Morphological, physiological and productivity response in garden pea genotypes during high temperature stress

Abstract

Changes in morphological characteristics, productivity and fluorescence emission parameters at normal and high temperature values under field conditions of 10 varieties and lines of the species Pisum sativum L. from the collection of MARITSA Vegetable Crops Research Institute were established. The influence of high temperature on the condition and functional activity of the photosynthetic apparatus (PSA) was studied by analyses of chlorophyll fluorescence characteristics of photosystem II (PSII) in the pea leaves. Plants were subjected to stress from high temperature during the reproductive period (bud formation - flowering phases), which is considered particularly critical for pea plants. The morphological performances and productivity have been influenced by climatic characteristics of the years. The screening for thermostability of the photosynthetic apparatus to the high temperature characterizes Skinado, Faboundo and line 95/4 as the most tolerant on the basis of analysis of fluorescence induction parameters. The most sensitive are lines 72/2 and 72/9. Varieties of Skinado and Fabundo respond with higher yields of green pods and grains in the conditions of the first year, categorized as hot compared to 2013. We consider that the indicated accessions are suitable for the pea-breeding programme to high temperature stress tolerance.