Phenotypic variation of Autumn and Spring-sown vetch (Vicia sativa ssp.) populations in central Turkey

Abstract

In central Turkey, common vetch (Vicia sativa ssp. sativa) is traditionally grown in spring. Frequent droughts cause crop failures. Autumn sowing can give higher yields, but then winter plant death is a major problem. The objective of this research was to explore and quantify variation available in V. sativa ssp. germplasm for winter hardiness, yield and adaptability. Eleven plant characters were evaluated in 164 vetch populations in autumn and spring sowings over two years, and their inter-relationships were analyzed. Mean winter death was 27% and was greater in the second, colder year, though the magnitude of the coefficient-of-variation was similar in both years (27 and 28%). Autumn-sown plants produced more standing biomass (17%) than spring-sown plants. Winter death was strongly related to other characters, particularly in the colder year. Principle component analysis proved to be efficient at simplifying the results by classifying the eleven variables into three main groups on the basis of seed size, maturity and winter hardiness. There is wide, exploitable phenotypic variation, and enhanced adaptation for autumn sowing could be achieved by selecting for large seeds and early maturity combined with reasonable winter survival.Additional key words: common vetch, Pearson correlation, plant metric characters, principle component analysis, variety development, winter hardiness. ResumenVariación fenotípica en poblaciones de veza (Vicia sativa ssp.) del centro de Turquía, sembradas en otoño y primavera La veza (Vicia sativa ssp. sativa) crece tradicionalmente en el centro de Turquía y las cosechas sufren pérdidas importantes en las frecuentes temporadas de sequía en primavera. La siembra en el otoño puede conducir a rendimientos más altos, pero las plantas pueden sufrir una mortandad elevada en el invierno, lo que representa un problema mayor. El objetivo de nuestra investigación fue explorar y cuantificar la variación para el vigor, el rendimiento y la adaptabilidad en una colección de germoplasma de V. sativa ssp. Se analizaron once caracteres vegetativos y sus inter-relaciones en 164 poblaciones de haba en siembras de otoño y primavera durante dos años. La mortalidad media en invierno fue un 27% superior en el segundo año, aunque la magnitud del coeficiente de variación fue similar en ambos años (27% y 28%). Las plantas sembradas en otoño produjeron más biomasa (17%) que las de primavera. La mortalidad registrada en invierno estuvo fuertemente relacionada con otros caracteres, particularmente con el índice de heladas anual. El análisis de componentes principales demostró su eficiencia para la simplificación y clasificación de las once variables en tres grupos principales sobre la base del tamaño de la muestra, madurez y resistencia al frío. Existe una amplia variación aprovechable y se demuestra la posibilidad de incrementar la adaptación en la siembra de otoño, con una razonable supervivencia en invierno, mediante la selección de plantas con semillas de mayor tamaño y madurez temprana Palabras clave a...

Common Vetch (Vicia sativa L.) Germplasm: Correlations of Crude Protein and Mineral Content to Seed Traits

“…The data were expressed as weight in g per 1,000 seeds. Common vetch genotypes were arbitrarily grouped for seed size based on the 1,000-seed weight as large (≥51 g), medium (36 to 50 g), and small (≤35 g) as applied by Firincioglu et al [17].…”

Relationships among Quantitative Traits and Seed Yield in Vetch (Vicia sativa L., Vicia villosa Roth.)

“…Similar results were obtained in the trials with common vetch in Syria, where high grain yield was strongly correlated with harvest index (Abd El-Moneim, 1993). In addition, in numerous trials in various regions of Turkey, it was also found that grain yield was significantly and positively correlated to both number of pods per plant and number of grain per plant (Cakmakci et al 2006;Fırıncıoğlu et al 2009). This points out the significance of the role these two yield components may play in developing the common vetch cultivars with high and stable grain yield (Blum and Lehrer, 1972).…”

“…sativa) is one of the most important annual forage legumes in the world because of its multiple uses (i.e. hay, grain, straw, silage and green manure), its high nutritional value, and its ability to grow over a wide range of climatic and soil conditions (Fırıncıoğlu et al, 2009;Jong et al, 2013). Hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth.)…”

A comparison of six vetches (Vicia spp.) for developmental rate, herbage yield and seed yield in semi‐arid central Turkey

“…Because winter damage and death of vetch is a major problem in central Turkey, V. sativa is sown in spring, although Fırıncıoğlu et al . (,b, ) have recently reported some cold‐tolerant lines of V . sativa L. developed for autumn planting.…”

“…Vetches ( Vicia spp.) are widely grown for forage and grain in the Mediterranean basin, Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union and Turkey (Francis et al ., ; Firincioğlu et al ., , ). The genus contains about 150 species of annual and perennial herbs and numerous cultivars and landraces (Alinoğlu and Durlu, ).…”