Genetic analysis on some yield traits of pea (Pisum sativum L.) crosses

Article info: Received: 30 April 2014 Accepted: 29 January 2015 ABSTRACT The trial was carried during 2011-2013 on the second experimental field of the Institute of Forage Crops – Pleven, Bulgaria. Eight generations (P1, P2, F1, F2, RC1 and each reciprocal generation) from a cross between the Shtambovii and Pleven 10 varieties were sown in this study. Five traits were evaluated: number of pods and seeds per plant, seed weight per plant, plant weight and number of fertile nodes per plant were used as components of yield. Positive true heterosis for the investigated traits was found in all hybrids of F1 generations. At F1BC Shtamboviii х Pleven 10 was observed negative heterosis effects for number of pods and seeds per plant and seed weight per plant, and F1BC Pleven 10 х Shtambovii for plant weight and number of fertile nodes per plant. In F2 the plants from Shtamboviii х Pleven 10 had the strongest depression for number of seeds per plant and from Pleven 10 х Shtambovii for plant weight. High level on the indices of transgression was found for all traits. All traits except plant weight and number of fertile nodes per plant had epistatic gene effects. The results showed that for plant weight selection will be more effective if it starts in later hybrid generations. Traits number of fertile nodes and seeds per plant were the characteristics with the highest values for selection.