Comparative assessment of broad bean (Vicia faba L.) accessions regarding some main traits and parameters

With an aim to be conducted a comparative assessment of 17 broad bean accessions regarding main traits and parameters, a field trial was carried out at the Institute of Forage Crops (Pleven, Bulgaria) during the period 2016-2018. The randomized block method was used. The results showed that, the factor of genotype had the strongest impact on the phenotypic performance of main quantitative traits (plant height, 1st pod height, number and weight of seeds per plant, 100 seeds mass, pod length and pod width) in the accessions studied. In pod formation, the interaction genotype-environment had the largest influence. Based on values of the coefficient of early-ripeness, the accessions can be divided into the following groups: ultra early-ripening accessions - BGE 029055 (1.00); early-ripening ones - Fb 2481, BGE 041470, BGE 043776, BGE 046721 (1.24), FbH 15 (1.33); mid-ripening ones - BGP (1.34); Fb 1896, Fb 1903, Fb 1929, BGE 032012 (1.43), Fb 2486 (1.62); late-ripening ones - FbH 14, FbH 16 (1.76), Fb 3270 (1.81), FbH 13 (1.95), BGE 002106 (2.00). The variability regarding main quantitative traits was low (2.83-7.26%) and within the following limits: plant height - 64-79 cm, 1st pod height - 22-35 cm, pods number per plant - 8-15, seeds number - 22-41 and 100 seeds mass - 10.29-34.93 g. FbH 14 (7.36 t ha(-1)), Fb 2486 (6.50 t ha(-1)) and BGE 041470 (6.82 t ha(-1)) were distinguished by the highest seed yields. For an additional characteristic of the accessions, the index of individual seed productivity, seed index and index of attraction were used. BGE 041470 had high values in the three indices. The studied accessions represent valuable germplasm and can be used as parental forms in the broad bean breeding.