Snap Bean Cultivars Research Articles

The Ozone Component of Global Change: Potential Effects on Agricultural and Horticultural Plant Yield, Product Quality and Interactions with Invasive Species

The productivity, product quality and competitive ability of important agricultural and horticultural plants in many regions of the world may be adversely affected by current and anticipated concentrations of ground-level ozone (O3). Exposure to elevated O3 typically results in suppressed photosynthesis, accelerated senescence, decreased growth and lower yields. Various approaches used to evaluate O3 effects generally concur that current yield losses range from 5% to 15% among sensitive plants. There is, however, considerable genetic variability in plant responses to O3. To illustrate this, we show that ambient O3 concentrations in the eastern United States cause substantially different levels of damage to otherwise similar snap bean cultivars. Largely undesirable effects of O3 can also occur in seed and fruit chemistry as well as in forage nutritive value, with consequences for animal production. Ozone may alter herbicide efficacy and foster establishment of some invasive species. We conclude that current and projected levels of O3 in many regions worldwide are toxic to sensitive plants of agricultural and horticultural significance. Plant breeding that incorporates O3 sensitivity into selection strategies will be increasingly necessary to achieve sustainable production with changing atmospheric composition, while reductions in O3 precursor emissions will likely benefit world food production and reduce atmospheric concentrations of an important greenhouse gas.

BIO- ENGINEERING APPROACH TO EXPLORE GREENHOUSE PLANT RESPONSES TO ROOT ZONE HEATING

The present work was carried out through winter seasons 2005-2006 to investigate the effect of root zone heating of plants behavior and yield under greenhouse conditions. This work aimed to explain the increases in plant fresh mass due to root zone heating. The two cultivars of snap beans were used. Seeds were sown directly on 15th of October 2005 to May 2006, respectively. Four treatments were used, hot water tube, plastic mulch, straw mulch and control (without any especial preparation). The average soil temperature recorded for each previously mentioned treatment were 26, 20.8, 19.9and 18.9 oC respectively. Plant growth, yield and quality of pods in addition to carbohydrates and fiber content of pods were determined in response to soil heating treatments compared to the control. Results indicated that using hot water treatment gave the highest mean fresh mass (47 gm/pod), the average leaves numbers (24.17 leaf/ plant), the maximum mean plant height was153 cm and plant dry mass (14.3 gm). The tallest plant height was obtained using plastic mulch treatment. There were no significant differences found in the number of shoots per plant and stem diameter in all treatments. No significant differences were found in pod fresh mass, pod diameter and pod length among treatments. The lowest value of total fiber content of pods was found in straw mulch treatment. The highest value of carbohydrates content of pods (15.6 gm) was observed in hot water tube treatment.

A Strain of Clover yellow vein virus that Causes Severe Pod Necrosis Disease in Snap Bean.

Soybean aphid (Aphis glycines) outbreaks occurring since 2000 have been associated with severe virus epidemics in snap bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) production in the Great Lakes region. Our objective was to identify specific viruses associated with the disease complex observed in the region and to survey bean germplasm for sources of resistance to the causal agents. The principle causal agent of the disease complex associated with extensive pod necrosis was identified as Clover yellow vein virus (ClYVV), designated ClYVV-WI. The virus alone caused severe mosaic, apical necrosis, and stunting. Putative coat protein amino acid sequence from clones of amplicons generated by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction was 98% identical to ClYVV strain no. 30 identified in Japan that has not been reported to cause pod necrosis. ClYVV-WI amplicons were 96% identical to a mild strain of ClYVV from Oregon. A distinguishing feature of this new strain is that it does not react with Potyvirus broad-spectrum monoclonal antibody PTY 1. A survey of common bean lines and cultivars revealed that, in addition to UI-31 and US1140 with known resistance to ClYVV, lines with the bc-3 gene for resistance to Bean common mosaic necrosis virus also were resistant to ClYVV-WI. An evaluation of 63 snap bean cultivars and breeding lines revealed just one, Roma 442, with a moderate level of tolerance to ClYVV-WI. Introgression of the bc-3 gene and resistances from UI-31 and US1140 into snap bean may offer a high level of resistance to extensive pod necrosis disease caused by ClYVV in the Great Lakes region.

