Study of Heterosis and Combining Ability of Faba bean (Vicia faba L.)

Faba bean is used as a green vegetable as well as pulse which meet the requirementof protein in human diet. It can grow in a wide range of agro climatic conditions because faba bean least affected by biotic, abiotic stress and having the ability to fix ample amount of atmospheric nitrogen in the soil.

The present investigation was conducted during 2020–21 and 2021–2022 at Bhola Paswan Shastri Agricultural College, Purnea. Bihar. The experimental material was based on a line x tester mating design comprising 24 hybrids (F₁’s) developed by crossing 8 lines (females) and 3 tester. The 24 F₂’s along with their parents were evaluated during 2021–2022 in randomized block design with two replications row to row and plant to plant distance was maintained at 45 and 15 cm respectively.

The analysis of variance for combining ability for all the studied traits is highly significant except for traits viz; Pod length at maturity and No. of seeds per pod. The estimates of specific combining ability (SCA) effects among all the cross combinations were observed significant and negative relative heterosis and heterobeltiosis for traits days to 50% flowering and days to maturity it might be due to non-additive gene action for expression of these traits and selection of these traits may be effective for early maturity and further breeding programme. Days to 50% flowering were exhibited significant and positive inbreeding depression for traits days to 50% flowering (Bak-15/Bak-11, Bak-16/Bak-11 and Bak-16/Bak-20), plant height and number of pod per plant except in cross Bak-1/Bak-5.