Induced morphological variation in Vicia faba L.

Morphological observations, and to some extent genetic analyses, are presented for some groups of induced morphological mutations in Vicia faba L. They comprised unifoliate (9), flower colour (36) and seed-coat colour (57) mutants; dwarfs (5); types with altered pollen shape (3); a late maturing form (1); red-stemmed seedling (1); and forms with changes in the colour and shape of the hilum (4). Furthermore, an early mutant, one type with a terminal inflorescence, and one with increased protein content are discussed mainly from a plant breeding point of view. When compared with the parental variety, most of the mutants are recessive. Black and violet seed-coat colour are dominant to the buff colour of the parental variety, and red-stemmed seedling character is dominant to the normal green colour.