Effects of planting season and plant cultivar on growth, development, and pod production in snap bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

The effects of cultivar and planting season on growth development and pod yield of snap bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) were analysed in a 2-year, 2-location experiment in Spain. Phenology, pod production, and quality differed significantly among snap bean cultivars. Planting season had a significant effect on most pod traits except the number of seeds per pod, length, thickness, soluble solids content, tenderness, and string, and this effect varied markedly among environments. High and negative correlations for vegetative growth traits between early and late planting seasons confirmed the strong planting season influence on those traits. Fresh pod yields were highest in the early planting season, and the longer pod maturation phase could be considered to be one of the main factors. Planting of snap bean earlier in the season should thus contribute to a longer growing vegetative cycle and greater productivity than normal or summer and late autumn planting. The earliest maturing snap bean cultivars would have the highest fresh pod yields in late planting seasons, while the latest maturing snap bean cultivars would have the highest yields in early and normal planting seasons. These results will allow breeders to optimise the level of earliness for each planting season without reducing the yield. This is a key requirement for snap bean crops, and it is the first step towards selecting parental lines with stability of pod traits to be used in breeding programs for different growing areas and planting seasons.

Alternaria alternata and Plectosporium tabacinum on Snap Beans: Pathogenicity, Cultivar Reaction, and Fungicide Efficacy

Pod-flecking complex (PFC) has become an increasing problem for snap bean production. Pods from several commercial fields in New York and one in Pennsylvania were observed in 2006 with small dark flecks and streaks. Two pathogens were isolated and identified as Alternaria alternata and Plectosporium tabacinum. Isolates varied in aggressiveness, and generally isolates of P. tabacinum caused more disease than isolates of A. alternata. Eight snap bean cultivars were susceptible to A. alternata and P. tabacinum. In greenhouse fungicide efficacy trials pyraclostrobin, chlorothalonil, azoxystrobin, and copper hydroxide provided greater than 43% control of PFC caused by either fungus. Accepted for publication 18 September 2008. Published 12 December 2008.

Comparative Susceptibilities of Legume Species to Infection by Phakopsora pachyrhizi.

Knowledge of the host range of Phakopsora pachyrhizi is important to agriculture in the United States because of the distinct possibility that economic losses could occur to crops other than soybean. Furthermore, it is possible that alternative hosts could provide a means of overwintering of the pathogen, providing inoculum to initiate epidemics in future years. To clarify the potential importance of soybean rust on nonsoybean legumes and their role in overwintering of the disease, multiple accessions of clover, cowpea, pea, kudzu, lima bean, snap bean, and single accessions of coffee senna, Florida beggarweed, hemp sesbania, hyacinth bean, partridge pea, and showy crotalaria were inoculated under greenhouse conditions with urediniospores of P. pachyrhizi; infected soybean plants served as a control. The four criteria used to assess susceptibility were lesion density, proportion of lesions with sporulating uredinia, average number of uredinia per lesion, and average uredinia diameter, each determined 2 weeks following inoculation. Based on lesion densities, percentage of lesions with sporulation, and average numbers of uredinia per lesion, soybean, kudzu, and pea were the most susceptible species, followed by snap bean. However, because infected pea plants defoliated rapidly, urediniospore production presumably was limited, lessening the potential for epidemics on pea. Cultivars of snap bean produced numerous brown to reddish-brown lesions, many of which sporulated, but numbers of uredinia per lesion were lower than on soybean, kudzu, or pea. The presence of both tan (susceptible) and reddish-brown (resistant) lesions on kudzu demonstrated physiological differentiation on that host. Some kudzu plants appeared to be potentially excellent hosts for overwintering of the disease. The average number of uredinia per lesion appeared to be a valid measurement with which to compare host susceptibilities, and may have epidemiological significance. High susceptibility of a host was characterized by numerous uredinia with a wide range of sizes within individual lesions. In contrast, low susceptibility to rust was characterized by no or a few small uredinia.

Controle genético da qualidade da vagem em cruzamento de feijão-vagem e feijão-comum

