Cooper

Pea

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Espace' and 'Camry'

Summary: 'Cooper' is a semi-leafless, green cotyledon field pea variety which produces taller plants than 'Camry'. The petioles and peduncles of 'Cooper' are shorter than those of 'Espace'. 'Cooper' flowers later than 'Espace' and has longer pods and larger seeds. 'Cooper' matures later than both 'Espace' and 'Camry'.

Description:

'Cooper' is a semi-leafless, green cotyledon field pea variety with no stem fasciation and no anthocyanin colouration. The plant colour is green to blue green. The vines are short to medium in length. 'Cooper' has moderate waxiness on the upper surface of the stipules and medium dentation. Stipule development is normal and there are no rabbit-eared stipules. Flecking of the stipules is sparse.

'Cooper' flowers mid to late season and produces two flowers per node. The flower standard is white, with a level base. The apex of the upper calyx lobe is acuminate. The pods of 'Cooper' are green with very weak concave curvature and parchment is partially present. The distal part of the pod is pointed to blunt. The immature seeds are light green.

'Cooper' matures moderately early to close to mid-season and produces medium to large sized, spherical to ovoid seeds with a green cotyledon with no black hilum. The shape of the starch grain is simple. There is no wrinkling or dimpling of the cotyledon.

Origin & Breeding History: 'Cooper' originated from the crossing of the varieties 'Baccara' and 'Cebeco 92585' in 1997. In 1998 a single plant was selected, followed by single seed descent and replicated yield trials. The breeding work took place at the Cebeco Breeding Station in Lelystad, in the centre of the Netherlands. The selection criteria in the development of the variety 'Cooper' were yield, resistance to powdery mildew, resistance to lodging and plant height.

Tests and Trials: Tests and trials for 'Cooper' were conducted at Westlock, Alberta during 2003 and 2004. The trials consisted of 4 replicates per variety, in a randomized complete block design. Each plot was 4 rows wide, spaced at 28cm. The plots were seeded to 6 metres and were trimmed to 4.5 metres. Measured characteristics were based on 20 measurements.

Tests & Trials: Tests and trials for 'Cooper' were conducted at Westlock, Alberta during 2003 and 2004. The trials consisted of 4 replicates per variety, in a randomized complete block design. Each plot was 4 rows wide, spaced at 28 cm. The plots were seeded to 6 metres and were trimmed to 4.5 metres. Measured characteristics were based on 20 measurements.

Comparison tables for 'Cooper' with reference varieties 'Espace' and 'Camry'

Plant height (cm)

Number of nodes up to and including the first flowering node

Length of peduncle (cm)

Pod length (cm)

Pod width (cm)

Seed weight (grams per 1000 seeds)