Characterization for Qualitative Traits in Segregating Population of Faba Bean (Vicia faba L.)

The present investigation revealed the wide variation for qualitative characters viz, stem colour, leaf colour, flower colour and pod colour among the eight F3 populations of faba bean. Wide range of variability was observed for morphological characters like flower colour (white) under the crosses Bak-1 × Bak-11 and Bak-12 × Bak-5 (96.25%), Bak-1 × Bak-20 (92.50%), Bak-1 × Bak-5 (91.25%), Bak-2 × Bak-5, Bak-2 × Bak-20 and Bak-16 × Bak-20 (90%). Pod colour (light green) was observed in crosses Bak-1 × Bak-20 and Bak-2 × Bak-11 (97.50%) whereas pod colour (green) in Bak-16 × Bak-20 (86.25%). Leaf colour (light green) in the crosses Bak-2 × Bak-20 (92.50%) followed by Bak-2 × Bak-5, Bak-2 × Bak-11 (87.50 %) and stem colour (light green) was observed maximum in Bak-1 × Bak-20 and Bak-2 × Bak-11 (95 %) followed by Bak-2 × Bak-20 (93.75%) whereas only seven crosses had diverse flower colour viz. violet (1.25%) in Bak-1 × Bak-5 and Bak-2 × Bak-20, dark brown (2.50%) in Bak-1 × Bak-11, Bak-2 × Bak-20, Bak-12 × Bak-5 and Bak-16 × Bak-20 and in cross Bak-1 × Bak-5 (1.25%), light brown (2.50%) in Bak-1 × Bak-5, Bak-2 × Bak-5 and Bak-12 × Bak-5 and (1.25%) was observed in Bak-1 × Bak-11 and Bak-2 × Bak-1, pink (1.25%) in Bak-2 × Bak-11 and Bak-16 × Bak-20 and mixed (white petals with black, brown and purple wing melanin spot) (1.25%) in crosses Bak-2 × Bak-5 and Bak-2 × Bak-11. It was observed that only three crosses had diverse pod colour viz. green in cross combination Bak-1 × Bak-20 (2.50%) and Bak-2 × Bak-11 (1.25%) and dark green in cross combinations Bak-12 × Bak-5 (2.50%) and Bak-2 × Bak-11 (1.25%). However, previous work on the characterization of faba bean for qualitative traits has been limited. Thus, the present study suggested that these traits maybe useful for further plant breeding programmes.