# Genetic Variability Analysis and Association of Traits in Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Landraces Collected from Ethiopia at Jimma

Authors: Eyuel Mesera; Garome Shifaraw; Sentayehu Alamerew; Birhanu Amsalu
Journal: Advances in Agriculture
 (2022)

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## Abstract

This study was conducted on one hundred common bean landraces at the Jimma Agricultural Research Center, Melko, with the objective of assessing genetic variability and association of traits in common bean landraces collected from different parts of Ethiopia. The experiment was laid out in a simple lattice design with two replications. Analysis of variance showed significant differences among genotypes for all traits. This highly significant difference indicates the existence of large variability among genotypes. High phenotypic coefficients of variation and genotypic coefficients of variation were obtained for plant height (19.43, 11.73), pod length (11.27, 10.69), and 100-seed weight (15.42, 12.74). High heritability in the broad sense was found for days to 50% flowering (66.98), days to 90% maturity (87.43), pod length (90.03), pod width (78.23), harvest index (98.67), and 100-seed weight (68.31). High genetic advance as a percentage of mean with high heritability was obtained for pod length, pod width, harvest index, and hundred seed weight. Grain yield had a positive and significant association with pod length (rp = 0.153∗, rg = 0.282∗∗) and 100-seed weight (rp = 0.294∗∗, rg = 0.492∗∗). Hundred seed weight exerted the highest positive direct effect (0.294) on grain yield at genotypic level. The D2 classified landraces into 7 clusters and one solitary, which makes them moderately divergent. The highest inter-cluster distance was observed between clusters VII and IV. The first five principal components with eigenvalues greater than one altogether explained about 79.56% of the total variation. In conclusion, the top high-yielding landraces, namely, P#1247, P#1092, P#1077, P#861, P#990, P#763, P#58, and P#857, should be included in the next breeding program. 100-seed weight had the highest direct effect and a positive significant association with grain yield. Thus, it should be considered as the selection criteria for further common bean yield improvement. However, the current result is merely indicative and cannot be used to draw definite conclusions. Therefore, the experiment should be replicated in different locations and seasons for greater consistency.


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## Body

## 1. Introduction

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is also known as haricot bean, snap bean, navy bean, and kidney bean. It is seed propagated and true diploid (2n = 22). It is one of the most important pulse crops [1]. Common bean belongs to the genus Phaseolus, with pinnately compound trifoliate large leaves. The genus consists of some 70 species [2]. This legume is an annual and self-pollinated crop [3], which intensely grows throughout the entire tropical area and some temperate regions of the planet [4]. Common bean is the most cultivated and consumed legume throughout the world. It is the world’s second most important pulse after soybean [5]. It is harvested as a dry grain and is one of the most important food grain legumes, occupying more than 41 million ha annually and providing food for more than 300 million people. It is regarded as “grain of hope” as it is an important component of subsistence agriculture and feeds about 100 million people in the tropics alone [1].Common beans are grown for local consumption and for export as cash crops. In Ethiopia, it is considered the major source of protein in the lowlands (mainly in eastern, southern, south western, and the rift valley areas of Ethiopia [6] where they are consumed as Nifro, Wasa, Shirowat, Soup, and Samosa). Additionally, common bean has health benefits being rich in protein content (about 23% for dried shelled beans and about 6% for green beans) and serves as a good source of iron and zinc (both of which are key elements for mental development) [6]. The crop is also a significant source of fiber, calories, and vitamins especially foliate. It is also used as a source of feed. Common bean can improve soil fertility through the fixation of atmospheric nitrogen (N2) in symbiosis with rhizobia and decomposition of its residues [7]. Moreover, it is an increasingly important crop in the cropping systems since it is used for nitrogen [8].In the world, the area covered by common beans was 41,712 000 hectares. Its production is 38.1 million tons. The world average yield was 1.09t ha−1 [9]. The average annual production (tons) and yield(kg ha−1) of common bean in major producing countries in Africa (Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, and Rwanda) is 5.4 million tons and 1.623 t ha−1, respectively [9]. In Ethiopia, the area covered by common bean is about 357,299.89 ha with total production about 540238.94 t ha−1 with national average yield of 1.5 t ha−1 [6].A common bean cultivar must combine desirable genotypes for several traits to be accepted by producers and consumers. For producers, it must have high grain yield, good plant architecture, resistance to the main pathogens, and a highly marketable grain type. However, consumers are interested only in the traits related to grain quality. Therefore, the main breeding programs that work with the common bean crop have devoted great efforts to obtaining lines that meet all the goals mentioned [10]. To improve the yield of common beans, it is necessary to generate sufficient variability to increase the probability of successful selection in common beans [11]. In common bean, architectural, phonological, and yield components collectively influence seed yield. The relationships between yield and yield contributing traits on the one hand and among themselves, on the other hand, are measured by the correlation coefficient. The knowledge of this relationship helps to identify traits on which selection can be based for the improvement of yield. Furthermore, the selection via highly correlated characters becomes easy if the contribution of different characters to the yield is quantified using path coefficient analysis. Path analysis splits the correlation coefficient into the direct and indirect effects of a set of independent variables on the dependent variable yield. This study aimed to estimate the genetic variability and association of quantitative traits among haricot bean landraces.


## 2. Materials and Methods

### 2.1. Description of Study Area

This study was conducted at the Jimma Agricultural Research Center (JARC). It is located at a 7°40′N 36050′E/7.667°N 36.833°E about 355 km away from the capital of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, and it is found in Jimma Zone of the Oromia Region. The study area is 1753 m.a.s.l and receives an average rainfall of 1561 mm per annum. The maximum and minimum annual temperatures of the area are 28.8 and 11.8°C, respectively. The soil type of the study area was classified as Chromic Nito-soil and Cambi-soil with PHof 5–6 and Cation exchange capacity (CEC) of 28.6 and nitrogen, organic carbon, and the available P of 0.25%, 2.96%, and 5 ppm, respectively.


