Leaf Pigments, Surface Wax and Spectral Vegetation Indices for Heat Stress Resistance in Pea

Pea is a grain legume crop commonly grown in semi-arid temperate regions. susceptible to heat stress that affects development and reduces yield. Leaf pigments surface wax canopy make the primary interaction with environment can impact plant response environmental stress. Vegetation indices be used indirectly assess performance regard pigment, biomass, water content indicate overall Our objectives were investigate contribution of leaf avoidance pea canopies, their associations spectral vegetation indices. Canopies represented by 24 cultivars varying traits tested field trials across six environments three levels western Canada. Compared control non-stress environments, reduced lamina petiole chlorophyll a, b, carotenoid concentrations 18–35%, increased a/b ratio, anthocyanin 24–28%. Generally, greater pigment associated cooler temperature high tolerance index (HTI) values. Upright had higher HTI values, whereas lowest was normal leafed vining cultivars. indices, including photochemical reflectance (PRI), green normalized (GNDVI), ratio (NPCI), band (WBI), strong correlations traits. This study highlights as potential application measurements for selecting genotypes more resistant vegetation.