Evaluation of Yield Contributing Characters in Gamma Ray Induced M2 Generation of Faba Bean (Vicia faba L.) Using Path and Principal Component Analysis

Abstract

This study was carried out to determine the relative contributions of yield related characters to seed yield and main selection criteria for successful selection in a gamma ray induced M2 generation of faba bean (Vicia faba L.) in Samsun, Turkey. Eresen-87 and Filiz-99 faba bean cultivars and FLIP86-116FB line were used in the study. Seeds were acutely irradiated at 25, 50, 75 and 100 Gy doses from a Co-60 gamma-ray source. Untreated seeds of each cultivar/line were sown as their controls. Seeds harvested from M1 plants were sown to raise M2 populations on November 18, 2003. Field trial was set in randomized complete block design with three replications. Data on studied 14 characters were subjected to Path and Principle Component Analysis (PCA). Dry pod yield/plant, biological yield/plant, plant height, branches/plant, straw yield/plant and pods/plant were the most strongly correlated characters with seed yield/plant. Positive direct effect of biological yield/plant and dry pod yield/plant associated with significant and positive correlation with seed yield/plant revealed that these yield components could be used as the most reliable selection criterions to improve seed yield of faba bean in M2 generation. This was confirmed by PCA results stated that the first four principal components accounted for 95% of the total variation, of which 75% was contributed by the first two principal components.