Performance of Introduced Climbing Bean (<i>Phaseolus vulgaris</i> L.) Varieties for Registration in Ethiopia

Abstract

Testing the adaptability of newly introduced crop varieties under potential growing agro-ecologies is an imperative component of a fast-track breeding approach in Ethiopia. A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the performance of climbing bean varieties for grain yield and other agronomic traits at four locations (Jimma, Haru, Assosa and Pawe) during 2019-2020 main cropping seasons. A total of 25climbing bean varieties including standard check (Dandesu) were used in this study. The trial was laid down using 5x5 triple lattice design. Data was collected on 11 traits: numbers of days to 50% flowering, 95% maturity, pods per plant, seeds per pod, seed per plant, plant height (cm), common bacterial blight, angular leaf spot, floury leaf spot, hundred seed weight (g), and grain yield per plant (tha-1). The data was subjected to statistical analysis using SAS software. The combined ANOVA revealed significant variation (P≤ 0.01) among varieties for most of the traits except for number of days to 95% maturity and hundred seed weight. The mean grain yield performance for the combined data was the highest for variety RWV 1272 (5.37 tha^-1) followed by G13607 (4.53 t/ha), and CAB2 (tha-1). The three high yielding varieties had produced 117.4%, 83.4% and 54.7% yield increase over the standard check, Dendesu (2.47 tha-1), respectively. In addition to their high yielding ability the varieties showed good resistance/tolerance reaction against common bacterial blight, angular leaf spot and floury leaf spot disease. The three varieties have medium seed size but have different seed color. The color of their seed is, brun purple for RWV1272; red forG13607; and white for CAB2, which have their own marketed demand and farmers’ preference. The other major attributes of the varieties were acceptable cooking time of 81-88 minutes. The three varieties were planted under verification plot and evaluated by variety release committee for official registration. Based on their best performance in grain yield, disease reaction and acceptable quality in terms of seed size, color and cooking time, the two varieties RWV1272 and CAB2 were accepted by national variety release committee to be registered as commercial variety in Ethiopia since June 2022. The registered varieties are recommended for Southwest, West and other similar agro ecologies with high rain fall in Ethiopia. To exploit the high yield advantage of the varieties and partly solve the food self-sufficiency in the country, major emphasis should be given for early generation seed multiplication, well organized demonstration and popularization of the varieties to farmers.