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Title: NOTICE OF RELEASE OF 'WHIPPERSNAPPER', A DUAL-PURPOSE SOUTHERNPEA FOR THE PRODUCTION OF BOTH SNAPS AND FRESH-SHELL PEAS

Author
item Fery, Richard
item BUCKLEY, BLAIR - LOUISIANA STATE UNIV.
item MARSH, DYREMPLE - LINCOLN UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Cultivar Release
Publication Type: Germplasm Release
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/13/2006
Publication Date: 1/13/2006
Citation: Fery, R.L., Buckley, B., Marsh, D.B. 2006. Notice of release of 'Whippersnapper', a dual-purpose southernpea for the production of both snaps and fresh-shell peas. USDA, Agricultural Resesarch Service, Cultivar Release. January 13, 2006.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The USDA, Louisiana State University, and Lincoln University have developed a new southernpea cultivar named 'WhipperSnapper'. The new cultivar is the product of a plant breeding effort to incorporate genes conditioning superior yield and seed characteristics of Asian "vegetable cowpeas" into American snap-type southernpeas. The new cultivar was developed for use by home gardeners and market gardeners as a dual-purpose cultivar that can be used to produce both fresh-shell peas and immature, fresh pods or snaps. Typical ready-to-harvest 'WhipperSnapper' snaps are green colored, 6.4 mm in diameter, 7.6 mm in height, and 24 cm long; the pods are slightly curved at the attachment end. Typical mature-green pods suitable for fresh-shell harvest exhibit an attractive yellow color, are 25 cm long, and contain 14 peas. Fresh peas are cream-colored, kidney-shaped, and weigh 24.5 g per 100 peas. Dry pods exhibit a light straw color, and the dry peas have a smooth seed coat. The quality of 'WhipperSnapper' seed is excellent. In replicated field trials, 'WhipperSnapper' produced significantly greater yields of both snaps and peas than the snap-type cultivar BetterSnap. WhipperSnapper has potential for use as a mechanically-harvested source of snaps for use by food processors in mixed packs of peas and snaps.