigeon pea grown under the BBF (L3) configuration, combined with the integrated weed management (IWM) strategy of W5, recorded the highest crop growth and yield. This combination effectively improves pigeon pea productivity by integrating appropriate land configurations with efficient weed management practices.

Evaluation of Two Different Methods of Fulvic Acid Application (Seed Priming and Foliar Spray) on Growth, Yield, and Nutritional Quality of Pea (Pisum sativum L.).

Pea is a commercially significant legume that is widely utilized worldwide and has a elevated amount of nutrition and bioactive components. Its consumption is attributed to a number of health benefits and its potential as a functional food. Fulvic acid can be used as a bio-stimulant to promote plant growth and increase nutrient availability and uptake. A field experiment was designed during two subsequent cropping seasons (i.e., 2022-23 and 2023-24) to evaluate the impact of two methods of fulvic acid application of seed priming and foliar spray on the growth, yield, antioxidant content, and nutritional value of pea (Pisum sativum L.) plants. The seeds were primed with fulvic acid at 1.5, 3 g L-1, and water, while a foliar spray of fulvic acid with the same doses was performed on the seedlings of non-primed seeds. The results obtained exhibited that the seed priming technique with fulvic acid outperformed the fulvic acid foliar applications. The increase in the fulvic acid dose to 3 g L-1 in both application techniques exhibited the highest plant growth, heaviest fresh and dry weights, and highest green seed yield. The maximum growth parameters were recorded after the foliar spray treatment at a dose of 3 g L-1, as it led to improvement in the growth parameters, leaf pigments, and total carbohydrates. The highest number of seeds per pod, number of pods per plant, 100-seed weight, and seed yield were obtained by the seed priming technique. From the results obtained, it may be concluded that the application of fulvic acid at 3 g L-1 via the seed priming technique is beneficial for enhancing the productivity of peas.

Impact of bacterial inoculations on Pisum sativum L. biometric parameters and associated bacterial and AM fungal communities under semi-arid field conditions in Tunisia

In Mediterranean agroecosystems, pea (Pisum sativum L.) is one important crop due to its nutritional benefits and high protein content. However, soil nutrient availability and soil health are known to affect pea productivity, especially under arid and semi-arid conditions. Currently, the use of plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) may represent a bio-based tool to improve pea productivity in drought-affected areas. Nevertheless, there is limited knowledge on how PGPB inoculations in field could impact native communities of bacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in these areas. Here, a two-year field study in Tunisia was established to evaluate the effects of inoculating two pea varieties with three strains of potential PGPB, including Rhizobium laguerreae and two strains of Erwinia sp., on agronomic performance and soil microbial communities. Inoculations improved productivity and all measured biometric parameters, with the treatment including a consortia of the three strains showing the highest benefits. Metabarcoding analysis showed an increased bacterial and AM fungal diversity in soil of inoculated plants. Additionally, specific AMF-bacterial associations were identified, suggesting a synergistic role in enhancing soil health and pea growth. Overall, this study highlights the potential of targeted bacterial inoculations to improve pea performance under semi-arid environments by exploiting beneficial plant-microbe interactions. These results support the use of microbial inoculants as a sustainable agricultural practice in semi-arid areas, also improving the understanding of their impact on native bacterial and AM fungal communities.

Unleashing the synergistic effect of promising fungicides: a breakthrough solution for combating powdery mildew in pea plants.

Pea powdery mildew, caused by Erysiphe pisi, is a major limitation to global pea production. The emergence of fungicide-resistant pathogen populations due to frequent and injudicious pesticide application highlights the importance of exploring the synergistic properties of fungicide combinations. This study investigated the efficacy of difenoconazole, thiophanate-methyl, and sulfur, both individually and in mixtures, against powdery mildew and assessed the interaction types between these fungicides. The results demonstrated that the combination of difenoconazole, thiophanate-methyl, and sulfur was the most effective in reducing, reducing disease severity to 6.10% and minimizing conidial production on foliage. Additionally, this fungicide combination reduced conidial germination by 89.26% in vitro and by 87.50% in a detached leaf assay compared to the control. The treatment also positively impacted leaf chlorophyll content (55.18), green pod yield (22.21 tons ha-1), seed yield (12.29 tons ha-1), and other yield-related parameters. Although statistically significant, this ternary fungicide combination was closely followed by the binary combination of thiophanate-methyl and sulfur, which was the only combination exhibiting synergism in both laboratory and field trials with a synergy factor (SF) > 1. In conclusion, this approach offers improved disease control as part of integrated disease management (IDM) while minimizing the risk of resistant pathogen strains.

