Growth and Yield Performance of French Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Germplasm under Sub-Montane Zone of Maharashtra

Abstract

The present investigation was undertaken in randomized block design with two replications during rabi-2018 at Instructional-cum-Research Farm, RCSM College of Agriculture, Kolhapur. A set of 15 germplasm of French bean viz. Phule Suyash, Phule Surekha, Contender, Sevil, Arka Suvidha, Arka Komal, IC -039081, IC -28008, EC -28304, EC -500354, EC -500377, Selection -9, Falguni, Vaishnavi and EC -530909 was evaluated. The data indicated the significant differences with respect to growth and yield among the various germplasm of french bean. The earliest 50% flowering was seen in Contender (33.13 days) whereas the maximum number of days required for 50% flowering was in IC- 0339081 (45.60 days) closely followed by Falguni (42.20). As far as the numbers of primary branches per plant, Arka Suvidha had 2.70 at 30 DAS and 3.80 at 45 DAS while the germplasm IC-28008 recorded the highest number of secondary branches per plant (6.80 and 8.60) at 45 and 60 DAS, respectively. The tallest plants were observed in Phule Surekha (22.90 cm) at 30 DAS while at 45 and 60 DAS, taller plants were noticed in IC-28008 (78.70 and 93.75cm, respectively). The number of pod cluster per plant was found to range from 28.60 (EC-28304) to 12.00 (Selection-9). The highest pod length and width were noticed in Selection -9 and Phule Surekha (14.29 cm and 1.51cm, respectively) whereas the least pod length was found in Phule Surekha and Vaishnavi (9.21cm and 0.69cm, respectively). The highest number of pods per plant (162.40), individual pod weight (3.85g) and number of seeds per pod (7.60) were higher in EC -500354 which resulted in higher yield per hectare (34.73 t) followed by Arka Komal (24.22 t) and Phule Surekha (21.42 t.).