Effect of Rhizobium inoculation on some characters of a high protein mutant and its parent field bean Vicia faba L

M1011 is a high protein mutant originally selected from the Egyptian bean (Vicia faba L.) variety Giza2 (G2) after seven generations of treating seeds with 4kR of 60Co gamma rays. Both the mutant line M1011 and its parent variety G2 were planted in soil inoculated with Rhizobium phaseoli after being sterilized. The plant and yield characters of both were then investigated. Results showed that the mean values of plant height, total and fertile number of branches per plant, number of pods per plant, seed yield and seed protein content increased significantly in both M1011 and G2 due to pre-sowing Rhizobium inoculation. Significant earliness in flowering and an increase in the number of seeds per pod were also noticed in M1011 after Rhizobium treatment. Therefore, the mutant line showed higher efficiency in utilizing bacterially fixed nitrogen than its parent mother variety Giza2. (author)