Pea is a spherical seed of the legume Pisum sativum. Each seed pod contains many peas.
In botanical terms peapods are fruits as they contain seeds that develop from the ovary of the flower. They are considered as vegetable most popularly used in cooking. It is member of family Fabaceae and the name pea is also added to other members of the family like cowpea, pigeon pea and seeds from several species of Lathyrus. The word pea has been originated from a Latin word.
It is an annual plant with a life cycle of one year. It is grown in all parts of the globe and is a cool season crop.planting of pea takes place in winter to early summer depending upon the location. The average weight of pea varies from 0.1-0.36 grams. It is used as a vegetable and can be eaten fresh, frozen, can or dried to be used as split pea. These varieties are typically known as field peas. Wild pea cultivation is mainly restricted to Mediterranean basin and the Near East. Archeological evidence suggests that cultivation of pea began in 4800-4400 BC in the Nile Delta.
Pea is a green coloured, pod-shaped vegetable widely grown in the cooler months. The seeds may be planted in the soil when the temperature reaches 10?C but the plants thrive well at a temperature of 13?C to 18?C. The plants fail to survive in the summer heat of warmer temperate as well as the lowland tropical climates. They grow well in the cooler high altitude tropical areas. Many cultivated varieties attain maturity in about 60 days. They grow well in slightly acidic and well drained soils. Peas have both slow growing and vining varieties. The vining varieties can be characterized by the presence of thin tendrils that twine around anything for support and attain a height of about 1-2 m. they undergo self pollination. There are many varieties of garden pea known under cultivation.
Pea weevil is an insect that damages peas and other legumes. This insect is native to Europe but has also spread to Canada and Alberta. They are 3.5-5.5 mm long and can be distinguished by the presence of three dark coloured lines running across the thorax. The larvae of the weevil feed on the root nodules which supply essential nitrogen to the plant for proper growth of stem. Adult weevils feed on leaves and make a c-shaped mark on the outside of leaves. In early times peas were grown for their dry seeds. In the modern world peas are boiled or steamed which breaks down the cell walls and makes them sweet in taste as well as makes the nutrients bio-available. Along with lentils and broad beans they form an important part of the diet of people of Middle East, North Africa and Europe during the Middle Ages. In India fresh peas are used in a number of dishes but the fresh ones can be substituted by the frozen ones also. They are also eaten raw as they are sweet in taste. Dried peas are also used in soups. They are even roasted and salted in Thailand and Malaysia as snacks. Pea soup is also eaten in northern Europe, parts of middle Europe, Russia, Iran, Iraq and India. Processed peas are mature peas that are dried, soaked and heat treated. Pea starch is used in making bioplastics.
Peas are rich source of vitamin A, vitamin C, B vitamins and lutein. In the mid 19th century Austrian scientist Gregor Mendel's observations of pea pods led to the principles of Mendelian genetics, the foundation of modern genetics. Some individuals are allergic to peas as well as to lentils.
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