BITTER VETCH, OR ERVIL (VICIA ERVILIA (L.) WILLD.): EVALUATION OF ACCESSIONS IN THE ENVIRONMENTS OF TAMBOV PROVINCE, RUSSIAN FEDERATION

The catalogue contains the evaluation data for 267 bitter vetch accessions from the collection held by the N.I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources (VIR), grown in 2010–2016 and 2021 at Yekaterinino Experiment Station of VIR. The study covered bitter vetch accessions of diverse geographic origin from 23 countries. The testing of Vicia ervilia accessions in years with different weather conditions showed the variability of the main agrobiological characteristics in the studied accessions: duration of the growing season, and seed yield per 1 m². The catalogue is addressed to plant breeding experts.

Search for Resistant Genotypes to Cuscuta campestris Infection in Two Legume Species, Vicia sativa and Vicia ervilia

The dodders (Cuscuta spp.) are parasitic plants that feed on the stems of their host plants. Cuscuta campestris is one of the most damaging parasitic plants for the worldwide agricultural production of broad-leaved crops. Its control is limited or non-existent, therefore resistance breeding is the best alternative both economically and environmentally. Common vetch (Vicia sativa) and bitter vetch (Vicia ervilia) are highly susceptible to C. campestris, but no resistant genotypes have been identified. Thus, the aim of this study was to identify in V. sativa and V.ervilia germplasm collections genotypes resistant to C. campestris infection for use in combating this parasitic plant. Three greenhouse screening were conducted to: (1) identify resistant responses in a collection of 154 accessions of bitter vetch and a collection of 135 accessions of common vetch genotypes against infection of C. campestris; (2) confirm the resistant response identified in common vetch accessions; and (3) characterize the effect of C. campestris infection on biomass of V. sativa resistant and susceptible accessions. Most common vetch and bitter vetch genotypes tested were susceptible to C. campestris. However, the V. sativa genotype Vs.1 exhibited high resistance. The resistant phenotype was characterized by a delay in the development of C. campestris posthaustorial growth and a darkening resembling a hypersensitive-like response at the penetration site. The resistant mechanism was effective in limiting the growth of C. campestris as the ratio of parasite/host shoot dry biomass was more significantly reduced than the rest of the accessions. To the best or our knowledge, this is the first identification of Cuscuta resistance in V. sativa genotypes.

Comparative Study of Five Legume Species under Drought Conditions

Background: Vegetative, reproductive and grain-filling phases are critical developmental stages determined legume’s yield and grain quality. Drought is the key factor affecting legumes ontogeny and production. The main goal of the present study is to compare growth, yield and seed quality of different legume species grown under drought conditions. Methods: Completely randomized design were used in this experiment with five local legume species including faba bean, chickpea, lentil, common vetch and bitter vetch, with five replicates using a net plot size of 20 m2 area (4m*5m) / replicate. Plants were grown at the eastern slopes of Bethlehem governorate (Latitude 31”67, Longitude, 35”24, Altitude of 629 m, with hilly-moderate to steep slope topography) under drought conditions (average rainfall is 260 mm). Growth performance (germination, flowering, fruit set, maturation, harvesting, stem length and branching), yield components (weight of 100-seeds, fresh weight, seed and hay production) and seed quality traits (percentages of dry weight, protein and ash) were evaluated. Result: Significant morphological, yield and grain quality parameters among the evaluated legume genotypes were registered. Positive correlation between branching and total yield was obtained. For economical and sustainable legume grain production, bitter vetch and common vetch could be successfully recommended under drought conditions, whereas faba bean and chickpea cultivation should be excluded from severe drought regions. Significant higher protein content in common vetch, faba bean and lentil was obtained, meanwhile the proximate analysis (dry matter, protein and ash) of the five examined crops found to be slightly high but within the documented international percentage range. Drought seems to be the main factor affecting legumes ontogeny and production, but not the quality parameters.

Resistance against Orobanche crenata in Bitter Vetch (Vicia ervilia) Germplasm Based on Reduced Induction of Orobanche Germination

Bitter vetch (Vicia ervilia (L.) Willd.) is a legume well adapted to cultivation in marginal areas, being an important source of protein for animal feed in low input cropping systems. Surprisingly, it is an underutilized crop as it could be a good alternative to increase the sustainability of extensive rainfed cropping systems. In Mediterranean rainfed cropping systems, the productivity of bitter vetch is severely reduced by the parasitic weed species Orobanche crenata (Forsk). To date, few resistant bitter vetch genotypes have been identified. O. crenata infection process initiates with the recognition of germination factors exuded by roots of susceptible hosts. In this work, the interaction of a collection of bitter vetch accessions and O. crenata has been analyzed in order to discover accessions with low germination induction activity. Through a combination of field and rhizotron experiments, two bitter vetch accessions were selected showing low germination-induction activity, which resulted in less infection. In addition, in vitro germination assays revealed that the low germination activity was due to low exudation of germination factors and not due to the exudation of germination inhibitors. The selected low germination-inducers genotypes could be the basis for a new breeding program generating locally adapted alternatives with resistance to O. crenata.

Identification of Vicia ervilia Germplasm Resistant to Orobanche crenata

Bitter vetch (Vicia ervilia L.) is an ancient grain legume used as animal feed in the Mediterranean basin. This legume has a large economical potential because of its high yield under low inputs and good protein content, as well as resistance to cold and drought. Nevertheless, its growth and production area are affected in the presence of the broomrape weed species Orobanche crenata. Due to the small bitter vetch size, infection by as few as two or three O. crenata per vetch plant can be devastating. There are no efficient methods of selectively controlling O. crenata in this crop, for which reason the development of varieties resistant and tolerant to O. crenata infection is needed. Phytogenetic resources are valuable reserves for species survival. They represent important genetic variability and allow the possibility of finding characters of interest, such as new resistance sources. A large-scale field screening of a collection of 102 bitter vetch accessions indicated that most bitter vetch accessions were susceptible but allowed us to select 16 accessions with low levels of O. crenata infection. Next, we used a combination of field and rhizotron experiments to investigate the resistant response of selected bitter vetch genotypes in detail by studying the performance and resistance mechanisms. These experiments led to the identification of three different mechanisms that block O. crenata parasitism. A pre-attachment mechanism of low induction of O.crenata germination was identified in two bitter vetch accession Ve.055 and Ve.155. In addition, a post-attachment mechanism of resistance to O. crenata penetration was identified inthe accession Ve.125. In addition, the field-resistant accession Ve.123 showed susceptible response in rhizotron, indicating that a late mechanism acting after vascular connection, most probably related with bitter vetch of escape due to fructification precocity was acting against O. crenata development.