FABA BEAN (VICIA-FABA L) SEED COAT COLOR, TANNIN CONTENT AND SUSCEPTIBILITY TO BRUCHIDS

Five mutants for seed coat colour from the faba bean, Vicia faba L. variety BF 2/2 (Beladi) were tested qualitatively and quantitatively for tannin content. The susceptibility of the mutants to Bruchidius incarnatus (Boh.) and Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) was also evaluated. All seed coats contained tannins (0.75-3.75%). The darker the colour the lower the tannin content. Cotyledons with testas removed were devoid of tannins. The thickness of the seed coats ranged from 0.146-0.155 mm, however, differences among mutants were not significant. Faba seeds were more suitable for the multiplication of B. incarnatus than C. maculatus. The poor performance of the latter was manifested as low fecundity, high mortality and longer developmental period. It was concluded that selection for white coloured faba seeds should not be discouraged on the basis of its assumed susceptibility to bruchids.