Eco-friendly Management of Powdery Mildew of Pea (Pisum sativum L.)

Pea (Pisum sativum L) is an important crop grown all over the world, in India commonly known as "Matar". India is ranked second in both area and production of pea globally. Erysiphe polygoni DC causes powdery mildew in pea, it is a one of most devastating disease. An experiment was conducted at the SKNCOA farm in Jobner during the Rabi season of 2021. Six natural products, including Panchgavya (10%), Butter milk (10%), Neem seed kernel extract (NSKE 10%), Duranta (10%), Parthenium (10%), and Mehandi (10%), were used as two foliar sprays. During the assessment, all treatments were shown to be effective against powdery mildew of pea, although Neem Seed Kernel Extract (NSKE 10%) and Panchgavya (10%) were determined to be the best treatments for controlling powdery mildew disease in pea.

Evaluating Effect of Climate Smart Agricultural Practices Adoption on Productivity of Drought-Tolerant Pulses: Insights from Dryland Areas of Makueni County, Kenya

Increased productivity of drought-tolerant pulses could potentially reduce household food insecurity, particularly in developing countries. This paper examines the effect of socioeconomic and institutional factors and the adoption of climate smart agriculture (CSA) practices on productivity of green gram, pigeon pea and cowpea in Makueni County, Kenya. We consider six common CSA practices namely: benches, soil conservation practices, minimum tillage, agroforestry, irrigation practices, and crop diversification. Using data from 384 randomly selected farmers, we use Sseemingly Unrelated Regression (SUREG) model to estimate factors influencing productivity of drought-tolerant pulses. The results showed that soil conservation practices were the most adopted (72%), while irrigation practices were the least adopted (9.6%). Among the CSA practices, crop diversification and benches were key to significantly affect the productivity of the three pulses, while agroforestry did not affect productivity of any of the selected pulses. Farming experience, number of extension contacts, and years of schooling were key socioeconomic and institutional factors that significantly affected the productivity of drought-tolerant pulses considered. Results showed that the impact of CSA practices on productivity differed among the pulses, since the soil conservation practices affected the productivity of both green gram and pigeon pea, while other practices including minimum tillage soil and irrigation practices affected the productivity of cowpea and green gram, respectively. Consequently, policies should consider promoting the adoption CSA practices among smallholder famers in Sub-Saharan Africa to improve farm level crop productivity and ensure household food security. Furthermore, Sub-Saharan Africa governments and agricultural sector policy makers should promote sustainable financial incentives such as establishment of farmer-friendly credit financing schemes to enhance CSA adoption and in-turn boost smallholder farmers farm net returns.

Identification of Sources of Resistance to Aphanomyces Root Rot in Pisum.

Aphanomyces root rot (ARR), caused by Aphanomyces euteiches, is one of the most devastating diseases that affect the production of peas. Several control strategies such as crop rotation, biocontrol, and fungicides have been proposed, but none provides a complete solution. Therefore, the deployment of resistant cultivars is fundamental. ARR resistance breeding is hampered by the moderate levels of resistance identified so far. The available screening protocols require post-inoculation root assessment, which is destructive, time-consuming, and tedious. In an attempt to address these limitations, we developed a non-destructive screening protocol based on foliar symptoms and used it to identify new sources of resistance in a Pisum spp. germplasm collection. Accessions were root inoculated separately with two A. euteiches isolates, and leaf symptoms were assessed at 5, 10, 14, 17, and 20 days after inoculation (DAI). Although the majority of accessions exhibited high levels of susceptibility, thirty of them exhibited moderate resistance. These thirty accessions were selected for a second experiment, in which they were inoculated with both A. euteiches isolates at two inoculum doses. The objective of this second trial was to confirm the resistance of these accessions by evaluating root and biomass loss, as well as foliar symptoms, and to compare root and foliar evaluations. As a result, a high correlation (R2 = 0.75) between foliar and root evaluations was observed, validating the foliar evaluation method. Notably, accessions from P.s. subsp. humile exhibited the lowest symptomatology across all evaluation methods, representing valuable genetic resources for breeding programs aimed at developing pea varieties resistant to ARR.

