Abstract:
Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in Ethiopia is produced mainly from farm saved seeds
stored for more than a year. However, the effect of storage duration on seed quality and
yield of the crop is not quantified in the Central Rift Valley area. This research was therefore
carried out to determine the effects of storage duration on seed quality, yield and yield
related traits, and estimate the association of seed quality traits to yield and yield related
traits of common bean varieties. Seed samples of four common bean varieties (Awash-1,
Awash-2, Awash Mitin and Nasir) stored at ambient temperature at the same store for 10,
22 and 34 months were obtained from Melkasa Agriculture Research Center. The pre-
sowing seed quality was determined in 3 x 4 in factorial combinations in completely
randomized design with four replications while the field experiment was conducted in
randomized complete block design with four replications. The results of pre-sowing seed
quality test revealed that all seed quality parameters significantly reduced as seed storage
duration increased from 10 months onwards although the magnitude of reduction varied
among varieties. Seed storage duration, variety and their interaction had significant effect
on all yield and yield related traits except for days to flowering, days to emergence, maturity,
plant height, and hundred seed weight. The variety Awash-2 seeds stored for 10 months
produced a signficantly highest grain yield of 2768.8 kg ha-1 and the same variety exhibited
lower yield by 764.5 (38.16%) and 676.5 kg ha-1 (32.35%) from seeds stored for 34 and 22
months, respectively. The grain yields of Nasir, Awash Mitin, and Awash-1 varieties were
higher by 46.66, 28.97 and 34.24% for seeds stored for 10 months compared to that of seeds
stored for 34 months, respectively. Mean of quality parameters from pre-sowing seed test
had negative and significant correlations with days to emergence and maturity except with
abnormal seedlings (%) and dead seed (%). The research findings suggested that the seeds
of the varieties should be stored based on the knowledge of common bean varieties resilient
to storage durations
