Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to estimate the extent of genetic variability of
agronomic traits and their contribution to seed yield. Twelve quantitative characters
including plant height, pods per plant, seeds per pod, days to flowering, seed yield
per plots, harvest index and hundred seed weighted of twenty four genotypes of
common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) was studied. The experiment was conducted
at Ziway farmer’s field as randomized complete block design planted in three
replications. Results showed that genotypes with more yields were identified as
ARGANE for maximum seed yield per plot with values of (832g), GOFTA for pods
per plant (24.3) and for above ground dry biomass (8636.66). The values of
variation was wide for plant height, seed yield per plant, hundred seed weight and
seed yield per plot while other characters showed low to fairly high range value.
The mean square values showed significant variation among all 24 genotypes.
Plant height hundred seed weight and harvest index showed high coefficients of
variation in both genotypic and phenotypic. High heritability estimated from
60-97% were obtained for days to flowering, primary branches, Secondary
branches, seeds per pod, Plant height, harvest index, seed yield per plot, hundred
seed weight and above ground dry biomass. Above ground dry biomass seed yield
per plot hundred seed weight and plant height showed high genetic advance. The
magnitudes of genotypic correlation showed higher as compared to phenotypic
correlations and in the same direction. Primary branches, above ground dry
biomass, days to flowering, days to maturity, pods per plant, seeds per pod and
hundred seed weight are traits of common bean which exerts positive direct and indirect influence on seed yield in both phenotypic and genotypic path coefficient
analysis. In conclusion, the result of this study demonstrated that there is sufficient
genetic variability among the common bean genotypes and a number of characters
were found to have high broad sense heritability, which could be used to improve
the yield and other agronomic characters of the crops through selection or
breeding.