O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar os tipos principais de ações gênicas responsáveis pela expressão fenotípica de alguns caracteres de qualidade da vagem, em cruzamento de feijão-vagem e feijão-comum. Foram avaliadas duas populações segregantes (F2 e F2:3), além das linhagens parentais. Como genitora feminina, utilizou-se a cultivar de feijão-vagem Conquista Rasteiro e, como genitora masculina, a linhagem de feijão-comum H126. Foram avaliados: comprimento da vagem, largura entre as suturas, largura das valvas, formato da vagem e teor de fibra da vagem . Os efeitos não-aditivos destacaram-se em todas as características avaliadas. Embora tenha ocorrido predominância dos efeitos genéticos sobre os ambientais, nas características comprimento e formato da vagem e teor de fibra, a eficiência da seleção em plantas individuais tendeu a ser bastante baixa nas gerações segregantes pouco avançadas, em razão dos baixos valores da herdabilidade no sentido restrito, exceto para formato da vagem. O predomínio dos efeitos genéticos sobre os ambientais em todas as características em nível de família, associado a valores de herdabilidade no sentido restrito em famílias F2:3, indica a alta eficiência para a seleção de famílias nas gerações segregantes pouco avançadas, com relação a todas as características, exceto para comprimento e teor de fibra.

Rates of calcium, yield and quality of snap bean

Calcium ions (Ca) play an important role in many biochemical processes, delaying senescence and controlling physiological disorders in fruits and vegetables. The objective of this experiment was to analyze the effect of increasing calcium concentrations in snap beans. Snap bean cultivar UEL 1 was sown in sand containing 80 mg L-1 of calcium supplemented with nutrient solution, plus calcium at different contents: 0, 75, 150 and 300 mg L-1. Ca was mainly recovered in the shoots, followed by roots and pods. Calcium concentrations in the pods were 130, 259, 349 and 515 mg 100 g-1dry matter on a dry weight basis, in relation to the enhancement of calcium contents in the nutrient solution, respectively. A negative relationship between nitrogen content in the pods and calcium concentration in the nutrient solution was observed. Pods from plants grown in a solution without Ca presented necrosis in their apical region. Dieback of roots, shoots and young leaves also occurred under low calcium supply. Dry matter of pods, roots and shoots, number of pods per plant, pod weight and pod length increased proportionally to calcium concentration in solution. Increasing rates of calcium improved biomass production in snap bean cultivar UEL 1.

Influence of Irrigation Level, Growth Stages and Cultivars on Leaf Gas Exchange Characteristics in Snap Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) under Subtropical Environment

This study was conducted to clarify the genotypic differences in diurnal variations in leaf gas exchange characteristics and the effect of irrigation levels, growth stages and cultivars on leaf water status, gas exchange characteristics and seed yields. Associations of leaf water status with photosynthetic rate in five cultivars of snap bean were also determined. Diurnally, leaf gas exchange was highest at 9:30 h, decreased but remained constant between 11:30 to 14:15 h and then decreased up to 16:15 h. Cultivars Haibushi and Ishigaki-2 displayed higher photosynthetic activity throughout the day. The cultivars having higher seed yield showed higher leaf conductance, transpiration rate and leaf vapor pressure deficit at floral bud initiation stage and higher leaf water potential and relative water content in the irrigated plot at flowering stage. The cultivars with slow development of leaf water deficit displayed higher rates of photosynthesis and vice versa. The results showed that midday hours showed large genotypic differences in leaf gas exchange characteristics with constancy of photosynthetically active radiation. Therefore, screening of snap bean cultivars can be made during midday hours for gas exchange characteristics irrespective of growth stages and irrigation levels. Cultivars maintaining higher leaf water content with increasing water deficit can be selected for higher rates of photosynthesis.

(23) High Tunnels for High Latitude Snap Bean Production

Two snap bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivars, `Provider' and `Concesa', were planted successionally in a high tunnel in Fairbanks, Alaska (64°49'N and 147°52'W), from late May to late July. For the entire growing season, air/soil temperatures averaged 1.7 °C/1.1 °C higher in the tunnel than the field. The temperature differential was, however, largely dependent on amount of high tunnel ventilation. With tunnel ends not yet erected in May, the air temperature difference averaged 0.5 °C while in September the difference was 2.5 °C in the enclosed tunnel. On average, both cultivars flowered 4 days earlier in the tunnel compared to the contiguous open field. `Provider' had high overall yields with no significant difference between the tunnel and the field, although the tunnel did offer protection from an early frost. `Provider' produced an average of 3454 g·m-2 in the tunnel and 2860 g·m-2 in the field. Average yields of `Concesa' inside the tunnel were significantly greater (P < 0.01), with 1719 g·m-2 compared to 756 g·m-2 in the open field. `Provider' pods were larger in diameter and more fibrous than `Concesa' pods, which we concluded were of improved quality with higher soluble solids content (°Brix refractometer readings). High tunnels could be an important way to provide an advantageous production environment for high quality cultivars without sacrificing the reliability of cold-tolerant cultivars. To consistently produce high quality snap beans to meet local Alaska fresh market demands, cultivars suited for high tunnel production need to be identified.

