Estimation of Better Parent and Economic Heterosis for Yield and Associated Traits in Common Beans

Abstract

Objective: A study to estimate better parent and economic heterosis in an 8x8 diallel crosses of common beans (Phaseolus Vulgaris L.) was undertaken at Mandura, North Western Ethiopia.Methodology and Results: Eight parents and their 28 F1 diallel crosses were grown in a randomized complete block design. Yield and its components, architectural, and phenological traits were considered. Statistically significant differences were observed between the 36 genotypes for most of the traits studied. Analysis of better parent and economic heterosis respectively revealed 16 and 14 crosses out of 28 showed significant heterosis for yield per plant. Among which 12 and 7 crosses in the same order were positive. The extent of better parent heterosis for yield ranged from -31.14% (Dimtu x Tabor) to 114.1% (MAM-41 x Tabor). The maximum economic heterosis (60.58 %) was observed from the hybrid MAM-41 x Tabor .Significant (P<0.05 or P<0.01) better parent heterosis was also observed for yield-associated traits.Conclusions and recommendation: In this study, expression of significant better parent heterosis for grain yield and other important traits was frequent in combinations of parents from different growth habits (MAM-41 x Tabor, Roba-1 x SK 93263), seed color (Tabor x Red wolayta, BELDAKMI RR 5 x SK 93263, Dimtu x Zebra), and seed size (Roba-1 x Tabor). The extent of percent better parent and economic heterosis like in the cross MAM-41 x Tabor with 114.103 % seed yield better parent heterosis and 60.6 % economic heterosis suggested that this hybrid could be further considered in the breeding program aiming both for segregant breeding and hybrid development.Key Words: Better parent heterosis, diallel, economic heterosis, Phaseolus vulgaris L.