Abstract
Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers were used to assess the genetic diversity among 79 inbred lines of recent elite faba bean (Vicia faba L.) cultivars of Asian, European (Northern and Southern) and North African origin. Different sources of error arising along the steps of the analysis were investigated. Scoring across gels was found to be a major source of error, illustrating the need for sample replications and several appropriate check entries. Clustering of inbred lines based on Jaccard's similarity coefficient and the Principal Coordinate Analysis showed the Asian group of inbred lines to be the only visible group, other lines showed no marked further grouping. Nevertheless, pedigree relationships were verified. Pattern of genetic similarities between inbred lines, grouped according to their geographic origin corroborate available information on the history of spread and cultivation of faba bean in the studied regions. AFLP markers are thus of great value in allocation of genotypes where doubtful or no pedigree information is available and in organizing germplasm. As further step, the relation between genetic similarities of carefully selected diverse 18 European faba bean lines and both performance and heterosis of their hybrids was investigated. Parental lines, 62 F1-hybrids and their F2-progenies were evaluated in field trials in four environments in Germany for their seed yield, 1000-seed weight and plant height. Correlation coefficients between the genetic similarity estimates and either heterosis or F1-hybrid performance and those between specific genetic similarity and specific combining ability for the three studied traits were too small to be of predictive value. Results showed that AFLP-based genetic similarities are not predictive of the performance of hybrids or heterosis within the elite European faba bean gene pool, at least as long as mating of parents that are related by pedigree is excluded.
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