Genotypic and Environmental Variation for Degree of Cross‐Fertilization in Faba Bean

Abstract

Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) is a partially allogamous grain legume. Its degree of cross‐fertilization (C) is influenced by genetic and environmental effects. Both sources of variation for this trait were investigated in two experiments using black seed color as a morphological marker. Genotypic variation for C among 48 inbred lines derived from the small‐seeded European faba bean gene pool was evaluated at one location in Germany for 3 yr (Exp. 1). Environmental variation was evaluated with a subset of four inbred lines grown at 17 European locations, with eight locations evaluated for 2 yr (Exp. 2). Mean values for C of genotypes in Exp. 1 ranged from 38.4 to 72.5% and averaged 53.7%. The estimate of the genotypic standard deviation was 7.5% and for heritability it was 0.75. Environmental means of C in Exp. 2 ranged from 42.7 to 73.6% and averaged 53.9%. The standard deviation among locations was 6.3%. In conclusion, selection among genotypes and locations is promising to promote outcrossing in faba beans to better exploit heterosis in the breeding of cultivars.