A dliallel analysis for number of seeds per pod, number of
pods per plamt, 100-seed weight and seed yield per plant of
Six cuitivars of field bean was studied. Veriances associated
with general combining ability were found to be significant
for all traIts except for the number of pods per plant. With
the exception of number of seeds per pod, significant SCA
variances were detected for aH traits Studied. The parental
line NEB 319 seemed to be the best combiner for; number of
seeds per pod, 100-seed wieghit and seed yield per plant. The
parental lines F. 402 and introduced 131 were almost the best
combiners for seed yield per plant and 100-secd weight,
respectively.
Seven hybrids significantly surpassed their midparent
values for seed yield per plant. The five hybrids, (NEB 319 X
F. 402), (introduced 313 X NEB 319), (intrOduced 131 X
F. 402), (introduced 131 X 61/1331/66) and (16/1311/186 X
F. 402) outylelded the better parent. Significant positive
correlation coefficients were obtained between mld.parent and
F1 hybrid means for, 100-seed weight and seed yield per plant.
The two crosses (introduced 131 X F. 402) and (NEB 319 X
F. 402) were of great importance In breeding programs whether
towards hybrid field bean production or for traditional breeding
procedure. The correlation between parental performance and
their oarder of dominance revealed that few number of seeds/pod
and high number of pods per plant behaved as dominant traits.
No particular trend could be detected for the rest two traits.
Field bean (Vicia faba, L.) is an important legume crop in Egypt and
increasing the yield of this crop is the ultimate goal of the plant breeder.
Many investigations were carried out to estimate the genetic variance and
its components for the improvement of field bean varieties (Bond, 1966
and 1967; El-Hosary, 1981 and 1985 and Mahmoud et. al., 1984). Meantime,
attempts of genetic improvement have involved both development of F1
hybrids, using male sterility and development of saif fertile lines to change
the breeding system to fafl autogamy (Bond et al., 1964 and 1966).
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