LOCATION-SPECIFIC AND ACROSS-LOCATION SELECTIONS FOR SEED YIELD IN POPULATIONS OF COMMON BEAN, PHASEOLUS-VULGARIS L

Two populations of common bean, Phaseolus vulgaris L., were used to make three independent location-specific selections at Palmira, Quilichao, and Popayan, Colombia. Also, three across-location selections were made by alternating generations between Palmira and Popayan, between Quilichao and Popayan, and among Palmira, Quilichao, and Popayan. The seven highest yielding lines selected from each environment and population along with 14 parents and two checks were evaluated for seed yield, seed weight, maturity, and reaction to anthracnose, angular leaf spot, and common bacterial blight. Mean squares due to evaluation and selection environments, selected lines, and their interactions were significant for all traits. Mean yields of selected lines were higher than the mean of parents in both populations. Among location-specific selections, lines yielded higher at their respective selection site. Moreover, selections made at Popayan were higher yielding than those made at Quilichao or Palmira when tested across locations and years. Use of Popayan, a relatively wetter and cooler site, either alone or in combination with other locations resulted in higher yield, higher seed weight, and higher resistance to anthracnose. On the average, location-specific selections were lower yielding than the across-location selections. Among across-location selections, those selected between Palmira and Popayan were the highest yielding in both populations. Selections at Palmira and across all three locations resulted in greater stability.