Pedigree Selection to Improve the Seed Yield in Two Segregating Populations of Faba Bean (Vicia faba L.)

Abstract

The present investigation was conducted at El Mattana Agricultural Research Station, Luxor Governorate, Egypt during three successive seasons i.e., 2013/2014, 2014/2015 and 2015/2016. The objective of this study was to achieve two cycles of pedigree line selection for improving seed yield/plant using two segregating populations of faba bean in the F4 and F5 generations. Remarkable variations among families of the both base populations as well as the selected families in cycle 1 and cycle 2 of pedigree line selection were observed for all studied traits. In Pop. I, families no. F233, F141, F182, F187 and F086 were the best families in most studied traits and out yielded both parents and bulk’s mean after two cycles of pedigree selection. In Pop. II, families no. F203, F177, F111, F076 and F036 were the best families and surpassed both bulk sample and better parent. The selected families of Pop. II were higher for seed weight, seed index, biological yield, pods weight and pods number than the selected families of Pop. I. These families could be considered as promising material for seed yield production. Accordingly, the pedigree selection would be reasonably effective for selecting the superior genotypes for seed yield/plant.