Evaluating the Influence of Genotypic Mixtures on Field Pea Productivity and Competitive Ability

This study was conducted to determine whether two-way genotypic mixtures could improve field pea productivity and competitive ability and whether genetic relatedness affects the mixing ability of genotypes. Genotypes were chosen on the basis of pedigree: two sister lines (CDC 1987-3 and CDC 1897-14), a common parent (Eclipse), and a distantly related genotype (Midas). Although the results showed that most mixtures performed similar to their components in monocultures, CDC1897-3 x Eclipse was found to reduce pseudo-weed (barley) seed production by 47% and 61% at Lethbridge in 2010 and 2011, respectively. The same mixture also significantly reduced the pseudo-weed biomass by 61% at St. Albert in 2010 and 41% at Lethbridge in 2010 and produced more above-ground biomass than its components in the greenhouse. Therefore, mixtures have potential to improve field pea productivity and competitive ability when combining poorly and strongly competitive genotypes; however, mixtures potential should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.