Adaptation of One-Flowered Vetch (Vicia articulata Hornem.) to Mediterranean Rain Fed Conditions

Abstract

One-flower vetch (Vicia articulata) was widely cultivated in the Mediterranean Basin in the past but is currently underutilized. Valuable germplasm collections are stored in genebanks, which are poorly characterized. In an attempt to explore adaptation of landraces we performed a multi-environment field testing, showing the availability of valuable resources for crop development, with average yield across environments ranging from 651 to 1102 kg/ha. Environmental factors and significant Genotype-by-Environment (G*E) interaction hampers selection of superior genotypes. Heritability-Adjusted Genotype plus Genotype-by-Environment interaction (HA-GGE) biplot performed here allowed to focus on the G and G*E interaction components relevant to cultivar evaluation. Landraces Va-38 and Va-85 were identified as the highest yielding landraces, being also the most stable over the environments. Two additional groups of landraces with relatively high yield were also identified but showing little stability across environments, with landraces Va-91 and Va-103 performing better in Córdoba, whereas Va-1, Va-2 and Va-66, did in Escacena. Córdoba appeared as a useful environment for selection, being representative, discriminant, and reproducible. Differences in precocity among landraces had little effect on yield in any of the studied environments. Temperature was the climatic factor most influential on yield as shown by Non-Metric Multidimensional Scaling (NMDS) analysis. High temperatures after flowering being the most limiting factor for yield. Increased radiation during and after flowering were beneficial, with rain having little effect.