Study on double bean variety Phule Suvarn – An underutilized vegetable for western Maharashtra

Despite double bean (Phaseolus lunatus) being nutritious crop, it has not obtained due importance in the cropping pattern and little research work has been done on crop improvement programme in Maharashtra as well as in India. Hence, the improvement programme was started during 2005-2006 to develop new genotype of double bean with high pod yield and quality by collecting local germplasm. Twenty selected genotypes were evaluated in field during kharif season from 2005 to 2006. Out of 20 genotypes, ten genotypes were advanced for station trial from 2009-10 to 2014-15. In 2015-16, best four genotypes selected were GK-3, GK-8, GK-11 and GK-14 which were evaluated with local check variety for seven years. The performance of selection GK-11, renamed as Phule Suvarn, was found most promising for higher yield (132.66 q/ha) than local check (104.86 q/ha) and it recorded 26.51 per cent increase in pod yield over local check variety. Its pods were green in colour with bold grain size.