Characterization of phenotypic variability and associations between technological quality traits and grain yield in common bean genotypes

The search for common bean cultivars that combine high yield and culinary quality is one of the main challenges for plant breeding programs. Therefore, this study aimed to characterize the genetic variability and the relationships between yield and technological quality traits in segregating common bean genotypes. A total of 66 progenies at generations F2:3, F3:4, F8:9, and F9:10 were evaluated under field conditions using the bulk method, derived from the artificial cross between genotypes BAF50 and BAF07. The experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications, and the following traits were assessed: cooking time, hydration capacity, weight of hydrated seeds, weight of dry seeds, and grain yield. The results indicated low heritability estimates for cooking time, hydration capacity, and weight of hydrated seeds, revealing a strong environmental influence on these attributes. Phenotypic and genotypic correlations between traits were generally of low magnitude, suggesting independence between productivity and technological quality. The significance of progeny effects for grain yield and technological quality traits, combined with the absence of relevant antagonistic effects, demonstrates the feasibility of selecting plants for both traits simultaneously.