Articles - Green Reports

Abstract

Participatory variety selection of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) genotypes was conducted during 2013 main cropping season in Dibate district North western part of Ethiopia. The experiment was conducted to evaluate and recommend high yielding early maturing common bean genotypes through participatory variety selection and to assess farmers’ selection criteria for improved common bean varieties for future common bean breeding program. Four common bean genotypes which were replicated over four farmers’ fields were evaluated in this study. The analysis of variance revealed a highly significant difference (p≤0.001) for days to maturity and plant height, while a significant difference (p≤0.01) was observed for grain yield among the tested genotypes. Both male and female group of farmers had set almost similar selection criteria and were not directly targeting the yield only rather than selecting the yield contributing traits also. Both male and female farmers preferred the red color beans for their local dish preparation as boiled bean” Nifro” and “Shiro”. Genotype SER-119 followed by SER-118 which are red in color were the leading in both female and male group selection criteria and in their agronomic performance like grain yield, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod and number of seeds per plant. As a result, these two genotypes are recommended for production in the tested areas and similar agro ecological Zone of Metekel and the bean breeding program should consider the farmers’ criteria especially for local consumption as a target trait.