Influence of High Temperature on Morphological Characters, Biomass Allocation, and Yield Components in Snap Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

High temperature in summer is a major limiting factor for the growth of snap bean in the subtropical islands of Okinawa, Japan. The effect of temperature on biomass production, yield components, and morphological characters were studied in five snap-bean cultivars and strains in the phytotron. Plants were initially grown at 24/20ºC (day/night temperature, 12/12hr) and transferred to 24/20ºC, 27/23ºC (control) or 30/26ºC at the onset of flowering (34 days after sowing). High temperature (30/26ºC) increased single pod weight and the number of flowers and branches, but reduced the number of pods/plant, pod set ratio, and plant weight. ‘Haibushi’, a heat-tolerant cultivar, had higher pod weight/plant, number of pods/plant, pod weight/pod, pod set ratio, number of branches, and rate of biomass allocation to pods, but lower rates of biomass allocation to leaves, stems, and roots than ‘Kentucky Wonder’, a heat-sensitive cultivar, in all temperature regimes. The number of flowers, biomass, and accumulative temperature affected both the yield components (number of pods/plant, single pod weight) antithetically. The yield components were estimated by a stepwise multiple regression analysis. The number of pods/plant was estimated from the number of flowers, leaf weight, pod set ratio per branch, and plant weight with a reasonable precision (R2=0.78). Single pod weight was determined (R2=0.69) from pod set ratio, number of branches, root weight, and accumulative temperature. The results indicated that higher biomass allocation to pods and higher pod set in branches, which were observed in heat-tolerant cultivars at all temperature regimes, were most effective for the estimation of heat tolerance in snap bean.

Diurnal Change in Water Balance of Heat-Tolerant Snap Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) Cultivar and Its Association with Growth under High Temperature

A snap bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivar Haibushi shows high productivity under high-temperature conditions. Together with intensive radiation, high temperature enhances transpiration and causes water deficit in plants even when they are irrigated enough. To characterize daily change in water balance of the heat-tolerant cultivar, we compared parameters of water balance, dry matter production and pod yield among cultivars. Four snap bean cultivars, Haibushi, Kurodane-Kinugasa, Oregon and Kentucky Wonder, were grown under optimal temperature (spring cropping) and high temperature (summer cropping) condition in the field. The daily water balance and gas exchange rate in the heat-tolerant cultivar Haibushi were compared with those in the heat-sensitive cultivar Kentucky Wonder, grown in 0.02 m2 Wagner pots. In the summer cropping in the field, dry matter production, pod yield, stomatal conductance, photosynthetic rate and transpiration rate were higher in Haibushi and Kurodane-Kinugasa than in the other cultivars. In a glasshouse, the sap flow rate was lower than the transpiration rate in the morning when the transpiration rate rapidly increased in both Haibushi and Kentucky Wonder. In spite of the higher transpiration rate, Haibushi showed a higher sap flow rate and smaller cumulative water loss in the morning than Kentucky Wonder. We conclude that better growth of the heat-tolerant snap bean cultivar Haibushi under high temperature was due to higher photosynthetic rate resulting from higher stomatal conductance during the daytime, which had a higher water uptake rate.

Field Performance of Two Snap Bean Cultivars at Varying Levels of Exchangeable Aluminum

Aluminum (Al) toxicity can be a major problem in production of the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in many parts of the world. Seedling/vegetative assays have demonstrated genotypic differences among bean genotypes for tolerance to Al toxicity, but insufficient information is available to determine whether results are indicative of tolerance measured in the field on mature plants. A two-year field study was conducted to determine if snap bean cultivars ‘Dade’ and ‘Tendercrop,’ previously shown to respond differently for Al tolerance in early vegetative assays, also exhibit differential Al tolerance as mature plants in field assays. Exchangeable Al varied from 0 to 10.67 cmolc kg− 1. In 1999, grain weights of ‘Dade’ and ‘Tendercrop’ were negatively associated with exchangeable Al, but did not differ from each other in their association with exchangeable Al. In 2000, the grain weight of ‘Dade’ was lower than in 1999, but still negatively associated with exchangeable Al. For ‘Tendercrop’, 2000 year effects also reduced grain weight, but so much so that no association between grain weight and exchangeable Al was evident. ‘Dade’ and ‘Tendercrop’ differed in grain weight in the absence of Al in 2000. This study demonstrates the complexity of genotypic response to acid soils with Al toxicity and does not support the assumption that early vegetative assays can identify Al tolerance in mature snap bean plants.

