Forage and Seed Yield Components in Four French Landraces of Grass Pea (Lathyrus sativus L.)

Abstract

A small-plot trial was carried out in 2006, 2007 and 2008 at the Experimental Field of the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops at Rimski Šančevi, including four grass pea local landraces from southern France, Le Cambou from Dordogne and Fléchou, Parranquet and Bon Encontre from Lot-et-Garonne. Each trial was composed of two identical parts, one for forage and another for seed. The plants in the first part were cut at the stage of full flowering, while in the second part the plants were harvested at the stage of full maturity of seeds in the oldest pods. Main forage and seed yield components were evaluated. The landrace Bon Encontre had the highest forage yields, with 42.08 g plant⁻¹ of green forage and 8.18 g plant⁻¹ of forage dry matter, while the landrace Le Cambou had the lowest forage yields, with 22.82 g plant⁻¹ of green forage and 4.51 g plant⁻¹ of forage dry matter. However, Le Cambou had the greatest average values of number of fertile nodes (17.7 plant⁻¹), number of pods (18.3 plant⁻¹), number of seeds (36.9 plant⁻¹) and seed yield (7.20 g plant⁻¹). The landrace Bon Encontre was the most promising for the development of dual-purpose grass pea cultivars.