Objective To introduce premium large-seed broad bean varieties to Fujian, the agronomic characteristics of candidate germplasms were identified and evaluated against a local cultivar for cultivation in the province.
Method Ten broad bean varieties from Qinghai and Jiangsu provinces were planted using Lingxiyicun as reference to compare the growth period, plant height, branch number, pod length, pod width, fresh pod yield, seed length, seed width, 100-seed weight, seed rate, and fresh seed yield of the plants for agronomic evaluation and crop yield.
Result The growth period, fresh pod weight, pod width, 100-seed weight of fresh seed, number of primary branches and number of pod weight positively, but the plant height negatively, correlated with the fresh pod weight per mu. In the trial cultivation, the Qinghai variety was shorter on growth period, taller on plant height, fewer branches on a plant, lower yield, and less output value than the others. On the other hand, the Tongcanxian varieties from Jiangsu delivered superior performance and economic value. In particular, the pod length, pod width, fresh pod yield per mu, seed length, seed width, 100-seed weight, seed rate, and fresh seed yield of Tong-09-110-1 were the highest among all varieties under testing. Its crop yield of 100-dry-seed weight at 200.08g, seeding rate per mu at 50.53%, and fresh pod yield per mu at 1 200.58 kg were highly desirable as well.
Conclusion Over all, Tong-09-110-1 was considered the most productive and suitable for large scale cultivation in Fujian.