Differences were found among faba bean varieties and/or their F2 generations grown in the arid conditions of the central region (Riyadh), Saudi Arabia for the studied traits such as days to flowering, maturity. plant height, number of pods/plant, number of seeds/plant, yield weight/plant, and 100 seeds weight. Coefficients of variation, variance components, heritability and predicted genetic advance from selection were estimated for the aforementioned traits. Broad sense heritability ratios were high for all the studied traits and ranged from 76.51 % for number of pods/plant to 98.87% for plant height. Predicted genetic advance was high for yield weight (46.29%) and number of seeds/plant (30.37%). It was moderate for number of pods/plant (19.92%), 100 seed weight (18.43%), and plant height (15.91 %). High values of heritability estimates and predicted genetic advance indicated that selection among the genotypes would be effective for improving yield, yield components, and plant height. Differences in total protein content were found among the varieties and/or the F2 generations. Moreover, soluble protein of faba bean seeds when separated by SDS slab gel electrophoresis showed that the varieties and their F2 generations had different degrees of similarities. High percentage of similarity was found between Giza 2 (Egyptian) and ICARDA (Syrian) varieties. Slab gels when scanned with densitometer showed that each variety was unique in its protein profile |
