Temperature and Humidity Effects on the Growth and Yield of Pea Cultivars

The effects of two relative humidities and three temperature regimes on the growth and yield responses of four pea cultivars were investigated. The high day/night temperature regime of 27/17 C, compared with 17/7 C, decreased the number of pods per plant by 46, 65, 66 and 54% in the cultivars Dark Skin Perfection, Nugget, Early Sweet 11 and Elf, respectively. Continued growth at the high temperature decreased pea yield by 50% in Dark Skin Perfection and about 70% in the other cultivars. When plants were first grown at 17/7 until full bloom and then subjected to the 27/7 C regime, the high temperature treatment showed no significant effect on growth and yield. Dark Skin Perfection was the least adversely affected by high temperature. No significant differences in growth and yield were observed at 50 and 90% relative humidities.