The Key descriptors for peas consist of an initial minimum set of characterization and evaluation descriptors for Pisum sativum L., a member of the family Fabaceae. This strategic set aims to facilitate access to and utilization of this species, and it does not exclude the addition of other descriptors later. This work has been done jointly with the FAO International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture and the Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT). Internet searches and desk studies were conducted to look for the most updated information on relevant characteristics and traits, which were afterwards integrated with evaluation traits. Special attention was given to including descriptors relevant to germplasm utilization, including biotic and abiotic stresses of particular importance in the context of emerging adverse weather events, which are expected to intensify under current and future climate challenges. The key set of morphological characterization and utilization descriptors was defined through an online survey in which 51 experts from 37 organizations and universities from 30 countries participated. Survey results were subsequently validated in consultation with a Core Advisory Group (see “Validation panel” below). The strategic set of data standards is designed to facilitate access to and utilization of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture. Along with passport information (Alercia, A. et al. 2015, 2018, 2022), descriptors are critical to effectively describing and sharing characterization and evaluation data and the efficient use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture.
Bharadwaj, C., Carlson-Nilsson, U., Coyne, C., De la Rosa Fernandez, L., De Ron, A., Hanson, J., Hofer, J., Smykal, P., Alercia, A., Cerutti, A.L., Lopez, F. 2025. Key descriptors for peas. Rome, FAO. https://doi.org/10.4060/cd4768en
Record plant growth pattern.
| Code | Term | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Determinate | |
| 2 | Indeterminate |
Recorded at 50% flowering.
| Code | Term | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prostrate | |
| 2 | Spreading | |
| 3 | Semi-erect | |
| 4 | Erect |
Measured from ground to tip of the main shoot at maturity.
Record presence or absence of anthocyanin pigmentation on plant.
| Code | Term | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Absent | |
| 1 | Present |
Record presence or absence of anthocyanin pigmentation of axil.
| Code | Term | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Absent | |
| 1 | Present |
Recorded at plant maturity.
| Code | Term | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Absent | |
| 1 | Present | |
| 2 | Mixture |
Recorded at 50% flowering, including first flowering node.
Recorded at 50% flowering.
| Code | Term | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Absent | Leafiness is absent, but there are some leaf laminae present |
| 1 | Normal leafed with leaflets and tendrils | |
| 2 | Tendril-less | |
| 3 | Semi-leafless | |
| 4 | Semi-leafless and tendril-less | |
| 99 | Other | Specify in the NOTES descriptor |
Record leaf colour. Use RHS Colour Chart codes if available.
| Code | Term | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yellow green | |
| 2 | Green | |
| 3 | Blue green | |
| 99 | Other | Specify in the NOTES descriptor |
Observed on the third fully expanded leaf from the top of the plant at 50% flowering.
| Code | Term | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Absent | |
| 1 | Present |
Observed on the third fully expanded leaf from the top of the plant at 50% flowering.
| Code | Term | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Entire | |
| 2 | Crenate | |
| 3 | Dentate | |
| 4 | Serrate | |
| 5 | Laciniate |
Record presence or absence of stipule flecking.
| Code | Term | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Absent | |
| 1 | Present |
Number of days from sowing until 50% of the plants have begun to flower. Recorded on plants with the same sowing date at the same location in the same year.
Record maximum number of flowers per node.
Legend:
One
Two
Three or more
Record the predominant flower colour of the upper side of the standard petal on a fully newly opened flower.
| Code | Term | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | White | |
| 2 | Greenish | |
| 3 | Blue | |
| 4 | Purple | |
| 5 | Red | |
| 6 | Pink | |
| 99 | Other | Specify in the NOTES descriptor |
Record wing petal colour.
| Code | Term | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | White | |
| 2 | Cream | |
| 3 | Greenish | |
| 4 | Pink | |
| 5 | Reddish purple | |
| 99 | Other | Specify in the NOTES descriptor |
Number of days from sowing until 90% of the pods have dried.
Average number of pods from five inflorescences, from each of five randomly selected plants.
Record the predominant colour of mature pods at harvest stage. Specify if peas are field peas (harvested dry) or garden peas (harvested fresh).
| Code | Term | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yellow | |
| 2 | Green | |
| 3 | Orange | |
| 4 | Purple | |
| 5 | Brown | |
| 99 | Other | Specify in the NOTES descriptor |
Specify if peas are field peas (harvested dry) or garden peas (harvested fresh).
| Code | Term | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Absent | |
| 1 | Present | |
| 2 | Partially present |
Record the predominant pod curvature at maturity. Specify if peas are field peas (harvested dry) or garden peas (harvested fresh).
| Code | Term | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Straight | |
| 2 | Slightly curved (convex) | |
| 3 | Curved (concave) | |
| 4 | Strongly curved (concave) | |
| 99 | Other | Specify in the NOTES descriptor |
Record the predominant pod apex shape at maturity. Specify if peas are field peas (harvested dry) or garden peas (harvested fresh).
| Code | Term | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pointed | |
| 2 | Blunt | |
| 99 | Other | Specify in the NOTES descriptor |
Record the length by placing the measuring tape along the dorsal side of the pod. Average of five pods of different plants. Specify if peas are field peas (harvested dry) or garden peas (harvested fresh).
