| Abstract | Seed coat breakage of field pea (Pisum sativum L.) during harvesting and handling increases dockage and reduces seed quality. A laboratory-scale abrasive dehulling device was used to evaluate seed coat durability of field peas grown in 1983 (20 cultivars, 6 locations) and 1984 (17 cultivars, 5 locations). Analysis of variance revealed significant (P < 0.05) effects due to cultivar and location of growth for both years. Mean cultivar seed coat breakage ranged from 1.5 to 22.3% in 1983 and from 0.6 to 14.9% in 1984. The seed coat breakage of several cultivars in 1983 (MP 913, Line 32, Tipu, MP 926 and MP 942) and 1984 (MP 939 and Sv20565) was greater (P < 0.05) than that of Century, the current standard in the industry. The seed coat breakage of Bellevue was less (P < 0.05) than that of Century in both years. Locations which experienced hot or dry fall conditions produced seed with poor seed coat durability. Broad sense heritability of seed coat durability, based on the components of variance method, was 57.5 and 56.2% in 1983 and 1984, respectively. Seed coat breakage was not correlated (P > 0.05) with seed coat content or thickness, protein, lignin, neutral detergent fiber, hemicellulose content, 1000-seed weight or strength of adhesion between the cotyledons. Cellulose content of the seed coat was negatively correlated (r = −0.77, P < 0.05) with seed coat breakage in 1984, but not in 1983 (P > 0.05). |
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