Genetic diversity and selection of bean landraces and cultivars based on technological and nutritional traits

Abstract

This study was undertaken to evaluate the genetic variability of common bean landraces and modern cultivars for 15 technological- and nutritional-quality traits; analyze the correlations between these traits; investigate genetic dissimilarity between the cultivars; and select superior common bean cultivars for human nutrition. Three experiments were carried out between the years 2017 and 2018 in which 49 common bean cultivars were evaluated. A significant genotype × environment interaction effect was observed for all traits. Mass of 100 grains was positively correlated with grain length (r = 0.78) and cooking time (r = 0.59) and negatively correlated with magnesium concentration (r = −0.63). The L* (grain lightness) and a* (color variation from green to red) values were more important in differentiating the cultivars. Eight and three groups of cultivars were formed using the canonical-variable and simple-linkage analyses, respectively. These analyses are not in agreement on the definition of groups and on the composition of the different groups. The cultivars Preguiçoso, Inhoque, Carioca Vila Nova do Sul, Pérola, Trindade, Argentino, Turrialba, Banana, Vagem Roxa and Paraná have high technological quality and high concentrations of various minerals; therefore, their use is recommended for human nutrition and breeding programs.