Study of some quantitative traits involved in yield of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) lines using multivariate analysis

Assessment of different plant genetic resources clarifies genetic variation and makes it possible to apply them in plant breeding programs. In this experiment, 27 selected lines of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), one local landrace and two conventional bean cultivars (Talash and COS-16 as controls), sown using randomized complete block design with three replications in the Research Farm of University of Zanjan in 2009. Results of analysis of variance showed significant differences among all tested genotypes (P< 0.01). There was a close agreement in grouping results of cluster analysis and principle component analysis. The principal component analysis showed that first four components explained 81% of the total variation. For the first component, traits including days to 50% podding, plant height and grain yield justified the most variation, and for the second component, emergence percentage and emergence index justified the maximum justified coefficient of determination. For the third component, days to full maturity, and for the fourth component, number of seed per pod showed the most variance. It was concluded that lines number 24, 21, 5 and 20 had higher values compared to other genotypes.