Phenotypic Diversity of <i>Pisum sativum</i> (L.) Accessions in Rainfall Conditions in Western Algeria

The current study aims to characterise 95 Pisum sativum accessions grown under rainfed conditions in western Algeria for potential use in breeding programmes. The pea accessions, sourced from the USDA Grains Gene Bank, including 55 accessions from the Chinese Core collection and six commonly used cultivars, were established under rainfed conditions. Comprehensive morphological, phenological, and agronomical evaluations were conducted. Statistical analyses revealed significant interaccession variability across all studied parameters. The classification process identified five distinct clusters. Factor analyses of mixed data comprising 19 traits yielded nine principal components with eigenvalues greater than one. The initial two dimensions explain 32.277% of the variance, with contributions of 18.426% and 13.85% from the first and second dimensions, respectively. The traits were categorised into three negatively correlated groups. Accessions classification based on assessed parameters identified Tai Ba Cou , PI193843 , P. sativum‐Hind and P. sativum‐Eth ( 1 ) as the top‐performing accessions, along with Ma Rou Wan , Tian Wan Dou , Cai Wan Dou ( 2 ) and Lu Wan Dou . Liu Tang Ke Wan, JI159 and PIS511 showed earlier flowering and maturation. Numerous accessions displayed desirable features, rendering them suitable for selection and incorporation into plant improvement and/or varietal development programmes under water‐limited conditions.