Analysis and Use of Interpool-Crosses (Mediterranean X Central European) in Faba Beans (Vicia faba L.).

The Central European and the Mediterranean Vicia faba gene poois carry different traits favourable for selecting cultivars with a high and stable yield performance. Interpool crosses, therefore, should provide interesting new basic material, although lack of adaptation of each "exotic" parent and linkage of genes may act against the introgression of favourable genes. In a first approach, five German and five Syrian parents (bred by ICARDA) of an interpool-crossing programme were tested in two years in both regions of origin. The Syrian cultivars proved to be fairly well adapted in the German trials, while the German cultivars were highly unadapted to the Syrian conditions. The advantage of interpool-crosses for both gene pools is discussed and recommendations on the further breeding strategy for adaptation of interpool-cross-progenies are given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]