Relative resistance of the initial material of peas to pea weevil (Bruchus Pisorum L.) in the Donbass

Yield losses caused by pests pose a serious threat when cultivating peas. From the earliest stages until maturing, pea plants and seeds are seriously damaged. The pea weevil ( Bruchus pisorum L .) is among the most dangerous pests. According to some researchers, its harmfulness can significantly reduce yields by 30–40 % in some years. The purpose of the current study was to identify a seed damage rate ( Bruchus pisorum L. ) of pea collection samples with different vegetation periods, to select valuable initial material with subsequent use as a donor of increased resistance to the harmfulness of pea weevil. The weather conditions during the years of study (2021–2023) were different, which made it possible to determine the damage rate to pea forms of different maturity groups. There has been found that the mid-maturing group with a vegetation period of 65–85 days was the most vulnerable. The general damage rate was 36.8 %. The samples with a vegetation period of 51–60 days were more resistant to the pest. Seed damage rate was on average 22.9 %, which was 13.9 % less than that of mid-maturing forms. According to this criterion, the samples ‘Stengolt’, ‘Charlston’, ‘Rodegune’, ‘Imposant’, ‘Pu-726’ are of significant breeding value. According to the indicator of pest activity, there have been identified the forms ‘Stengolt’, ‘Charlston’, ‘Pu-726’, ‘Imposant’, ‘Exsellans’. The samples ‘Stengolt’, ‘Pu-726’, ‘Imposant’ are of particular interest for practical breeding since they carry complex resistance in the genotype, both by selectivity and by larvae activity inside the seed. The identified samples can be used in future breeding programs as donors of relative resistance. The analysis has revealed a reliable high correlation between damage rate of pea seeds and the length of a vegetation period of the studied forms, a selectivity rate of pea samples by pea weevil and larvae activity inside the seed.