Diallelic study of earliness flowering in common bean cultivars

Abstract

Aiming to select early producing genotypes of common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) to be used as parental material in a breeding program, two distinct diallelic design experiments were conducted at the Escola Superior de Agricultura de Lavras (in Lavras, MG, Brazil). The former used seven cultivars and 21 hybrids, and the latter, eleven cultivars. Both the F1 and the parental populations were evaluated under greenhouse conditions. Beginning of flowering time was monitored, and the genetic analysis was performed. The determination of general and specific combining ability estimates showed the predominance of additive gene action in controlling the trait under study. The early producing cultivars used such as Eriparza, Preto-60-dias. CNF-255, and CNF 261 contribuited to reduce the vegetative growth cycle of the hybrid plants.