Genetic potential of common bean parents for plant architecture improvement

ABSTRACT

In common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) breeding, plant selection that associate erect plant architecture, high yield, and grains with good commercial acceptance has been the choice of breeders. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate potential parents, to obtain promising segregating populations that associate high yield, erect plant architecture and carioca grain type, as well as to obtain information on heterosis, general and specific combining ability of these parents regarding grain yield and traits related to plant architecture. Fourteen common bean lines were crossed under a partial diallel scheme. Group 1 was composed by eight erect plant lines and group 2 by six carioca grain type lines. The F1's plants from the crosses and the 14 parents were evaluated during spring (Mar. sowing) for plant architecture grade, diameter of the hipocotyl, plant mean height, and grain yield. Predominance of additive effects was observed for plant architecture grade and diameter of the hypocotyls. For grain yield and plant mean height, there was a greater contribution of the dominance effects. Thus, selection of erect plants, with a larger diameter of the hypocotyl can be carried out in early generations; while for grain yield and plant mean height, it must be delayed, preferably, to later generations.