29 Bulgarian Journal of Agricultural Science, 12 (2006), 29-34 National Centre for Agrarian Sciences Study on the Productive Potential of Some Vicia L. Species P. KICHEVA and S. ANGELOVA Institute of Plant Genetic Resources, BG - 4122 Sadovo, Bulgaria Abstract KICHEVA, P. and S. ANGELOVA, 2006. Study on the productive potential of some Vicia L. species. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 12: 29-34 The great plasticity and adaptation of vetch species, their high protein content (19-35 %), as well as the possibilities for their introduction as alternative crops provoke the interest of many scientists in this field from the beginning of the last century (Tupikova, 1926; Muratova, 1926; Maxted, 1995). According to Houerou (1985) the vetch species have an enormous potential as legume crops for dry areas. A total of 19 species of the genus Vicia (including Vicia faba) are cultivated all over the world mainly for forage, grain and as a green manure crops (Enneking, 1995). A few annual vetch species are cultivated in our country mainly common vetch V. sativa and occasionally bitter vetch (V. ervilia), hairy vetch (V. villosa) and Hungarian vetch (V. pannonica). From the perennial species with a certain economic importance is V. tenuifolia, which has been used from its natural habitats in the Eastern Rhodope mountain (Terziiski, 1986). There are few attempts for introducing promising wild vetch species as alternative crops or as a breeding material in Bulgaria (Koeva et al., 2002; Kicheva, 2003; Terziiski, 1986). The main aim of the study is to establish the economic suitability of different promising annual vetch species, stored in the genebank of IPGR-Sadovo as well as the possibilities for their utilization as alternative forage crops. Key words: genus Vicia, wild species, comparative study, biological characters, productive potential Introduction The great plasticity and adaptiveness of vetch species, their high protein content (19-35 %), as well as the possibilities for their introduction as alternative crops provoke the interest of many scientists in this field from the beginning of the last century (Tupikova, 1926; Muratova, 1926; Mitrofanov, 1950; Leokene, 1964 etc.). According to Houerou (1985) the vetch species have an enormous potential as legume crops for dry areas. A total of 19 species of the genus Vicia (including Vicia faba) are cultivated all over the world mainly for forage, grain and as a green manure crops (Enneking, 1995).
30 A few annual vetch species are cultivated in our country mainly common vetch V. sativa and occasionally bitter vetch (V. ervilia), hairy vetch (V. villosa) and Hungarian vetch (V. pannonica). From the perennial species with a certain economic importance is V. tenuifolia, which has been used from its natural habitats in the Eastern Rhodope Mountain (Popov, 1966). There are few attempts for introducing promising wild vetch species as alternative crops or as a breeding material in Bulgaria (Vasileva, 1963; Vasileva and Starbanova, 1963; Stefanova, 1983; Terziiski, 1986). The main aim of the study is to establish the economic suitability of different promising annual vetch species, stored in the genebank of IPGR-Sadovo as well as the possibilities for their utilization as alternative forage crops. Material and Methods The study was conducted in 2 stages: preliminary evaluation in nursery rows and comparative microplot trial. The preliminary evaluation of the accessions was P. Kicheva and S. Angelova carried out during the period 1998-2000 in the experimental field of IPGR Sadovo according to the International Descriptor Lists (IPGRI, 1982). As a result the most promising accessions from the vetch collection were selected on important agronomic traits. In the second stage the selected accessions were included in a comparative microplot trial. Objects are 8 accessions with local origin, belonging to different annual species. Two Bulgarian cultivars were used as standards - cultivar 235 (V. sativa) and cultivar Asko (V. villosa). Other materials have been collected during expedition missions from different regions of the country (Table 1). The microplot trial was carried out during 2000-2002 using randomized block method design in 4 replications, 4 m² size of each plot. The size of the plots was consistent with the biological characteristics of vetch species in maturity and with the possibility for harvesting by stages for minimizing seed losses. The accessions were sown in the end of October with sowing rate - 350 seeds per m², after cereal crop. Fertilizers were not used. Appropriate soil cultivations and requirements Table 1 Species and accessions from genus Vicia L. included in the investigation Species Accession/Temn. Origin 1. V. sativa cv. 235 breeding cultivar 2. V. villosa cv. Asko breeding cultivar 3. V. ervilia 82500 East Rodope Mountain (Bg) 4. V. narbonensis 99Е0264 town of Aitos (Bg) 5. V. angustifolia 99Е0165 Parvomai village (Petrich) 6. V. striata А0Е0189 Pjasachnik lake (Plovdiv) 7. V. lutea А0Е0151 Botanical Garden, Sofia 8. V. serratifolia А0Е0234 Pjasachnik lake (Plovdiv)
