Identifying superior snow pea breeding lines

Abstract

We evaluated 33 edible-pod pea (Pisum sativum L.) lines selected from single plants within 11 snow pea landraces and three elite cultivars for their horticultural value in three field trials at Pontevedra and Lugo (northwestern Spain). Field performance was estimated according to six traits related to earliness and duration, while horticultural value was determined by five pod traits. The global pod quality was estimated by a taste panel. Lines showed significant differences in nine quantitative traits. Significant differences were found among means of five landraces and the lines selected within them for pod length, width and weight. Cluster and principal component analysis identified a main group of 16 lines derived mainly from landraces PSM-0112 and PSM-0227 that had desirable earliness and pod quality. Some of the lines, such as MB-0298, MB-0324, MB-0325, MB-0326, MB-0332, and MB-0334 are appropriate for vegetable production as edible pod snow pea varieties and for use in breeding programs. Moreover, the lines MB-0298, MB-0321, MB-0322, and MB-0324 showed stable earliness and MB-0330 and MB-0332 stable pod quality across the three environments evaluated.