Characterization of Genetic Variability among Common Bean Genotypes at Hawassa, Southern Ethiopia
Tasew Derese *
Sidama Agricultural Research Institute (Hawassa Agricultural Research Center), Ethiopia.
Hussein Mohammed Ali
College of Agriculture, Hawassa University, Ethiopia.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Availability of adequate amount of genetic variability is a prerequisite for the improvement of any crop. Forty nine common bean genotypes were evaluated at Wondo Tika, Southern Ethiopia, in simple lattice design during the 2021 cropping season. The objectives of the study were to estimate the extent of genetic variability, heritability, genetic advance in various traits and identify high yielding genotypes with desirable traits to advance them for common bean improvement. There was highly significant difference between the genotypes for all 14 studied traits except HSW. Grain yield ranged from 2223.5 for MALB-133 to 4152.1 kg/ha for MALB-100. Genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) ranged from 3.73% for days to 90% maturity (DM) to 29.05 % for harvest index (HI), while phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) ranged from 4.36 % for days to flowering (DF) to 38.46 % for plant height (PH). Heritability ranged from 25.52% for grain filling period (GF) to 97.36% for pods per plant (PPP). High heritability coupled with high GCV and high genetic advance (as a percent of mean) was recorded for pods per plant, harvest index and number seeds per pod. This indicates that additive gene action is predominantly involved in the expression of various polygenic traits. Thus, desirable improvement in seed yield can easily be achieved on implementation of effective selection scheme for pods per plant, harvest index and number seeds per pod. Hence, top ten performing genotypes are recommended for further study in the variety development.
Keywords: Common bean, genetic variation, heritability