Alternatives for selection of carioca common bean lines that combine upright plants and slow grain darkening

Abstract

In Brazil, there is an increasing demand for common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivars having Carioca-type (cream-colored seed coat with brown stripes) beans which have a light color that persists for a longer time combined with the most possible upright plant architecture.  However, plant breeders are finding it difficult to combine these two traits in the same cultivar. The aim of this study was to compare success in the selection of new common bean lines that combine the two traits in segregating populations with 25%, 50%, or 75% of the alleles from the parents contrasting in upright plant architecture or in bean grains with persistent light color. A biparental cross was performed between a parent with light-colored beans (P1) and another with upright plants (P2). Three populations were obtained from the F1 seeds, with allelic frequencies of 75%, 50%, and 25% of P1. Subsequently, progenies were evaluated in a similar number in each population in the F2:3, F2:4, F2:5, and F2:6 generations. The plant architecture (PA) and grain darkening (GD) traits were visually evaluated using a scoring scale. Genetic and phenotypic parameters were estimated for all generations. There was no expressive advantage in using populations with a greater allele proportion of the parent favorable to upright plant architecture or slow grain darkening either in releasing of variability or in the occurrence of progenies with favorable phenotypes for the two traits.