Pollination Dynamics and their Impact on Yield Performance in Diverse Faba Bean (Vicia faba L.) Genotypes

Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) is one of the oldest cultivated legume crops and serves as an important source of protein and health-promoting phytonutrients. It is generally considered to have originated in the eastern Mediterranean region, although its precise centre of origin remains uncertain. Despite being predominantly self-pollinated, faba bean exhibits a substantial degree of cross-pollination facilitated mainly by insect pollinators, particularly bees, which play an important role in reproductive success and yield enhancement. The present investigation was conducted to study the pollination behaviour of different faba bean genotypes and to characterize their growth and yield attributes under the lower Gangetic agro-ecological conditions. A field experiment involving 24 faba bean genotypes received from ICARDA was carried out during 2023–2025 at BCKV, Kalyani, Nadia, West Bengal, following a randomized block design (RBD) with three replications. Plants produced approximately 50–80 papilionaceous, hermaphroditic flowers per plant. Anthesis occurred between 13:00 and 16:00 h, while anther dehiscence took place prior to flower opening, and the stigma remained receptive for up to three days. Flowers reopened daily for 6–7 days following anthesis and for 2–3 days after pollination. Fertilization generally occurred within 24 hours of pollination. The extent of cross-pollination varied from 2 to 89%, with honeybees (Apis mellifera) serving as the principal pollinating agents. Among the genotypes, Marawi showed satisfactory performance under the lower Gangetic plain conditions, whereas most other genotypes exhibited an intermediate growth habit. Eddamer recorded the earliest flowering, at 41–42 days after sowing. The maximum pod yield per plant was observed in IG159170 (203.82 g), followed by FLIP86-87FB and Bangla Gangachar. The findings demonstrate that honeybees are the predominant pollinators of faba bean and that bee-mediated pollination can considerably enhance yield. Therefore, understanding pollination ecology along with the identification of suitable genotypes can contribute to improving faba bean productivity under the agro-ecological conditions of eastern India.

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