About hybridization in breeding of new green pea and bean varieties: results and prospects

In Russia, breeding and seed production of green pea is being conducted since 1920. For this purpose, the intervarietal hybridization is generally used, and a smaller part of the cultivars were bred by individual and/or mass selection using existing varieties. Interspecial hybridization followed by selection of valuable forms is still the most common approach, and the technologies which are based on a distant hybridization, i.e. the intergeneral, interspecial, and intersubspecial one, is still under development. The article focuses on the history and practical results of breeding work fulfilled at All-Russia Research Institute of Breeding and Seed Production of Vegetable Crops to obtain new of Pisum sativum L. and Phaseolis vulgaris L. varieties by simple and complex crosses. The pedigrees are detailed for the varieties which have been certified for commercial use. Forms that make up the global priority are described. Role of the forms which are selected on a limited number of valuable traits and used in crosses is discussed. An eco-geographic distance and contrast of parental forms as the factors promoting success for breeding are also under consideration.