Calcium Uptake and Whole-plant Water Use Influence Pod Calcium Concentration in Snap Bean Plants

Understanding the mechanisms that regulate xylem transport of calcium (Ca) to snap bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) pods could allow approaches to increase pod Ca concentration and enhance the nutritional value of edible pods. Using the snap bean cultivars Hystyle and Labrador, which exhibit high and low pod Ca levels, respectively, we wished to determine whether there were differences between the two cultivars in stem xylem-sap Ca concentration and whether any differences in sap Ca concentration were related to differences in whole-plant water uptake or Ca import between the cultivars. Well-watered greenhouse-grown plants were placed in a growth chamber at a constant light intensity for an equilibration period. Pot weight loss was measured to determine whole-plant water use and stem xylem exudate was subsequently collected from the severed base of the shoot at flowering and at two stages of pod development. `Hystyle' displayed an exudate Ca concentration that was 50% higher than `Labrador' during pod development. `Labrador' showed 35% greater total water transport through the stem than `Hystyle'. `Labrador' plants also showed a significantly larger leaf area than `Hystyle' plants. Additional plants were used to determine total, long-term Ca influx. No difference was observed between cultivars in total Ca influx into the aerial portion of the plant. With whole-shoot Ca influx being equivalent and pod transpiration rate identical in the two cultivars, our results suggest that the higher whole-plant water uptake in `Labrador' led to a dilution of Ca concentration in the xylem stream and thus less total Ca was transported to developing pods, relative to that in `Hystyle'. Increased transpiration efficiency, enhanced root uptake of Ca, or reduced Ca sequestration in the xylem pathway of the stem could lead to an enhancement in pod Ca concentration in future cultivars of snap bean.

GENERAL COMBINING ABILITY EFFECTS FOR REPRODUCTIVE HEAT TOLERANCE IN SNAP BEAN

GENERAL COMBINING ABILITY EFFECTS FOR REPRODUCTIVE HEAT TOLERANCE IN SNAP BEAN

Cornell 501: A White Mold Resistant Snap Bean Breeding Line

White mold, caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary, is an important disease of snap beans and dry beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) reducing both yield and quality (Kerr et al., 1978). Host plant resistance can be attributed to physiological and architectural components that are controlled by multiple genes (Kolkman and Kelley, 2003). The incorporation of these genes to new market classes can be achieved through recurrent selection that systematically increases the frequency of desirable genes and gene combinations (Lyons et al., 1987). A greenhouse test for white mold resistance known as the straw test shows a very high correlation with fi eld resistance (Petzoldt and Dickson, 1996). This test was used to develop breeding line Cornell 501, a determinate, sieve 4 snap bean with resistance to white mold. No acceptable commercial snap bean cultivar with white mold resistance is available. This breeding line should be useful as a parent in developing white mold resistant cultivars.

Divergência genética entre acessos de feijão-de-vagem de hábito de crescimento indeterminado

Devido à importância da cultura do feijão-de-vagem no contexto da agricultura do RJ, a busca por cultivares com maior produção e melhor qualidade é de elevada importância. A determinação da divergência genética, com o uso da análise multivariada, em que diversos caracteres podem ser dimensionados simultaneamente, apresenta-se bastante vantajosa, podendo-se identificar fontes de variabilidade genética, avaliar a importância dos caracteres para a divergência genética, além de permitir aos melhoristas identificar combinações genéticas com maiores chances de sucesso, antes de se realizarem os cruzamentos. Através de técnicas de análise multivariada, verificou-se que acessos de feijão-de-vagem de hábito de crescimento indeterminado, do banco de germoplasma da UENF, apresentaram variabilidade em relação às características avaliadas. O método de otimização de Tocher permitiu a formação de dois grupos, todavia o subagrupamento pelo mesmo método confirmou a presença de variabilidade entre os acessos do grupo 1, pela formação de seis subgrupos. Por este método, verificou-se que não houve relação entre a diversidade genética e a origem geográfica dos acessos. A divergência genética observada entre os acessos de feijão-de-vagem foi quantificada pelas três primeiras variáveis canônicas, que explicaram cerca de 79% da variação total disponível. O descarte das variáveis de menor importância relativa permitiu identificar as características que realmente contribuíram para a determinação da divergência genética: peso de cem sementes, dias para florescimento, diâmetro de vagem, comprimento de vagem, número total de vagens e número médio de vagens. Os acessos UENF-1429, UENF-1432, UENF-1442, UENF-1445 e UENF-1448 apresentaram bom desempenho para as características avaliadas e boa divergência genética entre si, sendo indicadas para o uso do programa de melhoramento genético do feijão-de-vagem.

