Characterization and Evaluation of Faba Bean (Vicia faba L.) Germplasm Collected from Kashmir, India

Abstract

Faba bean (Vicia faba) is an ancient legume crop with high protein content of around 27%. In this study 39 local faba bean genotypes differing in seed shape, size and color were collected from different areas of Kashmir valley and evaluated during three successive rabi growing seasons of 2019–20, 2020–21 and 2021–22. Data were recorded on ten agro-morphological traits viz., plant height, number of branches/plant, days to 50% flowering, days to 80% maturity, pod length, pod width, number of seeds/pod, pod yield/plant, seed yield/plant and 100-seed weight. Average plant height ranged from 55.8 to 91.3 cm, pod length 5.2 to 9.7 cm, pod width 1.1 to 1.8 cm, seed yield/plant 18.748 to 42.050 g and 100-seed weight 41.118 to 89.966 g. Pod yield/plant evaluated during one year of 2021–22 only ranged from 43.633 to 199.930 g with a mean value of 99.981 g. The results have indicated significant variability in most of these traits. Flattened, medium-sized, beige seeds were more common traits in these faba bean genotypes. Lower mean plant height, number of branches/plant, pod length and seed yield/plant were recorded in 2021–22 than the other two experimental years due to lower rainfall and higher mean temperatures during the active vegetative, flowering and pod filling stages. Principal component and cluster analysis revealed three distinct clusters mainly on the basis of greater agro-morphological similarity. Interestingly, 8 genotypes with the highest individual 100-seed weight were clustered in a separate group with an average 100-seed weight of 83.997 g. Besides, this cluster recorded highest average plant height, pod length, pod width and seed yield/plant as well; all these traits showed significant positive correlations with each other. Therefore, these traits should be considered when selecting faba bean genotypes to improve the region’s crop performance.