Individual selection in native common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) genotypes using genetic parameters derived from yield components

Abstract

Individual selection is a strategy in plant breeding that enables the identification of individuals with desirable agronomic traits. The objective of this research was to determine genetic parameters based on yield components for the selection of promising plants in native common bean genotypes. The study was conducted at the Centro Nacional de Desarrollo Tecnológico de Frijol "La Compañía," in the municipality of San Marcos, department of Carazo, Nicaragua (11°54'30.07" North latitude and 86°10'44.55" West longitude), at an altitude of 480 meters above sea level, with an annual rainfall between 1 200 mm and 1 500 mm, a mean annual temperature of 24 °C, and a relative humidity of 85%. An augmented block design was established, where individual plants of six native red bean genotypes (Parcela, Rojo Seda, INTA Rodeo, Seda Rojo, INTA Rojo Acriollado, Rojo Seda Carrizal) were considered as the experimental units and treated as the non-common treatments, while the INTA Rojo variety served as the check (common treatment), replicated across four blocks. The variables focused on agronomic and genetic parameters, including pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, 100-seed weight, yield per plant, genotypic variance, phenotypic variance, heritability, genetic gain, and genetic correlation based on the yield components. Genetic parameters and the selection of superior plants were estimated on the basis of the yield components using the mixed linear model 74 of the SELEGEN REML-BLUP software (Restricted Maximum Likelihood/Best Linear Unbiased Prediction). Among the yield components, the number of seeds per pod is the trait that contributes the most to yield per plant; therefore, it is considered the most relevant criterion for the selection of superior individuals.