The Study of Genetics of Flower Color in Faba Bean Reveals Generous Diversity to Be Used in the Horticulture Industry

Abstract

The horticulturally valuable traits of faba bean are poorly explored, including the available information on the genetics of flower color and pattern. This lack of understanding has reduced the inclusion of unique flower color into the horticultural-type faba bean market. The modes of inheritance of two flower colors (red petals and yellow spot on wing petals) were examined through the development of multiple F2 segregating populations. The inheritance of red flower was confirmed for two recessive genes and yellow wing spot inheritance was confirmed for a single recessive gene. These populations led to the discovery of combinations of red and yellow flower color that have not been previously reported. The solid wing petal color gene was confirmed as a single recessive gene. Understanding the inheritance of flower color in faba bean can lead to improvement of current vegetable types and opens up possibilities for ornamental markets.

Bumblebee responses to variation in pollinator‐attracting traits of Vicia faba flowers

“…Previously, different colour phenotypes (as observable by humans) have been identified in V. faba (Duc, 1997;Hughes et al, 2020).…”

“…Given that heritable variation in floral traits of crop species is present (e.g. Dowell et al., 2019; Hughes et al., 2020; Sundramoorthy et al., 2020) and that flower traits are important for plant–pollinator interactions, selecting from this variation has great potential to increase pollinator attraction to crops and benefit global food production.…”

A comparative metabolomics investigation of flavonoid variation in faba bean flowers

“…The flowers consist typically of five petals comprised of a fused standard, two wings, a fused keel and one pistil with ten fused stamens (Duc, 1997 ). The wild-type flower color of faba bean is white with a dark spot on the wing petals and brown or violet stripes running vertically along the standard petals (Hughes et al, 2020 ). The color of faba bean flowers can be pure or mixed combinations of white, purple, brown, pink, red and yellow with black, brown or yellow spots on the wing petals (Alghamdi et al, 2020 ).…”

“…The color of faba bean flowers can be pure or mixed combinations of white, purple, brown, pink, red and yellow with black, brown or yellow spots on the wing petals (Alghamdi et al, 2020 ). Such a large range of faba bean flower colors and patterns promotes these flowers as potential candidates for the ornamental and floriculture industries (Hughes et al, 2020 ). Previous studies examined the inheritance of white flower color (Crofts et al, 1980 ; Zanotto et al, 2020 ), red flower color, and yellow-spotted flowers in this species (Cabrera, 1988 ; Sjödin, 1971 ).…”

“…Previous studies examined the inheritance of white flower color (Crofts et al, 1980 ; Zanotto et al, 2020 ), red flower color, and yellow-spotted flowers in this species (Cabrera, 1988 ; Sjödin, 1971 ). The flower color is under control of four independent recessive genes (Crofts et al, 1980 ; Hughes et al, 2020 ). Thus, no high genotype by environment interactions would be expected, although flower color may be influenced by intense environmental stresses, light intensity, and soil properties, such as soil pH that can affect anthocyanin types and levels, e.g., in Hydrangea macrophylla (Schreiber et al, 2011 ).…”