Improvement of food beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) through mutation breeding

Abstract

Advanced generation lines derived for radiation-treated bean cultivar 'Canadian Wonder' were evaluated for their performance and response to Rhizobium inoculation in replicated trials for two seasons in 1984. In the early generations (M1 to M3), the variants were selected for resistance to common bean diseases in Kenya, anthracnose, angular leafspot, and rust. The M5 and M6 lines showed increased grain yield (11%), 100-seed weight and matured earlier compared to non-irradiated controls. Inoculation increased grain and seed weight but delayed maturity. The mutant lines generally exceeded control cultivars in grain yield, although the differences were not significant in some instances.