Screening faba bean for tolerance to low pH

Abstract

Key findings • • The critical pHCa threshold is in the range of 5.2 to 5.4, below which faba bean growth is reduced. • • Variability for tolerance to low pH is present within the species with cultivar (cv) PBA Zahra[PBR] more tolerant at low pH than cultivars (cvv) PBA Samira[PBR], Farah[PBR] or PBA Nasma[PBR]. • • The sensitivity of uninoculated faba bean plants to low pH suggests it may not be sufficient to overcome the poor performance of faba bean on acid soils simply by developing more acid-tolerant rhizobium. Further research is warranted to address this question.