Study on the Productive Potential of Some Vicia L. Species 31 during the growing season were implemented. The herbage yield was estimated after hand harvesting of ¼ of the plots at technical maturity and seed yield from the rest area after harvesting at full maturity. ANOVA method was used for eliminating the differences between species (Duncan, 1995). The content of crude protein and crude fibres both in the herbage and seeds were estimated (in dry matter) (Stanchev and Boboshevska, 1974). Results and Discussion Main criteria in selecting promising vetch accessions in the preliminary evaluation were early maturity and winter hardiness, as priority directions in vetch breeding activities (ICARDA, 1999). The productive potential of each species was another important criteria. Screening of the promising accessions was done according their complex characteristic on the examined agronomic traits (Kicheva, 2003). The selected accessions were included in a microplot trial for establishing and comparing their biological characteristics and productive potential. There were significant differences between species in the length of the growing season from 122 to 177 days (from germination to full maturity). The accessions of V. narbonensis, V. serratifolia and V. angustifolia have shorter growing season than other species under the local conditions (Figure 1). Cultivar Asko (V. villosa) has the longest growing season and the most long-flowering period (about 50-60 days). Common vetch (cultivar 235) and bitter vetch (accession 82 500) have similar length of the growing season average 148 days. Vetch crop is cultivated mainly for herbage production therefore earliness in technical maturity is very important criteria in determining economical potential of each species. This gives possibility for obtaining herbage production in the early spring as well as avoiding late spring droughts. The earliest in technical maturity is narbon vetch (V. narbonensis) - 12-14 May, followed by bitter vetch (V. ervilia) - 21-29 May and common vetch (V. sativa) - 5-10 June. Most of the other species V. serratifolia, V. angustifolia, V. striata and V. lutea reached technical maturity in June. The latest is hairy vetch (V. villosa) in the beginning of July. All species follow the same pattern in reaching full maturity (Figure 1). Number days 180 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 V.villosa V.ervilia Species V.striata V.serratifolia germination-technical maturity germination-full maturity Fig. 1. Length of the growing season (number days from germination to maturity) and technological maturity (number days from germination to technological maturity) - average for 2 years
32 The favourable climatic conditions during the growing season in 2001 as well as the prolonged period from germination to technical maturity have a good effect on some important agronomic traits as plant high, number branches per plant and therefore on the herbage yield. There were significant differences between species in herbage yield - from 2.45 (V. ervilia) to 3.9 кg/m² (V. striata) (Table 2). The accession А0E0189 belonging to V. striata has the highest herbage yield with statistically proven differences due to its great number of branches per plant and good leafiness. It must be outlined that this species has high ecological plasticity and is widely spread in many regions of the country. Other species with high herbage yield are V. lutea (accession ¹ À0E0151), V. villosa (cultivar Asko) and V. sativa (cultivar 235). These accessions also characterize with good branching and leafiness therefore their herbage production is high. Bitter vetch (accession 82500) has the lowest herbage yield 2.45 кg/m² due to its tiny leaves and short stems with few branches. Seed productiveness of vetches is very important criteria regarding their regenera- P. Kicheva and S. Angelova tion and maintenance in ex situ collections. During the study the highest seed yield was produced from bitter vetch (accession 82500) 282.9 g/m². This species characterizes with non-shattering pods and high resistance to lodging and pests (Table 3). Narbon vetch (accession 99Е0264) is also more high seed yielding than the selected cultivar 235. This species has the largest seeds among the other exanined ones (m=181.9 g) and comparatively low shattering pods. Cultivar 235 (common vetch) takes third position for seed productiveness 199.2 g/m². The accessions of V. angustifolia, V. villosa, V. striata and V. lutea have considerably low seed yield from 44.5 to 87.7 g/m². This is mainly due to their high shattering pods (40-70 %) that increase seed losses in harvesting. They also characterize with floor full maturity and especially hairy vetch. Under local climatic conditions this is one of the limiting factors for seed yield (Kicheva, 2003). The chemical results for the content of crude protein and crude fibres both in harbage and seeds of each species are presented in Table 4. The accessions of V. sativa, V. angustifolia, V. villosa and Table 2 Herbage yield (kg/m 2 ) from the examined Vicia spp. accessions Species Accession/Temn. Years 2001 2002 Average 1. V. sativa cv. 235 3.4 bc 3.1 bc 3.25 2. V. villosa cv. Asko 3.4 bc 3.1 bc 3.25 3. V. ervilia 82500 2.5 e 2.4 e 2.45 4. V. narbonensis 99Е0264 3.1 cd 3.0 bc 3.05 5. V. angustifolia 99Е0165 2.8 d 2.6 d 2.7 6. V. striata А0Е0189 4.2 a 3.6 a 3.9 7. V. lutea А0Е0151 3.5 b 3.1 bc 3.3 8. V. serratifolia А0Е0234 3.0 c 3.2 b 3.1
