Development of high yielding and stable cultivars of various legume crops across different environments is very important for their adoption by farmers. In addition, climate change sets new challenges to major crop species and especially to grain legumes such as faba bean (Vicia faba L.) for adaptation to stressful environments. The present study focused on evaluating faba bean genotypes developed for yield and stability across different environments. The study was conducted in three areas of Greece (South, Central, and North) for two consecutive growing seasons (2018–2019 and 2019–2020). Biomass yield, seed yield, and yield components were studied together with plant height, earliness, and water use efficiency. Genotype, environment, and their interaction affected most of the studied characteristics. The environment was the major source of variation for most of the characteristics, as it explained 81–93% of total variation, and only in the thousand seed weight the variation was 49% for the environment and 40% for the genotype. Genotype had a much smaller effect on the remaining characteristics (1.2–3.9%), and the interaction between environment x genotype accounted for up to 0.5–17% of the variation. GGE-biplot analysis for high yield and stability across different environments revealed three genotypic types: genotypes well adapted either for biomass or seed yield and genotypes with high adaptation capacity for both traits under typical Mediterranean conditions. These results indicated that screening faba bean genotypes under different environmental field conditions is essential to identify adaptable cultivars to be cultivated for biomass and/or seed yield or to be used in breeding programs.

The health-promoting effects of lentil seeds due to phenolic compounds and other antioxidants make lentils a potential source of functional food or feed ingredients. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of genotype and growing environment on the phytochemical contents and antioxidant activities such as ABTS (2′-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid), DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power) assays of soluble extracts from five lentil cultivars grown in ten diverse locations over a 2-year experimental period. Total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), total proanthocyanidin content (TPAC), total hydrolyzed tannin content (TNC), tocopherols and carotenoids were investigated. The major proanthocyanidins and individual polyphenols were quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography. Our results indicated that flavanols were the main phenolic compounds in hydrophilic extracts, followed by phenolic acids. Concerning lipophilic extracts, tocopherols and carotenoids were the main components, with γ-tocopherol and lutein being the predominant isomers, respectively. In general, both genetic and environmental effects had a strong impact on all bioactive components tested. Greater variation due to environmental effects was found for phenolic compounds (TPC, TFC and TPAC) and antioxidant activities; however, tocopherols and carotenoids revealed a high genotypic dependence. The principal component analysis highlighted the genotypes with higher content of antioxidants and stability across environments. The red lentil population “03-24L” was characterized as a promising genetic material due to its high phenolic contents and antioxidant capacity values across environments and is suggested for further investigation. In conclusion, multi-environmental trials are essential for a better understanding of the genotypic and environmental effect on phytochemical profiles of lentils and provide important information for breeding or cultivating lentil varieties of high-bioactive value.

Vicia sativa L. (common vetch) is an annual legume species of high economic and ecological importance which is characterized by high nutritive value for animal feeding and its ability to adapt to various edaphic–climatic conditions. However, limited information is available about genotypic and environmental effects on agronomic, nutritional, and antinutritional traits of common vetch genotypes. Thus, in the present study, four advanced breeding lines and three commercial cultivars were evaluated for yield biomass, color assessment, fiber, crude protein (CP), and polyphenols in three locations (Spata, Larissa, and Thessaloniki) for two consecutive growing seasons (2018–2019 and 2019–2020). The effects of genotype, environment and their interaction (GXE) were significant for all the studied traits. The main source of variation for yield, color, CP, and polyphenols was the environment as it explained 71.5–89.7% of the total variation, whereas for the fibers content it was the GXE interaction. On the other hand, genotype had a much smaller effect on all the traits studied (2.9–16.6%). According to GGE biplot analysis, the ‘Alexandros’ cultivar was the most high-yielding and stable, whereas ‘Leonidas’ was the best performing in terms of nutritional and antinutritional traits. However, one advanced line combined high and stable yield biomass with high nutritive value, indicating the possibility for simultaneous improvement of both features.