Average number of seeds from five mature pods, measured on one pod per plant from each of five randomly selected plants.
Record the predominant primary colour of seeds observed immediately after harvest. Specify if peas are field peas (harvested dry) or garden peas (harvested fresh).
| Code | Term | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yellow | |
| 2 | Green | |
| 3 | Grey | |
| 4 | Red | |
| 5 | Purple | |
| 6 | Brown | |
| 7 | Black | |
| 99 | Other | Specify in the NOTES descriptor |
Record the predominant marking pattern on mature seeds. Specify if peas are field peas (harvested dry) or garden peas (harvested fresh).
| Code | Term | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Absent | No pattern |
| 1 | Bicolour | |
| 2 | Spots | |
| 3 | Mottled | |
| 99 | Other | Specify in the NOTES descriptor |
Record the predominant shape of mature seeds (viewed from above, hilum right, radicle upper). Specify if peas are field peas (harvested dry) or garden peas (harvested fresh).
| Code | Term | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Round | |
| 2 | Elliptic | |
| 3 | Oblong | |
| 4 | Rhomboid | |
| 5 | Irregular | |
| 99 | Other | Specify in the NOTES descriptor |
Specify if peas are field peas (harvested dry) or garden peas (harvested fresh).
| Code | Term | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Smooth | |
| 2 | Dimpled | |
| 3 | Wrinkled |
Specify if peas are field peas (harvested dry) or garden peas (harvested fresh).
| Code | Term | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | White | |
| 2 | Black | |
| 3 | Brown | |
| 99 | Other | Specify in the NOTES descriptor |
Recorded after removing the seed coat. Specify if peas are field peas (harvested dry) or garden peas (harvested fresh).
| Code | Term | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | White | |
| 2 | Green | |
| 3 | Yellow | |
| 4 | Orange | |
| 99 | Other | Specify in the NOTES descriptor |
Record the average weight of 100 randomly selected mature seeds at air-dry moisture content. This can be expressed as 100 or 1000-seed weight for smaller seeds.
Weight of pure field pea seeds after threshing and cleaning recorded from representative random samples and converted to kg/ha. For small experimental plots and garden plots convert to kg/m2. Specify if peas are field peas (harvested dry) or garden peas (harvested fresh).
Recorded from representative seeds taken from random samples. Analytical assessment determined on a dried ground sub-sample. Specify if peas are field peas (harvested dry) or garden peas (harvested fresh).
Average weight of five immature pods from different plants at defined stage when pods would be harvested recorded from representative samples taken from within the whole plot.
Biotic stress susceptibility. Scored as percentage infection from a specific trial under natural/artificial inoculation conditions to be specified; state origin of infestation or infection in Notes.
Legend:
Very Low
Low
Intermediate
High
Very High
Biotic stress susceptibility. Scored as percentage infection from a specific trial under natural/artificial inoculation conditions to be specified; state origin of infestation or infection in Notes.
Legend:
Very Low
Low
Intermediate
High
Very High
Biotic stress susceptibility. Scored as percentage infection from a specific trial under natural/artificial inoculation conditions to be specified; state origin of infestation or infection in Notes.
Legend:
Very Low
Low
Intermediate
High
Very High
Biotic stress susceptibility. Scored as percentage infestation from a specific trial under natural/artificial infestation conditions to be specified; state origin of infestation or infection in Notes.
Legend:
Very Low
Low
Intermediate
High
Very High
Biotic stress susceptibility. Scored as percentage infection from a specific trial under natural/artificial inoculation conditions to be specified; state origin of infestation or infection in Notes.
Legend:
Very Low
Low
Intermediate
High
Very High
Biotic stress susceptibility. Scored as percentage infestation from a specific trial under natural/artificial infestation conditions to be specified; state origin of infestation or infection in Notes.
Legend:
Very Low
Low
Intermediate
High
Very High
Biotic stress susceptibility. Scored as percentage infection from a specific trial under natural/artificial inoculation conditions to be specified; state origin of infestation or infection in Notes.
Legend:
Very Low
Low
Intermediate
High
Very High
Abiotic stress susceptibility. Record the percentage of plants showing drought damage under stress conditions.