Adaptability and productive potential of initial material from grass pea (Lathyrus sativus l.)

Abstract

The adaptive properties of six grass pea varieties (BGE027129, BGE015741, BGE025277, LAT4362, LA5108 and LAT5038) were studied by the signs plant height (cm), aboveground mass weight (leaves + stems) (g), pods per plant, seeds per plant, seed weight per plant (g) and nodule weight (g). The study was conducted in 2014-2016 in the experimental field of the Institute of Forage Crops, Pleven, Bulgaria. Varieties with high general and specific adaptive ability, relative stability and selection value on the traits studied were identified. BGE027129 was characterized by high selective value of the number of pods, number of seeds and seed weight per plant, and BGE015741 by the plant height, number of seeds and seed weight per plant, respectively. Interest for the combinatorial selection is the variety BGE025277 by the plant height and the seed weight per plant, which are combined with good homeostaticity and relative stability to the environment. The varieties BGE027129, BGE015741 and BGE025277 can be used as parental components in breeding programs to create grass pea varieties with a larger number of seeds and pods per plant, and higher weight of seeds. © 2019, Agricultural Academy, Bulgaria. All rights reserved.