Genetic Analysis of Chocolate Spot and Rust Disease Resistance and Some Yield Related traits in Three Faba Bean Crosses

Abstract

Breeding for high yield potential along with resistance to chocolate spot and rust diseases are the main target of most faba bean breeding programs. The five populations (P1, P2, F1, F2 and F3) of three faba bean crosses (Triple White x Ohishima Zairai), (Triple White x Giza 40) and (Triple White x Foul Sbai labiade) were evaluated during 2019 /2020 winter season at Sakha Agricultural Research Station, to study the type of gene action for foliar diseases resistance and some yield related traits. Significant differences were found among generations, i.e. P1, P2, F1, F2 and F3 for the majority of studied traits of all crosses. Significant and highly significant desirable percentages of heterosis relative to mid and better parent with favorable values for inbreeding depression for most traits. Additive gene effects were positive and highly significant for chocolate spot disease reaction, rust disease reaction. However, the dominant gene effects seem to be controlling the inheritance of yield and yield component traits. Narrow-sense heritability ranged from medium to high in most cases due to the opposite directions of dominance and dominance x dominance effects. Genetic advance from selection ranged from 7.66% for flowering date to 45.65% for No. of pods plant-1in cross 3. Finally; it could be concluded that cross 2 and cross 3 were the best for flowering date, seed yield/plant and 100-seed weight, while cross 3 was the best in resistance to chocolate spot and rust diseases. Therefore, selection in the advanced generations of both crosses could be effective.