Multiple disease resistance in common bean genotypes and their agronomic performance in eastern Ethiopia

Abstract

Field trials were conducted during the 1996 – 1999 summer cropping seasons to evaluate common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) genotypes for multiple disease (anthracnose, angular leaf spot and common bacterial blight) resistance at Haramaya, eastern Ethiopia. Performance of promising genotypes was also evaluated in terms of yield and yield components. Out of 201 genotypes evaluated in 1996, 171 genotypes were found to be resistant to anthracnose, 117 to angular leaf spot, and 161 to common bacterial blight. Among the 201 genotypes, 26 (13%) were commonly resistant to all three diseases, and were further evaluated in 1997 and 1998. Out of the aforementioned 26 genotypes, 10 (39%) were found to be resistant to the diseases and so were evaluated in 1999 to further verify the degree of resistance and also to evaluate agronomic performance. The genotypes identified as having multiple disease resistance were: EMP 219, TY 3396-6, TY 3396-7, TY 3396-12, RAB 404, ARA 21, TAR 3, BZ 1289-12, GLPX-92 (Ayenew) and A-176 (Roba-1). The selected genotypes were of the late maturity group and had a similar number of pods per plant and seeds per pod. Ayenew gave the highest 100-seed weight (46 g), but TY 3396-12 had better yield (4.5 t ha⁻¹) performance compared to the two released varieties, Ayenew and Roba-1 under production. The identified genotypes can be used as sources of resistance in breeding programme.