Screening the primary gene pool of field pea (Pisum sativum L. subsp. sativum) in Ethiopia for resistance against pea weevil (Bruchus pisorum L.)

Field pea (Pisum sativum L. subsp. sativum) is an important agricultural crop worldwide, as a main source of protein in human diet and as animal fodder. In Ethiopia, it is the second most important legume crop next to faba bean (Vicia faba L.). However, the production is threatened by pea weevil (Bruchus pisorum L.), which is a rapidly spreading insect pest throughout the country. During June-October 2011, a total of 602 pea accessions from Ethiopia were screened for pea weevil resistance at three field sites in Ethiopia. From this trial, accessions with relatively low mean percent seed damage (PSD) were selected and evaluated during June-October 2012 in replicated trials. Some genotypes from the selected accessions were also studied under greenhouse conditions for up to three generations. Both in the field and greenhouse trials, a significant level of variation in PSD were observed among accessions/genotypes. However, a few of them showed relatively consistent results across sites and years. The gene bank accessions 32454 and 235002 had consistently < 40 % PSD. These accessions had 17 and 33 % PSD, respectively, at a site where the highest and overall mean PSD were 92 and 75 %, respectively. Also, promising genotypes with consistently low levels of seed damage were identified in accessions 226037 and 32410. The incorporation of such promising accessions/genotypes into pea breeding programs may lead to the development of field pea varieties with enhanced resistance against pea weevil and consequently contribute to sustainable field pea production in Ethiopia and beyond.