Selection of Faba Bean (Vicia faba L.) Genotypes for High Yield, Essential Amino Acids and Low Anti-Nutritional Factors

Abstract

One of the important edible legumes, the faba bean (Vicia faba L.) contains high protein levels and amino acids in its seeds essential for human nutrition and animal feeding; it also consists of anti-nutritional factors such as vicine, convicine, and tannin. For a balanced and healthy diet, faba bean cultivars should be improved for high seed yield, essential amino acids, and low anti-nutritional factors. The aims of this study were to select faba bean genotypes for (i) high yield, (ii) low anti-nutritional factors, and (iii) essential amino acids. A total of 12 faba bean genotypes, including 10 genotypes with low tannin content and 2 local checks, were assessed for phenological, morphological, and agronomical traits, as well as some biochemical characteristics including essential amino acids and low anti-nutritional factors. A local population, Atlidere, and a breeding line with low tannin content, FLIP08-016FB, had the highest yield. FLIP08-016FB had not only the highest lysine, methionine, and cysteine content, but also the highest yield and low anti-nutritional factors. FLIP08-016FB was selected for a balanced and healthy diet as it had a high seed yield, essential amino acids, and low anti-nutritional factors.