Genetic Variability on Grain Yield and Related Agronomic Traits of Faba Bean (<i>Vicia faba</i> L.) Genotypes Under Soil Acidity Stress in the Central Highlands of Ethiopia

Abstract

Faba bean is the leading in area coverage and total production of pulses in Ethiopia. However, soil acidity becomes the major production limiting factor of faba bean in the highlands of Ethiopia. Information on genetic variability and heritability of faba bean genotypes on different traits under soil acidity stress is scanty. Thus, this study was conducted to estimate genetic variability of faba bean genotypes on grain yield and related traits at soil of pH 4.66, 4.96 and 4.49 at Holetta, Watebecha Minjaro and Jeldu, respectively, during 2017 main cropping season. The experiment comprised 50 faba bean genotypes arranged in randomized complete block design with three replications. Data were collected on grain yield (g/5plants) and some other agronomic traits: days to 50% flowering, days to 90% maturity, grain filling period, plant height (cm), number of poding nodes/plant, number of pods/ poding node, number of pods/plant, chocolate spot disease (%) and 100-seeds weight (g). Analysis of variance for traits studied showed significant differences among genotypes, locations and their interaction (P ≤ 0.01) for all traits except number of pods/poding node for the interaction. Computed genotypic (GCV) and phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) values were ranged from 1.08-23.05 and 1.20-23.26%, respectively, whereas heritability (H 2) and genetic advance as percent of the mean (GAM) ranged from 24.63-98.22% and 2.0-47.13%, respectively. The highest values for all components were recorded for 100-seeds weight while lowest values except for H 2 computed for days to 90% maturity. The observed PCV and GCV values were high for 100-seed weight and moderate for grain yield, number of poding node/plant and pod/plant. The values of PCV were higher than GCV for all traits. Hence, the high variation between PCV and GCV (6.78) for chocolate spot was due to environmental stress (soil acidity) besides the genetic constitution of tested genotypes. High H 2 and GAM were observed for 100-seeds weight, number of pod/plant and poding node/plant. Traits with high H 2 indicated that selection based on mean would be successful in improving the traits. Therefore, selection based on phenotypic performance of genotypes would be effective to improve traits that have high GAM coupled with high H 2 estimates.

Cluster-based pre-scaling up of improved faba bean variety technology demonstration at Arsirobe District of Arsi Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

“…Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) is believed to be one of the earliest domesticated legumes next to chickpea and pea [1,2].…”

Impact Assessment of Abiotic Production Constrains of Faba Bean (Vicia faba L.) and Breeding Mechanisms for Acid Soil, Drought and Waterlogging Affected Environments

“…It is a serious threat to crop production in most high lands of Ethiopia in general and in Oromia regional state in particular and about 40.9% of the total arable land of Ethiopia is affected by soil acidity (Abdenna et al, 2007) which covers 95% of the cropped area. Currently, it becomes the major production limiting factor of faba bean in the highlands of Ethiopia (Mesfin et al, 2019). The low yields in such soils could mainly be either due to the deficiency of nutrients, such as P, Ca and Mg (Dodd and Mallarino, 2005), or toxicity of Al, Fe and Mn (Sharma, 2004).…”

Spatial variability of iron, zinc and selenium content in faba bean (Vicia faba L.) seeds from central and southwestern highlands of Ethiopia

“…Therefore, exploring factors governing faba bean seed Fe, Zn and Se contents could be beneficial for improving nutrition of many Ethiopians. However, previous research on faba bean has mainly focused on improving agronomic traits (Gezahegn et al 2016;Merga et al 2019;Mussa et al 2004;Nebiyu et al 2014;Tadele 2020;Tadele et al 2019) and did not investigate the nutritional improvements of the crop, particularly the combined effect of soil properties, microbial interaction and genetic diversity on seed Fe, Zn and Se content in central and southwestern highlands of Ethiopian. Therefore, the present study was designed as a baseline study to assess the spatial variability of faba bean Fe, Zn and Se content across contrasting agro-ecological zones and to investigate the effect of agro-ecology region, soil properties (i.e., pH, total N, C, P, resin-P, total and available Fe, Zn, Se and acid phosphatase activity), AMF diversity, and faba bean genetic variability and characteristics on seed micro-nutrient content.…”