Faba bean (Vicia faba) is a cool season legume crop produced worldwide, mainly in semi-arid regions. Conventional breeding methods have been successful in improving faba bean germplasm towards development of superior cultivars through crossing cultivars, and introduction of novel traits from landraces as well as pyramiding multiple positive alleles in adapted genetic backgrounds. Detailed genetic maps have been generated, placing many genes of interest using a variety of molecular techniques, and marker-assisted selection is possible for some desired traits that have been associated with DNA markers. Nevertheless, the improvement of several important agronomic characters such as disease resistance, abiotic stress tolerance, improved nitrogen fixation, stability of seed yield and seed composition has been difficult because of their quantitative nature. Recent development of genomic tools promises to alleviate some of the linkage drag issues by providing greater precision and utility in transferring desired traits and excluding undesired genomic regions from the donor. The recent availability of whole genome sequence of faba bean is providing new opportunities to identify and efficiently transfer desired genes into new cultivars. This will further expand the utility of related germplasm.

The goal of this Research Topic is to bring forward the latest research in faba bean breeding, to address gaps in areas of plant physiology, genetics, functional genomics, phenomics and germplasm development in the Vicia genus. This information would bring a better understanding of the physiology growth and development, seed quality, abiotic and biotic response of faba bean, thereby leading to the sustainable production of this important pulse crop.

We welcome submissions on the following research themes but not limited to:

• Identification and characterization of traits of agronomic interest in faba bean germplasm and genetic diversity in the Vicia genus

• Disclosing genetic basis and QTLs/genes mapping for important breeding traits, including seed quality and resistance to stresses

• Functional analysis of genes and genomics research.

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Advances in Faba Bean Breeding and Genomics