Genetic divergence and combined selection for traits that provide high agronomic performance in common bean lines

Abstract

ABSTRACT The selection of common bean lines with intermediate cycle, upright plant architecture and high grain yield is an important goal of breeding programs. This study proposes to examine the genetic diversity of common bean genotypes for agronomic traits, select superior genotypes for traits that provide high agronomic performance and define promising crosses. Seventeen common bean genotypes were evaluated in two growing seasons in 2019. A total of 17 agronomic traits were determined, which comprised the cycle, 12 traits related to plant architecture and four traits related to production. All traits exhibited a significant genotype × environment interaction, except for lodging and insertion of the first pod. Tocher's and the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) cluster analyses resulted in the formation of three groups of genotypes. Tocher and UPGMA analyses do not allow identifying differences between the superior genotypes of high agronomic performance. Cultivars Fepagro Triunfo and Fepagro Garapiá and lines SM 1510 and Linhagem 110, selected by the multiplicative index, stand out for different agronomic traits. The cross between cultivars Fepagro Triunfo and Fepagro Garapiá (superior agronomic traits) is recommended for the breeding program. Recombiants with high agronomic performance could be setected from the tested hybrid combinations.

Keywords

• Phaseolus vulgaris L.
• genotype × environment interaction
• cluster analyses
• selection index.