Common bean (Phaseolus Vulgaris l.) landraces reaction to field and storage insect pests: baseline data for insect resistant and high-yielding common bean variety development

Abstract

Common bean is a lowland legume crop that contributes for food security and poverty reduction in Ethiopia. A number of constraints are associated with common bean production in Ethiopia including drought, insect pests, diseases, low number of improved variety, storage practices, storage insect pest management and seed systems among others. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the interaction of selected common bean landraces against field and storage insect pests. The field experiment was done at Arsi-Negele in the West-Arsi zone at the sub-center of Melkasa Research Centre (mrc) in Oromia Regional State of Ethiopia. Ten common bean landraces and one improved variety (Beshebeshe) were collected from mrc and evaluated under field and storage conditions. The field experiment was designed in a randomized complete block design in three replications, while the storage experiment was designed in a completely randomized design in three replications. Highly significant variations were observed in the tested common bean landraces in terms of field and storage insect pests. The landraces were not consistent in terms of insect pest reaction across the different plant growth stages and in the storage. This study demonstrated the high potential that existed in common bean landraces in terms of insect pest resistance. Hence, the result of this study calls for a strong collaborative work between common bean breeders and entomologists to develop high yielding and insect resistant common bean varieties.