Selection of promising genotypes of faba bean (Vicia faba) by deciphering genetic variability and trait association

Twenty-five genotypes of faba beans were evaluated for selection of promising genotypes by deciphering genetic variability and trait association. The experiment was conducted in a Randomized Block Design with three replications at Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Naini Agriculture Institute, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Naini, Prayagraj during rabi season of 2023. The plant-to-plant distance was 20 cm and row-to-row distance of 30 cm. The data were recorded from randomly selected five plants for each genotypes for each replications for nineteen characters viz. days to first flowering; days to 50% flowering; plant height (cm); number of branches/plant; number of nodes on main branch; number of flowers/plant; leaflet length (cm); leaflet width (cm); days to pod initiation; number of pods/plant; pod length (cm); pod width (cm); days to maturity; number of seeds/pod; seed index (gm); harvest index (%); biological yield (gm); seed yield; seed yield/hectare (tonnes/ha). Analysis of variance showed significant variation among different genotypes for all characters studied. Moderate GCV and PCV was recorded for number of branches/plant, number of pods/plant, pod width, number of seeds/pod, seed index, biological yield and seed yield per hectare. High estimate of heritability coupled with high genetic advance as percent of mean and moderate GCV was recorded for number of branches/plant, number of pods/plant, pod width, number of seed/pod, seed index, biological yield and seed yield. This indicates closeness of respective σ²p and σ²g value thereby low environmental effect on expression of these characters. Positive and significant correlation were observed for number of branches/plant, number of nodes in main branch, number of flowers/plant, number of pods/ plant, pod length, days to maturity, plant height, leaflet length, number of seeds/pod, biological yield, days to first flowering, seed index and seed yield with seed yield (per plant) at genotypic level. While rest of the characters showed non-significant association with seed yield. Significant positive association of these above attributes indicated that these attributes were mainly influencing the seed yield in faba bean.