Effect of nutrient and weed management on growth and productivity of field pea [Pisum sativum L. var. arvense

Effect of nutrient and weed management on growth and productivity of field pea [Pisum sativum L. var. arvense

Seasonal Incidence of Major Insect Pests of Pea in Malwa Region of Madhya Pradesh

The seasonal variation or dynamics of insect pests are major constraints in the production of field pea. This study revealed that the seasonal incidence of pests in the Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh, during 2021-22 in the rabi season is related to ecological factors such as temperature, rainfall, and relative humidity. Three major pests of field pea were recorded, viz., gram pod borer (Helicoverpa armigera Hubner), leaf miner (Phytomyza horticola Goureau) and pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum Harris). The H. armigera infestation occurred during the vegetative to pod-forming or reproductive stage from 50th SMW of 2021 to 12th SMW of 2022 (Standard Meteorological Week), which shows a significant negative correlation with minimum temperature (-0.637*) and was significantly influenced by A. pisum and P. horticola during the seedling to maturity stage.

Effect of Herbicides and Tillage Techniques on the Grain Productivity of Pea in the Steppe Zone of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic

Effect of Herbicides and Tillage Techniques on the Grain Productivity of Pea in the Steppe Zone of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic

Combined effect of phosphorus, sulphur and biofertilizers on plant development, yield attributes, production and quality of pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp)

Combined effect of phosphorus, sulphur and biofertilizers on plant development, yield attributes, production and quality of pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp)

Effect of Different Levels of Macronutrients and Rhizobium on Soil Health and Yield Attributes of Field Pea (Pisum sativum L.)

The field experiment was carried out at the central research farm in the Department of Soil Science and Chemistry, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj during Rabi season 2023-24. The soil texture in the experimental region was sandy loam. The design was set up using randomized block design, with two levels of sulphur (50 and 100%), Rhizobium, and NPK (20:60:40) at different levels. The treatment T9 (@100% NPKS +@100% Rhizobium+ 100% Sulphur) gave the best results in terms of plant height, number of pods plant-1, and total Field Pea yield. It also showed a slight decrease in pH, bulk density, and particle density; however, there was a significant increase in pore space, water holding capacity, EC, organic carbon, available nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, as well as plant growth and yield attributes. There was no discernible difference in the growth and production of Field Pea under control. The use of Biofertilizer, as well as their blend with complete NPK and S, significantly increased the characteristics of growth and total yield attributes of Field Pea.

Response of field pea (Pisum sativum L.) genotypes for grain yield in a multi-environment trial in Southeastern Ethiopia

Field pea (Pisum sativum L.) is a key cool-season food legume grown in Ethiopia, particularly in the Southeastern Arsi Zone. Although there is potential for field pea production in the area, adopting new and improved varieties is challenging because local farmers frequently prioritize cereal crops over field peas. To tackle this issue, a study was conducted to identify and promote high-yielding, improved field pea varieties suitable for the Southeastern farming community and similar agro-ecologies. The study focused on assessing the relationship between genotype and environment as well as the stability pattern of 14 advanced field pea genotypes. The genotypes were evaluated in eight environments in two consecutive cropping seasons (2014–2015) in southeast Ethiopia. The study utilized a randomized complete block design consisting of four replications. Various parametric stability analyses were used, including joint regression, additive main effect and multiplicative interaction (AMMI), and additive main effect and multiplicative interaction stability value (ASV). The grain yield was significantly influenced by genotype, location, and their interactions. The average grain yield ranged from 2809.5 kg ha−1 to 3509.1 kg ha−1. Eberhart's stability analysis identified stable genotypes: G3, G4, and G8, while G14 was unstable. According to additive main effect and multiplicative interaction stability value (ASV) and yield stability index (YSI), genotypes G12 and G13 had very low ASV values, whereas genotype G4 had very low ASV and YSI values. The AMMI and GGE biplot graphs showed that the principal component axes (PC1) and (PC2) accounted for 64.1 % and 61.36 % of the total variation, respectively. The results indicated that genotypes responded differently to environmental conditions and that the environment also influenced genotype performance. Genotypes G4 and G3 consistently performed well and exhibited remarkable stability, making them excellent cultivars for improving field pea productivity.