Environmental and Genotypic Effects on Pod Characteristics Related to Common Bean Quality

A collection of 121 common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) landraces from Spain and Portugal (Iberian Peninsula) was evaluated in six environments (three locations and 2 years). Significant differences among landraces were found for period of flowering, pod maturity and pod morphology (weight, length, width/thickness and curvature). Wide variation among landraces was revealed by the range of variation observed. Environmental effects were not significant although year × location and landrace × year × location interactions were significant for all traits studied except for pod curvature. Poor consistent expression across the different environments for most of the traits studied was expressed by the low values of constancy (C) with the exception of width/thickness indicating that pod shape (round or flat) was expressed regularly across different environments. Principal component analysis enhanced differences among environments affecting the performance of the bean landraces evaluated. Analysis by environment showed that 51 landraces were adapted to specific environments and only four of them had broad geographical adaptability with similar performance under different conditions. These results could be a starting point for selection of new inbred lines adapted to distinct environments with potential for the improvement of current snap bean cultivars.

Breeding Snap Beans for Cucumber Mosaic Virus (CMV) Resistance

Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) is an aphid-transmitted virus that infects snap bean growing regions in New York State and Wisconsin. The core collection of common bean accessions (Phaseolus vulgaris), the complete collection of scarlet runner bean accessions (Phaseolus coccineus) and snap/dry bean cultivars were screened for resistance to CMV. Although variation in foliar symptom expression was observed, no resistance was observed in 93 snap bean and16 dry bean cultivars tested, and only one of the 406 accessions from the core collection (PI 309881) was symptomless. PI 309881 did not have common bean characteristics, and was later identified as a tepary bean (Phaseolus acutifolius) accession based on morphology and PCR-RFLP of chloroplast DNA. Screening of 260 P. coccineus accessions was inaccurate when a visual rating of foliar symptoms was used. It was necessary to determine infection using ELISA and test plant screening with grey zuccini. Using this approach it was determined that 80 P. coccineus accessions were susceptible to CMV; however, the remaining accessions provided possible sources for transfer of CMV resistance to snap bean. Crosses of P. coccineus accessions were made to breeding line 5-593 and backcrossed to 5-593 and snap bean cultivar `Hystyle'. PI 309881 was crossed with ICA Pijao in order to develop interspecific hybrids. Populations were developed from the interspecific crosses/backcrosses and evaluated for CMV resistance using ELISA and visual ratings of foliar symptoms.

Improvement in the Stability and Yield Performance of a Snap Bean Cultivar

ABSTRACT The genetic analysis of crop yield potential includes three main components that are controlled by groups of genes: (i) genes that control yield/plant, which are selected by the entry mean of individual plant yields; (ii) genes that confer tolerance to the biotic and abiotic stresses, which are defined by the CV of individual plant yields; and (iii) genes that control responsiveness to inputs, which are defined by the progeny standardized selection differential (SSD). This paper evaluates the efficiency of a breeding program applied to improve the stability, the yield and the product uniformity of a snap bean cultivar following these three components. The selection was based on the following criteria: (i) comparisons on the basis of whole-genome phenotypic evaluation should expand among progeny lines and among individual plants within lines; (ii) selection should be applied across the target area of adaptation from the earliest generations and during all stages of the breeding program; (iii) honeycomb designs should be used to sample effectively for environmental diversity and exploit the genotype-by-environment inter-action for the development of “homeostatic cultivars.” The changes in the three components through the honeycomb pedigree selection showed: (i) the entry mean of earliness increased by 54.1–79.8%, while the entry mean of yield followed stabilizing trends, which means improvement in early harvest; (ii) the CV of earliness and yield decreased by 49.2–65.9% and 27.5–35%, respectively, which means improvement in performance stability; and (iii) the SSD of earliness and yield followed different trends in the different offsprings, i.e., the responsiveness to inputs was family dependent. The breeding program provides the possibility of incorporating desirable genes in improved cultivars of green bean.