Analysis of anatomical traits of faba bean stems, in traditional cultivar Neptun and self-completing one, Granit, was carried out in two stages of seed maturity, both physiological and technical one, on segments of the length of 40 mm, sampled from an internode right under the first pods. Studied faba bean cultivars differed significantly in terms of 8 out of 15 tested anatomical traits of stems. Stem in cultivar Neptun was characterized by a greater width of sclerenchyma, and thickness and width of its cells, as well as width of phloem and xylem. In cultivar Granit, a significantly greater thickness of parenchyma layer and of xylem cells was observed, as well as a higher proportion of tissues in the stem. Plant maturation was accompanied by a significant decrease in the width of epidermis cells, in the thickness of parenchyma layer and in the thickness of sclerenchyma and phloem cells. Only 6 morphological traits of plants were significantly correlated with the anatomical structure of faba bean stems, and they included: plant height and height of the first pod setting, length of the stem fruit-bearing, thickness of the stem wall and its internal diameter, as well as the dry weight of faba bean plant. Significant negative correlations between anatomical traits of stem, and its resistance to bending was observed for: width of epidermis cells, thickness of parenchyma layer and in phloem thickness. Stem section modulus in faba bean was positively correlated with the width of epidermis cells and phloem thickness.

57-64