Selection for seed yield and other traits among early generations of intra-and interracial populations of the common bean

Twenty parents representing common bean races Mesoamerica, Durango, and Jalisco of Middle American origin, and Nueva Granada and Chile of Andean America, 47 F1, and 47 F2 in 1990, and the 20 parents, 47 F2, and 47 F3 in 1991 were evaluated at two locations in Colombia. Mean seed yield of the Middle American races and crosses within and between them was higher than the yield of parents and hybrids of Andean races. Correlation coefficients (except between F1 and F3 for seed-filling duration) among the mid-parent, Fl, F2 and F3 for all traits were positive (P less than 0.05). Heritability was 0.42 plus or minus 0.07 for seed yield, 0.61 plus or minus 0.02 for 100-seed weight, 0.49 plus or minus 0.14 for harvest index, 0.49 plus or minus 0.09 for dry matter, 0.47 plus or minus 0.07 for flowering duration, 0.20 plus or minus 0.12 for seed-filling duration, and 0.47 plus or minus 0.05 for days to maturity. Values for predicted gains (in F2) and actual gains (in F3) for these same traits, respectively, were 21.0 percent and 14.4 percent, 34.0 percent and 39.0 percent, 4.5 percent and 7.5 percent, 9.1 percent and 11.9 percent, 12 percent and 8.7 percent, 8.7 percent and 2.3 percent, and 6.1 percent and 5.1 percent. These results support the use of early generation testing and selection among populations of the common bean