Genetic Progress for Yield and Yield Componnts of Small Seeded Food and Canning Types of Common Bean (Phaseolus Vulgaris L.) in Ethiopia

Abstract

Twenty common bean (Phaseolus vlgaris L.) varieties that were released from 1973 to 2014 were evaluated as small seeded food and canning types of common bean varieties. The objectives of this study was to estimate the genetic progress made in improving yield potential of common bean in Ethiopia, to assess changes in associated traits in the genetic improvement of common bean varieties in last 40 years and to asses common bean varieties reaction to anthracnose disease. The study was conducted at two locations, Bako and Gute during 2014/2015 cropping season in randomized complete block design with three replications. The VXL interaction was highly significant different for biomass yield, days to maturity, number of seeds plant^-1, grain filling period and biomass production rate and significantly different for grain yield, anthracnose disease severity, yield gram plant^-1, seed growth rate and grain yield day^-1. The highest mean grain yield was 2601 kg ha^-1 for Waju variety, and the lowest was for Argane, 217.3 kg ha^-1 the grand mean being 1472.3 kg ha^-1. The annual rate of genetic progresses for grain yield was 10.56 kg ha^-1 (0.19%). Generally, canning type varieties were more attacked by anthracnose disease during the study season. Grain yield day^-1 explained more for the variation of grain yield; 85.1%. Anthracnose disease severity was played the major role as grain yield not respond significant increment by -26.4% from stepwise regression results.

Keywords: Anthracnose disease severity, Canning type, Genetic progress, Relative genetic gain, Stepwise Regression