Improvement of large-seeded common bean cultivars under sustainable cropping systems in Spain

• Published in: Euphytica Vol. 142; no. 1-2; pp. 85 - 95
• Main Authors: Santalla, M, Lema, M, Rodino, A.P, Gonzalez, A.M, Monteagudo, A.B, Ron, A.M. de
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer 2005; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Agricultural practices; Agricultural production; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; artificial selection; beans; Biological and medical sciences; Corn; Crop yield; Cropping systems; Cultivars; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; genetic improvement; Genetics and breeding of economic plants; Genotypes; Intercropping; Phaseolus vulgaris; plant breeding; seed weight; Sole cropping; Sustainable agriculture; yield components; Zea mays; Spain; Southern Europe; Europe; Spain, Granada; Peru; seed weight; Cropping system; Bean; quality; Grain legume; Leguminosae; Vegetable crop; Phaseolus vulgaris; Dicotyledones; Seed; Angiospermae; Genetic improvement; Intercropping; Spermatophyta; Yield
• ISSN: 0014-2336; 1573-5060
• DOI: 10.1007/s10681-005-0816-z

Approaches are needed to broaden the genetic base and improve earliness and yield potential of large-seeded beans under sustainable cropping systems. The objective of this research was to develop adapted dwarf bean populations having a commercial seed quality and yield suitable for the production in the South of Europe. The original base populations were produced from crosses between genotypes within each Mesoamerica, Nueva Granada and Peru races, and between Peru and Nueva Granada, and Mesoamerica and Nueva Granada races. Visual mass selection for plant performance was practised in the F^sub 2^ and F^sub 3^ generations. In the F^sub 4^ and F^sub 5^, single plants were harvested under two cropping systems (sole cropping and intercropping with maize). From F^sub 4^, selection was based on precocity, combined with seed yield and seed commercial type. The F^sub 4:7^ selected lines from each original population were compared with their parents and five checks at four environments and two cropping systems. Differences among environments, populations, parents and checks were observed for all traits. Under intercropping with maize, there was a 50% reduction in seed yield. Yield of parents and checks belonging to Andean South American races, intraracial (Nueva Granada × Nueva Granada) and interracial (Nueva Granada × Peru) populations, was higher than that of those of Middle American origin. Intraracial crosses within large-seeded Andean South American (Peru race) and Middle American gene pools (Mesoamerica race) did not produce lines yielding more than the highest yielding parent. Only two large-seeded lines selected from crosses between small- and large-seeded gene pools out-yielded the best parent and check cultivar.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]