ASSESSMENT OF SOME AGRO-MORPHOLOGICAL TRAITS IN GENOTYPES OF EGYPTIAN FABA BEAN (VICIA FABA L.).

This investigation aimed to evaluate of some faba bean genotypes for some morphological and agronomic traits in order to determine the promissing genotypes which can be used in breeding program for improving faba bean. The study carried out at El-Gemmeiza Agricultural Research Station in two successive seasons; 2016/2017and 2017/2018. 50 different landraces collected by the National Gene Bank (from different region of Egypt) and one commercial cultivar (Giza716) used as a check were used. Data analysis showed that there were highly significant differences in all studied characters among genotypes and replications except days to 50% flowering, plant height and number of branches per plant for replicates only. This indicates that there is wide diversity among genotypes which will enrich plant breeding programs to get high new commercial varieties and adapted to climate change of faba bean. The data for genetic parameters showed that the extent of phenotypic and genotypic variances diversed from one character to another according to result data from broad sense heritability (h2) estimates clears that there was graduation  for all of studied characters with values from ranged 73.92 % to 95.03 %.which indicate that the effects of environment were lower than genetic effects inheritance of studied traits. In addition, high estimates of heritability could be successful for improving faba bean. Results of mean performance note that although commercial cultivar Giza 716 was outweigh for days to flowering and maturity traits, L47 recorded the highest mean values for 100-seed weight and seed yield/plant. In addition, L39 recorded the highest mean values for number of pods and num
ber of seeds/plant. So lines 39 and 47 may be used in breeding programs for improving the performance of seed yield characters. The results of correlation coefficient showed that there were thirteen significant and highly significant positive phenotypic correlation in addition, four significant and highly significant negative phenotypic correlation. The direct contribution of 100- seed weight per plant had highest mean values followed by number of seeds per plant. Number of seeds per plant had the highest indirect effect via number of pods per plant,  and number of branches per plant via number of seeds per plant. In addition, 100 seeds weight via number of branches per plant, 100-seed weight also had an appreciable indirect effect via leaflet width and number of branches per plant. Cluster analysis for investigated traits showed diversity among investigated fifty-one faba bean genotypes. All genotypes divided into two groups at a distance of 5.924. The first group contain line 47. The second group contains other genotypes.  100-seed weight and seed yield per plant are valuable in splitting the studied genotypes into two groups high value included the first group, however low vale included the second group.