Characteristics of plant accessions faba bean (Vicia faba), vetching (Lathyrus sp.) and chickpeas (Cicer arietinum) with local origin

Siyka Angelova, Sofia Petrova

Abstract: Faba bean and chickpeas are old traditional crops in Bulgaria with various uses. The seeds from these crops were used mainly for human consumption and feed for farm animals. The grass pea was used mainly for grain and green fodder. The aim of this study is to make agrobiological characteristics of collectioned populations and forms from faba bean, chickpeas and grass pea with local origin. The evaluation of accessions was carried out at the experimental field of the IPGR – Sadovo during the period 2010 – 2011 after a wheat predecessor on cinnamon-forest soil. All accessions of faba bean, chick¬peas and grass pea were included in ex situ collections and were evaluated in accordance with the international descriptors. Valuation characteristics of local plant genetic resources of chickpeas, faba beans and grass pea are show great diversity and range of variation in the studied parameters, which gives wide possibilities for their use. Faba bean is with the widest range of variation in all characteristics, followed by grass pea, as chickpea is with most narrow one. Local plant genetic resources are valuable donors to the selection and are the basis of creating cores collections. The received results are part from one systematic study of grain legumes collection with Bulgarian origin. The next stage of the investigation includes creation of a database from local PGR and issuing of on-line catalog.

Keywords: agrobiological characteristics; chickpeas; faba bean; grass pea; local origin

Date published: 2017-01-25