Genetic Variability and Character Associations of Faba Bean (Vicia faba L.) Genotypes, Southeastern Ethiopia

Faba bean is an important legume crop because of its high‐yield potential and nutrition-dense grains. This study was conducted to determine variability, heritability, and correlation between yield and yield components in 22 faba bean germplasm accession. The trial was conducted with RCBD design across two locations in the 2015/16 main cropping season. The ANOVA result showed significant variation among genotypes with p<0.05. The genotype by environmental interaction result showed significant difference p<0.05 on chocolate spot among genotypes in the trial. The minimum grain yield was recorded at 2380.8kgha-1 from genotype 17 and the maximum grain yield was recorded from genotype 5(5598.1kgha-1). The genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of variation ranged from 2.91 to 15.64 and 3.23 to 23.42 respectively. Moderate phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variation were recorded from grain yield and thousand seed weight, while days to maturity, plant height, and the number of seeds per pod recorded lower phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variation. Days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, and thousand seed weights were recorded as higher estimates of heritability. Thousand seed weights showed higher estimate of heritability along with high genetic advance. For the future breeding strategies, this information helps the researcher to improve faba bean genotypes.