The Influence of Shade on the Growth and Production of Butterfly Pea Plants (Clitoria ternatea)

Butterfly pea (Clitoria ternatea L.) is a medicinal plant known for its anthocyanin pigment content, which imparts a blue color to its flowers. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of shading on butterfly pea flower growth and production. The research design utilized a randomized complete block design (RCBD) for shading treatments. We replicated each treatment level four times, resulting in 20 experimental units, each containing four plants, for a total population of 80 plants. We conducted the experiment at the Experimental Garden of Gunadarma University Campus F7, implementing shade nets at different intensity levels (55%, 65%, 75%, and 85%), along with a control treatment without shading. We made observations on various plant growth parameters such as leaf count, plant length, days to first flower appearance, flower count, fresh weight, and dry weight. The results indicated that shading significantly influenced butterfly pea plants' growth. Plants without shading tended to exhibit better growth in several parameters, such as increased leaf count, higher plant length, and earlier days to first flower appearance. These findings underscore the importance of sunlight in supporting the growth and production of butterfly pea plants. Therefore, careful consideration of shade management is essential in agricultural practices to ensure optimal growth and maximum yield from butterfly pea plants.

On-farm Pre-extension Demonstration of Newly Released Pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) Technology with Proper Agronomic Practices in Gamo and Konso Zones of Southern Ethiopia

Pigeon pea is widely cultivated by Ethiopian farmers, but its production remains low despite suitable conditions. This is partly due to inadequate demonstration of new pigeon pea varieties with proper agronomic practices. To address this, Arba Minch Agricultural Research Center released a new variety, Ashenafi, which showed promise in adaptation trials. However, its farmer preference and socio-economic benefits were not assessed. Therefore, a pre-extension demonstration of Ashenafi and a local check was conducted in 2024 at Karat Zuria and Boreda districts to improve pigeon pea production. The demonstration covered 20 farmers’ fields and 2 Farmers Training Centers, with 10m x 50m plots for each variety, using a spacing of 1.2m between rows and 0.5m between plants, a seed rate of 3 kg/ha, and a fertilizer rate of 100 kg/ha NPS. Grain yield data and farmer preferences were collected and analyzed. Ashenafi yielded 1,860 kg/ha compared to the local variety's 1,065 kg/ha at Karat Zuria, and 1,785 kg/ha compared to 890 kg/ha at Boreda. Results at the Farmers Training Center were similar. The significant yield gap of 787 kg/ha suggests a need to encourage adoption of the new variety. Ashenafi proved more profitable and was preferred by farmers for its earliness, quick branch emergence, seed size, grain yield, and pod number. Thus, Ashenafi is recommended for wider production with proper agronomic practices.

Sources of Technical Inefficiency for Smallholder Field Pea Producers in Ethiopia

This study intended to measure the technical efficiency and sources of inefficiency for field pea producers in Ethiopia. The study used primary data collected from 207 smallholder farmers. A multi-stage sampling technique was followed to select sample households. A stochastic frontier was the model used, and a single-step estimation approach was followed. The result indicated that the mean technical efficiency is 49.23 %, and the average productivity of the crop is 0.96 tons/hectare. This indicates that the technical efficiency could be increased by 51.77 % through proper utilization of production variables, i.e. agrochemicals, oxen power, plot size, and seed rate. The inefficiency model result also confirmed that the technical inefficiency of field pea production was negatively affected by access to off-farm income, access to credit services, extension contacts, adoption of new technologies, access to training, and participation in contract farming of the crop. Therefore, this study recommends agricultural policies favoring vocational training to farmers on the new agricultural technology packages, availing access to off-farm incomes, facilitating credit services to farmers, and establishing legal frameworks that encourage contract farming.

The influence of herbicide systems and methods of basic tillage on grain productivity of peas in the conditions of the steppe zone of Kabardino-Balkaria

The influence of herbicide systems and methods of basic tillage on grain productivity of peas in the conditions of the steppe zone of Kabardino-Balkaria