Asian Journal of Advances in Agricultural Research

Genetic improvement was assessed in four faba bean crosses, i.e., cross 1 (Sakha 1 x Line 1), cross 2 (Sakha 1 x Giza 429), cross 3 (Misr 1 x Sakha 3) and cross 4 (Giza 717 x Giza 674), using F₂, F₃, F₄ and F₅ segregating generations to improve yield and yield components of four faba bean crosses with pedigree method. This study was conducted at the Experimental Farm of Sakha Agricultural Research Station, Kafrelsheikh, Egypt, during four consecutive seasons from 2021/22 to 2024/25. The results revealed distinct genetic improvement as well as reduced variability over generations, with the most improvements seen for disease resistance and yield traits. The scores for both rust and chocolate spot diseases consistently improved, with almost all the F₅progenies scoring within the resistant category. Flowering and maturity were earlier in several crosses, but cross 3 (Misr 1 × Sakha 3) had the earliest mean flowering of 43.7 days, and cross 4 (Giza 717 × Giza 674) had the earliest maturity of 144.7 days. Yield improvements were seen across all crosses, with cross 4 having the highest scores for No. of pods, No. of seeds, and seed yield per plant at both the F₂ and F₅ generations, whereas cross 3 produced the highest value of 100 seed weight overall at a mean weight of 96.3 g, estimates of narrow-sense heritability ranged from moderate to high, with yield components and disease resistance having a strong additive gene effect, and a very high expected genetic advance. The first shifts (F₂–F₃) in generations with pedigree selection accounted for the majority of variability available, while later generations (F₄–F₅) continued to select and stabilise desirable traits with the increasing genetic potential. Overall, the outcomes confirm the success of the pedigree selection method for developing superior, disease-resistant, high-yielding and early-maturing faba bean genotypes. Additionally, cross 4 was also the best candidate for future cultivar release.