The response to crop health and productivity of field pea (Pisum sativum L.) at different growing conditions

ABSTRACT With increasing the area of legumes one of the most possible risks for productivity limitation is diseases. The research on the response to diseases and productivity of field peas was carried out during 2018–2020. The six cultivars and breeding lines were grown at two different infection levels: at natural field infection and under disease control using seed treatment and foliar fungicides. The main disease in field peas during the research year was Ascochyta blight at different intensites depending on year, cultivar/breeding line and disease control efficacy. Dominating pathogenic fungus D. pisi on harvested grains prevailed. Pea grain yield was significantly affected by cultivar/breeding line, experiments year and growing conditions. The highest yield difference between growing conditions (natural field infection and under disease control) was recorded in 2020 when Ascochyta blight and Grey mould gave the most severe attack. This finding illustrates the importance to eliminate one of the most important limiting factors for productivity – severe diseases. Future research on the forecast system of Ascochyta blight and other field pea diseases infection risk is needed. The response of cultivar/breeding line to weather conditions was established in this research as well. Tested breeding lines showed higher drought stress tolerance compared with commercial cultivars. More focus on environment stress-resistant cultivars is needed.