Lupins are an important source of protein that could replace soybeans in the diet of ruminants and monogastrics, without reducing their performance. Lupinus albus (L. albus) is the main species of the genus Lupinus that is cultivated in the Mediterranean region. The aim of the present research was to study commercial cultivars and advanced breeding lines of L. albus by using phenotypical, molecular and biochemical data, in order to be used in breeding projects. Seven commercial cultivars (Estoril, Fas Sweet, Multitalia, Magnus, Orus, Ulysse Sulimo and Figaro) and three advanced lines from the company AGROLAND (LKML, LKAP and LKAU) were used. Eleven morphological traits were described using UPOV Guidelines (International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants). Additionally, agronomical traits and yield components were measured. Regarding the nutritional value, grain samples were analyzed for N and the crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL), total alkaloids (TA), total phenolic content (TP), total tannins content (TT) and condensed tannins (CT) were calculated. Genetic diversity among genetic materials was assessed by SSRs molecular markers. The metabolomic analysis for four selected cultivars (Figaro, Magnus, Multitalia and Sulimo) was performed on the seeds with the GC/EI/MS technique. According to the results, the advanced lines were most productive but also with higher content of total alkaloids than the commercial cultivars. The only exception was the cultivar Multitalia that was characterized by a high content of alkaloids. Based on the SSRs, the cultivars Magnus, Orus and Estoril were grouped together while the breeding lines LKAP, LICML and LKAU were grouped with Multitalia. Regarding the metabolomic profile, the cultivars Multitalia and Magnus were together, while Sulimo was grouped with Figaro. Finally, the content of several beneficial metabolites for human and animal nutrition was significantly increased in Sulimo and Figaro, compared to Magnus and Multitalia. Both commercial varieties and lines have characteristics that can be exploited and used in breeding programs.

Lentil is a versatile and profitable pulse crop with high nutritional food and feed values. The objectives of the study were to determine suitable locations for high yield and quality in terms of production and/or breeding, and to identify promising genotypes. For this reason, five lentil genotypes were evaluated in a multi-location network consisting of ten diverse sites for two consecutive growing seasons, for seed yield (SY), other agronomic traits, crude protein (CP), cooking time (CT) and crude protein yield (CPY). A significant diversification and specialization of the locations was identified with regards to SY, CP, CT and CPY. Different locations showed optimal values for each trait. Locations E4 and E3, followed by E10, were “ideal” for SY; locations E1, E3 and E7 were ideal for high CP; and the “ideal” locations for CT were E3 and E5, followed by E2. Therefore, the scope of the cultivation determined the optimum locations for lentil cultivation. The GGE-biplot analysis revealed different discriminating abilities and representativeness among the locations for the identification of the most productive and stable genotypes. Location E3 (Orestiada, Region of Thrace) was recognized as being optimal for lentil breeding, as it was the “ideal” or close to “ideal” for the selection of superior genotypes for SY, CP, CT and CPY. Adaptable genotypes (cv. Dimitra, Samos) showed a high SY along with excellent values for CP, CT and CPY, and are suggested either for cultivation in many regions or to be exploited in breeding programs.

Nowadays, there is a lack of high-performing genetic materials specifically developed to thrive under low-input conditions and meet the demands of organic agriculture. This study aims to evaluate seven improved Greek tomato landraces and their (F1) hybrids designed for low-input farming systems as a potential solution to the shortage of superior varieties for organic farming in specific environments. This evaluation focuses on yield components and fruit quality parameters. According to the results, experimental genetic material matches or exceeds the performance of the commercial (F1) hybrid Formula and outperforms the control variety cv. Macedonia (pure line), indicating that selected inbred lines (S.I.L.s) originated from landraces that developed under low-input conditions and are better suited to organic farming systems. For instance, the improved line (S.I.L.) from landrace Pantaroza pink has only a 13% lower total yield compared to (F1) commercial hybrid Formula, whereas the (F1) hybrid between Pantaroza pink × Kardia vodiou surpasses it, by 23%. In conclusion, tomato landraces are an important gene pool for seed development for organic or low-input farming systems, especially under the circumstances of climate change, presenting increasing challenges. Improving these local genetic materials using mild breeding approaches under low-input conditions leads to the production of new selected pure lines (S.I.L.s) along with their (F1) hybrids, which could ensure high-quality products with satisfactory yield and low requirements, offering an innovative pathway toward sustainable agriculture.