Mean, genetic variance, and usefulness of selfing progenies from intra- and inter-pool crosses in faba beans (Vicia faba L.) and their prediction from parental parameters

Determining the genetic potential of a base population from the properties of their parental lines would improve the efficiency of a breeding program. In the present study, we investigated whether the means of the parents and the genetic distance determined from RAPD data (GD) or multivariate analys is (Mahalanobis D-2), mid-parent heterosis (MPH), and the absolute differen ce between means of the parents (\P-1 - P-2\) can be used for predicting th e means and genetic variances (<(sigma)over cap>(2)(g)) of F-3:4 lines deri ved from different crosses in faba beans. The material comprised 18 intra- and 18 inter-pool crosses among lines from the Minor, Major, and Mediterran ean germplasm pools. Fifty F-3:4 lines from each cross were evaluated for d ays to anthesis, plant height, seeds per plant, and seed yield in German (G E) and Mediterranean (ME) environments. GD estimates between parent lines r anged from 0.38 to 0.58, while D-2 ranged from 45.5 to 134.7. Correlations between means of the parents and F3:4 lines were highly significant for mos t traits. Estimates of sigma(g)(2) for all traits showed non-significant co rrelations with MPH, <(GD)over cap>, D-2. In one ME, \P-1 - P-2\ had signif icant associations with <(sigma)over cap>(2)(g) for seed yield and days to anthesis. The predicted usefulness of crosses, defined as the sum of the po pulation mean and selection responses, was most closely associated with the means of F3:4 lines. We conclude from this study that the means of F3:4 li nes can be predicted from the means of the parents, whereas the prediction of genetic variance is still an unsolved problem.