Morphological, Phenological and Agronomical Characterization of Variability in French Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Genotypes

Genotypes and changing environmental conditions significantly influence French bean productivity. Variability, heritability and genetic advance of genotypes are critical factors in selecting germplasm for wider adoption and cultivation.

The experimental material consisted of 25 germplasm lines, sown in a randomized block design (RBD) with three replicationsat Research block of the School of Agriculture, Graphic Era Hill University Dehradun, Uttarakhand. Recommended package of practices for French bean was followed to ensure a healthy crop stand. Observations were recorded on days to 50% flowering, days to first harvest, days to last harvest and ten other quantitative traits. Key parameters included green pod yield per plant, 100-seed weight (g), number of seeds per pod, number of pods per plant, pod length (cm), pod width (cm) and seed yield per plant (g). Data were analysed using OPSTAT software and Microsoft Excel.

Among the 25 germplasm lines, three genotypes (GFB 21, GFB 23 and GFB 24) were viny types, while the remaining 22 were bush types. Genotypic coefficients of variation (GCV) for all traits were lower than phenotypic coefficients of variation (PCV), indicating environmental influence on trait expression. The mean seed yield per plant across genotypes was 156.83 g, while the mean green pod yield per plant was 562.30 g. High GCV was observed for seed yield per plant (48.96%) and green pod yield per plant (36.69%). Corresponding PCV values were 50.97% and 38.46%, respectively. Heritability estimates were highest for days to 50% flowering (97.92%), green pod yield per plant (97.42%) and number of seeds per pod (77.37%). Genetic advance was maximum for green pod yield per plant (194.24), highlighting its potential for genetic improvement.