Study on the Productive Potential of Some Vicia L. Species 33 Table 3 Seed yield (g/m 2 ) from the examined Vicia spp. accessions Species Accession/Temn. Years 2001 2002 Average 1. V. sativa cv. 235 205.3 c 193.0 c 199.2 2. V. villosa cv. Asko 56.3 f 59.3 ef 57.8 3. V. ervilia 82500 276.5 a 289.3 a 282.9 4. V. narbonensis 99Е0264 240.5 b 250.5 b 245 5. V. angustifolia 99Е0165 49.8 f 44.5 f 47.2 6. V. striata А0Е0189 76.3 e 74.8 e 75.6 7. V. lutea А0Е0151 87.8 de 72.0 e 79.9 8. V. serratifolia А0Е0234 111.8 d 94.0 d 102.9 V. narbonensis have higher crude protein content in herbage than the others - from 20.5 to 21.4 %, probably due to their good leafiness. The protein content is lower in the herbage of V. striata (18.7 %), V. lutea (18.6 %) and V. serratifolia (18.3 %). The lowest crude protein content is established in the herbage of bitter vetch (17.0 %). More considerable variation exists between species regarding the chemical composition of seeds. The seeds of common vetch (cultivar 235) characterize with the highest crude protein (36.2 %) and the lowest crude fibres content (2.8 %). Comparatively high content of crude protein and fibres contain the seeds of V. lutea and V. angustifolia. Narbon vetch has the lowest protein content in the seeds. Table 4 Chemical analysis (% to dry matter) in herbage and seeds average for 2 years Herbage Seeds Species Accession/Temn. Crude protein Crude fibres Crude protein Crude fibres 1. V. sativa cv. 235 21.4 29.8 36.2 2.8 2. V. villosa cv. Asko 20.5 32.6 27.5 8.6 3. V. ervilia 82500 '17 23.7 26 3.8 4. V. narbonensis 99Е0264 20.9 26.9 25.7 10.4 5. V. angustifolia 99Е0165 21 27.3 34.2 5.8 6. V. striata А0Е0189 18.7 29.6 30.8 7.3 7. V. lutea А0Е0151 18.6 29.8 34.6 5.8 8. V. serratifolia А0Е0234 18.3 30.2 30.4 9.3
34 P. Kicheva and S. Angelova Conclusions The accession 82500 (V. ervilia) has the highest and most stable seed productivity. This species has also non-shattering pods, high lodging resistance and can be harvested directly. Cultivar Asko (V. villosa) characterizes with high and stable herbage production, but has low seed insemination, which make quite difficult its regeneration and maintenance in ex situ collection. The examined accessions of V. striata and V. lutea have high herbage yield potential and very good seed insemination. Their maintenance in ex situ collection is difficult too because of their high shattering pods. Accession 99Е0264 of V. narbonensis is very early maturing, has non-shattering pods and good herbage productivity. Cultivar 235 of V. sativa has the best complex characteristic - high herbage and seed yields, high nutritional value, comparatively short growing season and non-shattering pods. The examined vetch accessions are very interesting for including in breeding programs. There are many difficulties in their maintenance and regeneration in ex situ collection, so the efforts would be directed to searching possibilities for in situ conservation and sustainable utilization in their natural habitats. The established database consisting information for their biological and economic characters can be used in preparation of Plans for management of reserves, natural parks and protected areas. Received May, 20, 2005; accepted December, 19, 2005. References Duncan, D., 1995. Multiple range and multiple F-tests. Biometrics,11: 256-260. Enneking, D., 1995. The toxicity of Vicia species and their utilization as grain legumes. Co-operative Research Centre for Legumes in Mediterranean Agriculture. 1993. Occasional publication 6, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, W. A. pp. 67-78. Houérou, L. H. N., 1985. Forage and fuel plants in the arid zone of North Africa, the Near and Middle East. In: Plants for Arid Lands. Proceedings of the Kew Conference on Economic Plants of Arid Lands held in the Jodrell Laboratory, Royal Botanic Gradens, Kew, England, 22-27 July 1984. (Wickens, G. E., Goodin, J. R., & Field, D. V.) (Eds) Unwin Hyman, London. Pp. 117-141. ICARDA, 1999. Germplasm Program Legumes. Annual Report for 1997. Aleppo, Syria, 16: 4-10. IPGRI, 1982. Forage Grass Descriptors. Rome, Italy. Pp. 5-20. Kicheva, P., 2003. Identification and management of the genetic diversity of local accessions from Genus Vicia L. (Fabaceae). IPGR, Sadovo. PhD., 180 pp. (Bg), Koeva, R., S. Angelova and Ya.Guteva, 2002. Plant genetic resources and their biological potential integrated to the agricultural and ecological systems. Biotechnology and Biotechnological Equipment, 16 (2): 26-35. Maxted, N., 1995. An ecogeographical study of Vicia subgenus Vicia, IPGRI, Rome, Italy. 180 pp.. Muratova, V., 1926. Bulletin of Applied Botany, genetics, and plant breeding. Leningrad, 16: 99-149 (Ru). Terziiski, D., 1986. Biosystematic and agrobiological study of the Bulgarian representatives of Genus Vicia L. family Fabacea Lindley, Sofia. Pp.1-54. Tupikova, À., 1926. Bulletin of Applied Botany, genetics, and plant breeding. Leningrad, 16:151-246 (Ru).