Publication Date
1989
Description
Because of the potential importance of common vetch, Vicia sativa L., as a forage legume to replace fallow in the cereal/fallow rotations in the Mediterranean region, it is of great importance to increase seed yield and reduce seed prices. One way of doing this is to increase the proportion of pods which do not shatter at maturity. Losses of seeds from maturing pods of forage common vetch, constitutes a serious economic problem and severely restricts the use of the species as a forage crop (Abd El Moneim, 1984). Furthermore, the harvesting of common vetch grown in fallow lands causes severe« vetch weed» problems in subsequent cereal crops. Also, pod shattering makes harvesting time critical and inevitably results in lower seed yields and high prices. Since the high price of seeds is one of the constraints to the use of common vetch, varieties able to retain their seeds would be of a great value. Moreover, the feed value of standing vetch crop which are used for grazing in summer would be greatly improved as seed loss results in a serious loss in nutrients, especially protein. In view of the huge diversity of Mediterranean legumes surprisingly few have been used as forages. Kemick (1978) notes that nine species of vetch (Vicia spp.) are potentially important but of these very few have been tested and used. Where rainfall exceeds 300 mm the most promising of these species is thought to be common vetch (Abd El Moneim et al., 1988). In regard to seed yield (Villax, 1963) records in Morocco, average seed yields of 600 - 1200 kg/ha for V. sativa, and the harvesting of seeds is a delicate operation due to pod shattering at maturity. So far, no relevant studies are available about the factors controlling pod shattering character in common vetch. A wide range of pod shattering exists between genotypes of common vetch (Abd El Moneim, 1985). Few genotypes have been identified through germplasm evaluation and it was found that nonshattering (seed retention) is not associated with maturity. The finding of non-shattering genotypes is an opportunity to establish a breeding program based on hybridization and selection to improve or increase the proportion of non-shattering pods of promising lines of common vetch.
Citation
El Moneim, A.M Abd, "Breeding for Non-Shattering Forage Vetch, Vicia Sativa L." (2025). IGC Proceedings (1989-2023). 12.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1989/session3b/12
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Breeding for Non-Shattering Forage Vetch, Vicia Sativa L.
Because of the potential importance of common vetch, Vicia sativa L., as a forage legume to replace fallow in the cereal/fallow rotations in the Mediterranean region, it is of great importance to increase seed yield and reduce seed prices. One way of doing this is to increase the proportion of pods which do not shatter at maturity. Losses of seeds from maturing pods of forage common vetch, constitutes a serious economic problem and severely restricts the use of the species as a forage crop (Abd El Moneim, 1984). Furthermore, the harvesting of common vetch grown in fallow lands causes severe« vetch weed» problems in subsequent cereal crops. Also, pod shattering makes harvesting time critical and inevitably results in lower seed yields and high prices. Since the high price of seeds is one of the constraints to the use of common vetch, varieties able to retain their seeds would be of a great value. Moreover, the feed value of standing vetch crop which are used for grazing in summer would be greatly improved as seed loss results in a serious loss in nutrients, especially protein. In view of the huge diversity of Mediterranean legumes surprisingly few have been used as forages. Kemick (1978) notes that nine species of vetch (Vicia spp.) are potentially important but of these very few have been tested and used. Where rainfall exceeds 300 mm the most promising of these species is thought to be common vetch (Abd El Moneim et al., 1988). In regard to seed yield (Villax, 1963) records in Morocco, average seed yields of 600 - 1200 kg/ha for V. sativa, and the harvesting of seeds is a delicate operation due to pod shattering at maturity. So far, no relevant studies are available about the factors controlling pod shattering character in common vetch. A wide range of pod shattering exists between genotypes of common vetch (Abd El Moneim, 1985). Few genotypes have been identified through germplasm evaluation and it was found that nonshattering (seed retention) is not associated with maturity. The finding of non-shattering genotypes is an opportunity to establish a breeding program based on hybridization and selection to improve or increase the proportion of non-shattering pods of promising lines of common vetch.
