Combining Ability for Agromorphological and Physiological Traits in Different Gene Pools of Common Bean Subjected to Water Deficit

Douglas Mariani Zeffa,Vânia Moda-Cirino,Alessandra Koltun,Getúlio Takashi Nagashima,Isabella Mendonça Arruda,Leandro Simões Azeredo Gonçalves

doi:10.3390/agronomy9070371

Douglas Mariani Zeffa, Vânia Moda-Cirino + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy9070371

Copy DOI

Abstract

Water stress is one of the main limiting factors for common bean crops, negatively affecting grain yield and seed quality. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the inheritance of agromorphological and physiological traits related to drought tolerance in order to identify promising combinations. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse with a partial diallel scheme between three drought-tolerant genotypes (IAPAR 81, BAT 477. and SEA 5), and nine cultivars widely grown in Brazil (BRS Estilo, IAC Alvorada, IPR Campos Gerais, IPR Uirapuru, IPR Nhambu, BRS Esteio, IPR Garça, BRS Radiante, and DRK 18), in a randomized block design with four replicates. The plants were grown in pots with substrate under 80% of pot capacity until they reached the stage R5, when water supply was restricted to 30% for 20 days in the pots under stress treatment. A wide variability for the agromorphological and physiological traits was observed. Water deficit reduced plant performance for most agromorphological traits and altered their physiological metabolism. Additive and non-additive effects are involved in the genetic control of the majority of agromorphological and physiological traits both under water stress and control (well-watered) conditions. The parental genotypes BAT 477 (group I) and IAC Alvorada, IPR Uirapuru, and BRS Esteio (group II) may be included in breeding programs aiming at improving drought tolerance in common bean since they present high positive general combining abilities for agromorphological traits. The crosses IAPAR 81 × IPR Campos Gerais, and SEA 5 × BRS Radiante resulted in the best combinations considering grain yield per plant and total dry biomass, when cultivated under water deficit.

Highlights

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is considered the main legume species for human consumption and represents an important source of proteins, carbohydrates, fibers, and minerals [1,2]
The analysis revealed a separation among the genotypes under water deficit and the control condition, except for the parents IPR Nhambu, IPR Campos Gerais, and BRS Estilo, which were grouped with the genotypes under drought, regardless of the treatment they were subjected
This study investigated the inheritance of characteristics evaluated in beans for drought tolerance and found that additive and non-additive effects are involved in the genetic control of most of the agromorphological and physiological traits under both water conditions evaluated

Summary

Introduction

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is considered the main legume species for human consumption and represents an important source of proteins, carbohydrates, fibers, and minerals [1,2]. Brazil is one of the largest producers and consumers of beans in the world, where it is cultivated in three seasons, with a national production of 130.3 thousand tons in 2018/2019 [3]. The yield and spatial distribution of beans are severely restricted by biotic and abiotic stresses, among which drought is one of the most severe, causing reductions in grain yield and in grain quality [4]. Water deficit causes flower abortion and pod-abortion, hampering seed yield and weight [5,6]. The impact of drought on grain yield varies depending on the frequency, duration and intensity of the stress, on the phenological stage of the crop and its interaction with other stresses

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion