Development of afila type and lodging hardiness pea (pisum sativum L.) genotypes by line × tester analysis method

This study aimed to develop pea (Pisum sativum L.) genotypes with superior yield and quality characteristics in response to the challenges posed by climate change and increasing food security demands. The primary objective was to combine desirable traits such as afila leaf morphology, lodging resistance, and high seed yield within the same genotype. For this purpose, six female parent lines (Serge, Boogie, Compana, Carina, Jofs, and Betagreen) were crossed with three testers (PS16012, PS16045, and PS16062) using a line × tester mating design, resulting in 18 F₁ hybrid combinations. The F₁ hybrids, along with their parents and F₂ progenies, were evaluated under the ecological conditions of Konya (Central Anatolia, Türkiye) over two consecutive growing seasons using a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. The study examined key agronomic and quality-related traits, including plant height, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, 100-seed weight, seed yield, protein content, and protein yield. In the F₁ generation, significant levels of heterosis and heterobeltiosis were observed, particularly for seed yield and protein yield. Hybrids such as "Carina × PS16012," "Betagreen × PS16045," and "Serge × PS16062" outperformed both the mid- and better-parent values, while combinations like "Boogie × PS16062" and "Jofs × PS16062" maintained their superior performance in the F₂ generation, indicating genetic stability. Both GKY (general combining ability) and ÖKY (specific combining ability) variances were statistically significant across generations, suggesting the involvement of both additive and dominant gene effects in the inheritance of traits. Among the parents, Betagreen and Boogie emerged as superior candidates due to their high GKY values, large seed size, and elevated protein content. The high heritability observed in some traits up to the F₂ generation supports the effectiveness of early-generation selection. In conclusion, this study contributes valuable insights into the development of multi-trait pea genotypes that combine high yield, quality, genetic consistency, and lodging resistance, offering strong potential for use in both breeding programs and commercial production under semi-arid conditions.