Qualitative characters of 57grass pea accessions were observed. Epicotyl colour was light green for 28 accessions (49.12%), green for 15 accessions (26.32%) and green-purple for 14 accessions (24.56%) were observed. Hypocotyl colour was light green for 18 accessions (31.58%), green for 25 accessions (43.86%) and green-purple for 14 accessions (24.56%). Seedling vigour was poor for 10 accessions (17.54%), intermediate for 20 accessions (35.09%) and vigorous for 27accessions (47.36%). Plant growth rate stage-I was low for 9 accessions (15.79%), medium for 23 accessions (40.35%) and high for 25 accessions (43.85%). Plant growth rate stage-II was low for 11 accessions (19.30%), medium for 16 accessions (28.07%) and high for 30 accessions (52.63%). Plant growth habit was erect for 10 accessions (17.54%) , semi-erect for 15 accessions 26.32%), spreading for 20 accessions (35.09%) and prostrate for 12 accessions (21.05%). The stem colour was light green for 8 accessions (14.04%), green for 38 accessions (66.67%), purple green for 11 accessions (19.30%). Anthocyanin pigmentation on the leaf was absent for 41 accessions (71.93%) and present for 16 accessions (28.07%). Leaf type was tendrils for 37 accessions (64.61%), bipinnate for 1 accession (1.75%), simple for 9 accessions (15.79%) and rest 10 accessions (17.54%) were in multipinnate. The number of leaflets per leaf was one pair for 3 accessions (5.26%), two pairs for 34 accessions (59.65%) and rest lines more than two pairs for 20 accessions (35.09%). Leaf colour was light green for 12 accessions (21.05%), green for 30 accessions (52.63%) and dark green for 15 accessions (26.32%). Leaf size was small for 7 accessions (12.28%), medium for 21 accessions (36.84%) and large for 29 accessions (50.87%). Leaflet shape was linear for 5 accessions (8.77%); lanceolate for 35 accessions (61.40%) and the rest 17 accessions (29.82%) were in ovate-lanceolate. Leaf petiole colour was green for 46 accessions (80.70%) and purple-green for 11 accessions (19.30%). Leaf tendrils were short for 7 accessions (12.28%), medium for 29 accessions (36.84%) and long for 21 accessions (50.88%). The top leaves-petiole end was tendril subulate for 21 accessions (36.84%), tendril simple for 34 accessions (59.65%) and tendril compound for 2 accessions (3.51%). The lower leaves-petiole end was tendril subulate for 3 accessions (5.26%), tendril simple for 46 accessions (80.70%) and tendril compound for 8 accessions (14.04%), Leaf pubescence was absent for 23 accessions (40.35%) and present for 34 accessions (59.65%). Leaf scale size was small for 6 accessions (10.53%), medium for 27 accessions (47.37%) and large for 24 accessions (42.11%). Flower bud shape was globular for 16 accessions (28.07%), intermediate for 18 accessions (31.57%) and rest 23 accessions (40.35%) were long. Flower bud size was small for 14 accessions (24.56%), medium for 24 accessions (42.11%) and large for 19 accessions (33.33%). Flower size was small for 4 accessions (7.02%), medium for 21 accessions (36.84%) and large for 32 accessions (56.14%). Flower colour was white for 1 accession (1.75%), white blue for 23 accessions (40.35%), blue for 10 accessions (17.54%), Pink for 1 accession (1.75%), violet-blue for 21 accessions (36.84%) and violet for 1 accession (1.75%). Flower vein colour was blue for 35 accessions (61.40%), violet for 10 accessions (17.54%), yellow for 1 accession (1.75%), and grey for 8 accessions (14.04%). Calyx colour was light green for 14 accessions (24.56%), green for 30 accessions (52.63%) and green-purple for 13 accessions (22.81%). Pod shape was oblong- elliptical for 13 accessions (22.80%), medium oblong-elliptical were for 2 accessions (3.51%), curved for 1 accession (1.75%), beaded for 1 accession (1.75%) and rest accessions were observed in broad linear for 40 accessions (70.17%). Pod curvature was straight for 53 accessions (92.98%), slightly curved for 3 accessions (5.26%) and curved were observed for accession (1.75%). Pod beak shape was pointed for 53 accessions (92.98%) and blunt for 4 accessions (7.02%). Immature pod colour was light green for 3 accessions (5.26%), green for 12 accessions (21.05%) and green-purple for 42 accessions (73.68%). Pod wings were narrow for 12 accessions (21.05%), medium for 32 accessions (56.14%) and wide for 13 accessions (22.81%). Constriction of pods between the seeds was absent for 5 accessions (8.77%), slight for 10 accessions (17.54%), medium for 17 accessions (29.82%) and pronounced for 25 accessions (43.86%). Pod dehiscence no shattering for 9 accessions (15.79%), low shattering for 39 accessions (68.42%) and medium shattering for 9 accessions (15.79%). Seed shape was rhomboid for 54 accessions (94.74%), square for 2 accessions (3.51%) and obtriangular for 1 accession (1.75%) were observed. Seed size was small for 2 accessions (3.51%), medium for 18 accessions (31.58%) and large for 37 accessions (64.91%). Seed coat colour was grey-white for 5 accessions (8.77%), grey for 10 accessions (17.54%), brown for 26 accessions (45.61%), pink for 3 accessions (5.26%), grey mottled for 6 accessions (10.52%), green- mottled for 3 accessions (5.26%), black for 2 accessions (3.50%) and other for 1 accession (1.75%). The seed coat surface was smooth for 42 accessions (73.68%) and tubercular for 15 accessions (26.32%). Seed coat pattern was absent for 2 accessions (3.50%), marbled for 25 accessions (43.86%), dotted for 29 accessions (50.88%) and streaked for 2 accessions (3.51%). Seed coat pattern colour was cream for 5 accessions (8.77%), green for 13 accessions (22.81%), brown for 33 accessions (57.89%), red-purple for 3 accessions (5.26%), black for 2 accessions (3.51%) and other for 1 accession (1.75%). Cotyledon colour was yellow for 37 accessions (64.91%) and the rests of the 20 accessions (35.09%) were orange colour. Seed eye width was narrow for 6 accessions(10.53%), medium for 29 accessions(50.88%) and wide for 22 accessions (38.60%). Seed ornamentation was absent for 26 accessions (45.61%) and present for 31 accessions(54.39%).
Quantitative variation of different grass pea accessions was observed. Days to first flowering, days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, number of pods per plant, 100-seed weight and seed yield differed among the accession. The number of 10 accessions were matured within 108-110 days and 28 accessions matured within 111-112 days where 19 accessions matured within 113-114 days. Plant height varied from 41.00 to 78.00 cm while 16 accessions were tall (60.00−78.00 cm) and 19 accessions were medium (50.50−59.00 cm) and rest accessions were dwarf (35.50−49.00 cm). The number of pods per plant varied from 42.30 to 125.50 while 12 accessions showed the maximum number of pods per plant (126), 24 accessions gave the moderate number of pods per plant (60−79) and rest accessions produced the lowest number of pods per plant (37−59). Yield varied 6.48 g to 29.64 g per plant, where BD-5137, BD-4782, BD-4786, BD-4789, BD-4798, BD-4817 and BD-4837 were high yielding (20.48− 29.64 g/plant), 39 accessions were moderate yielding (12.13− 19.84 g per plant) and the rest 11 accessions were low yielding (6.48−11.94 g per plant). The highest seed yield (29.64 g/per plant) was recorded from BD-5127 and the lowest yield (6.48 g/ per plant) from BD-4738 grass pea accession.