MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERS IN THE SELECTION OF FABA BEAN SEEDS IN THE SIERRA NORTE OF PUEBLA

Abstract

In this work, it was investigated the plant and seed traits that farmers use for selecting faba bean (Vicia faba L.) were evaluated, in order to understand their importance for handling and conservation of this species in the Sierra Norte of Puebla in México. The methodology consisted on the application of a questionnaire designed under the descriptive method for sampling survey, and applied by direct interviews to 74 farmers. The sample size was determined by the reference-list component. It was found that the main characters considered by farmers were: frost resistance (81 %), plant health (76 %), earliness (55 %) and seed health (93 %), and the combined traits more used are seed health and seed size (55 %). We concluded that there is a specific rural knowledge for selecting plant and seed characters in faba bean, which are used to identify frost tolerant and short season varieties.