Productivity screening of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) varieties and agronomic trait eco-seasonal morphological and physiological characterization

Abstract

The productivity of beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L) has been found to be influenced by biophysical stresses like ecological variations, genotype, climate, pests, and soil fertility. This has reduced bean productivity by 25% in some cases. Hence, research to improve bean varieties and the consequential assessment of their field performance is necessitated by global climate change scenarios. The eco-matching of genotypes in the midst of emerging issues like climate change and global warming has serious economic and food security implications. This research evaluated genotype, seasonal, ecological, and productivity variations of four bean varieties in three diverse ecological zones at the Mua Hills in Machakos County in Kenya. All the experiments were arranged in a Complete Randomized Block Design (RCBD). The research obtained data on growth (leaf numbers, plant heights, plant maturity times), seed parameters (seed water imbibition, shape, colour) and yield parameters (number of pods, pod weight, 100 seed weight) until harvesting time. Data collected were subjected to Multivariate analysis of variance (ANOVA) at P≤0.05 and means separated using the LSD significant difference test at P≤0.05. The study found that there were significant bean genotype and seasonal and eco-sensitive variation differences at P≤0.05. The economically valuable trait of 100 seed weight correlated positively with other traits in all zones. Therefore, bean varieties are season and eco-sensitive due to genotype, water stress, and current climate change scenarios. Hence, breeding experiments should endeavour to release varieties that have undergone seasonal ecological screening as exacerbated by the need for high productivity