Morphological features and productivity of vegetable pea varieties depending on growing conditions

Abstract

The article presents the results of multi-year studies on the morphological characteristics and productivity of various cultivars of garden pea (Pisum sativum L.) depending on growing conditions in the Western Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. It was established that plant productivity is a complex trait formed under the influence of a combination of morphological and physiological indicators, among which the number of pods per plant, pod weight, stem length, and the number of internodes play a decisive role. The research was conducted during 2020–2023 at the Research Center ‘Podillia’ of Podillia State University. The experimental scheme included cultivars Lushchylnyi (control), Amalfi, Vivado, Vinko, Glorivert, Sienna, and Sherwood. Analysis of variance revealed a significant influence of the varietal factor on morphological and yield-related parameters. The greatest stem length was recorded for cultivars Sherwood (112.0 cm), Sienna (88.9 cm), and Glorivert (79.7 cm), indicating their suitability for mechanized cultivation and harvesting. The number of internodes per plant ranged from 12.1 to 19.2, with Sherwood having the highest value. According to pod weight, the best results were obtained for cultivars Sherwood (4.4 g) and Sienna (4.2 g). The number of pods per plant varied between 11.1 and 17.3, with the highest values observed in Glorivert, Sienna, and Sherwood. According to multi-year data, the mass of pods per plant ranged from 54.8 to 105.3 g. Cultivars Sienna and Sherwood were classified as highly productive, Glorivert, Vinko, and Amalfi as medium-productive. The highest yield and stability were demonstrated by Sherwood, which exceeded the control by 44.3 %. The results indicate that this cultivar has high adaptive potential and can be recommended for large-scale cultivation in the Western Forest-Steppe of Ukraine.