### 2.2. Experimental Materials

For this study, 100 common bean landraces were obtained from Melkasa Agricultural Research Center (MARC) that are collected from different major common bean producing regions of Ethiopia (Table1).Table 1
List of landrace accessions used in the study.
SerialAccession1P#9092P#12853P#10784P#10705P#13166P#11077P#8828P#10839P#76010P#93211P#131512P#102713P#109714P#124715P#26416P#117617P#115718P#125019P#109220P#123221P#103822P#105723P#107224P#98525P#127526P#83127P#86428P#107429P#118730P#105031P#104632P#1433P#130634P#121235P#129836P#108637P#104338P#130039P#77240P#115841P#118242P#4042P#107744P#86145P#106346P#126847P#112448P#99049P#131450P#98951P#76952P#106353P#107854P#96755P#113956P#8257P#98458P#76359P#104960P#109461P#90662P#117963P#14564P#91665P#90166P#13367P#105568P#98669P#130970P#110371P#93472P#131073P#121174P#127975P#94176P#122777P#107978P#109579P#85980P#15781P#94582P#104283P#107184P#115485P#93186P#127087P#9388P#110289P#5890P#81191P#115092P#85793P#112494P#112795P#99996P#1397P#111798P#128399P#989100P#872


### 2.3. Experimental Design and Management

The experiment was laid out in a 10 × 10 simple lattice design in two replications with plot size of 0.8 m × 2 m. The total area of the experimental field was 701.8 m2. The distance between the block, plot, rows, and plants was 1 m, 50 cm, 40 cm, and 10 cm, respectively. The experiment was conducted during 2020/21 main growing season. Di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) was applied at the rate of 100 kg ha−1, and all other agronomic practices were applied as per the recommendations of the lowland pulse improvement program.


### 2.4. Data Collected

Five plants randomly taken from the two rows were considered for recorded plant and plot-based data and the average of the five plants was used for data analysis. To record those parameters, descriptors in [12] were used.


#### 2.4.1. Data Collected on a Plant Basis

Plant base data collected from plant height and pod per plant.


#### 2.4.2. Data Collected on a Plot Basis

Data on plot base were collected from days flowering, days to maturity (g plot−1), hundred seed weight (gm), Biomass yield (Biological yield) (kg ha−1), and Harvest index (%).


### 2.5. Data Analysis

#### 2.5.1. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA)

The data collected for each quantitative trait were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA).Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed using Proc GLM procedures of SAS version 9.3 [13]. The mathematical model for simple lattice design is(1)Yikj=μ+Gi+Rj+Bkj+εilj,where Yilj is the observation of the i th genotype grown in the Kth block of the replication j, μ is the grand mean, Gi is the effect of the i th genotype, Rj is the effect of the jth replicate, Bkj is the effect of k th block in the j th replicate and, and εikj is the intra-block residual.


#### 2.5.2. Analysis of Genetic Parameters

(1) Estimation of Phenotypic and Genotypic Coefficients of Variation. Phenotypic and genotypic variances and coefficients of variations were estimated as described in [14, 15].Genotypic varianceσ2g = (MSg−MSe)/r.Phenotypic variance2p = 2g + 2e, where MSg = mean square due to genotypes, MSe = environmental variance (error mean square), and r = the number of replications.(2)PhenotypiccoefficientsofvariationPCV=σ2px¯x100,genotypiccoefficientsofvariationGCV=σ2gx¯x100.(2) Heritability in a Broad Sense (h2b). Heritability in a broad sense for all characters was computed using the formula given in [16]. h2b =  2g/2p × 100, where: h2 b = heritability in a broad sense, 2g = genotypic variance, and 2p = phenotypic variance.(3) Expected Genetic Advance under Selection (GA). Expected genetic advance for each character at 5% selection intensity was computed using the formulae described in [17].(3)GA=K∗σP∗h²b,where GA = expected genetic advance, K = constant (selection differential where K = 2.056 at 5% selection intensity), σp = phenotypic standard deviation on the mean basis, and h2 = heritability in a broad sense.(4) Genetic Advance as a Percentage of Mean (GAM). The genetic advance as a percentage of mean was computed as described in [17].GAM =GA/X¯ x100, where: GAM = genetic advance as percentage of mean, GA = genetic advance under selection, and X¯ = mean of the population in which selection was employed.


### 2.6. Phenotypic and Genotypic Correlations

Phenotypic and genotypic correlations between yield and yield-related traits were estimated using the formulae described in [18, 19] from the corresponding variance and covariance components as follows.Phenotypic correlation coefficients (rpxy) = pcovx,y/σ2px∗σ2py.Genotypic correlation coefficients (rgxy) = gcovx,y/σ2gx∗σ2gy.The calculated phenotypic and genotypic correlation values were tested for their significance using t-test according to [20].


#### 2.6.1. Phenotypic and Genotypic Path Coefficient Analysis

The direct and indirect effects of yield-related characters on yield and among themselves were computed using the following formulae suggested in [21].(4)rij=Pij+Σrikpkj.The residual effect =1−R2, where R2 is the residual factor, Pij is the direct effect of yield by ith character, and rij is the correlation of yield of the ith character.


### 2.7. Cluster Analysis

Clustering was performed using the proc cluster procedure of SAS version 9.3 [22] by employing the method of average linkage clustering strategy of the observation. The number of clusters was determined by following the approach suggested by Copper and Milligan [23] by looking into three statistics, namely, pseudo-F, pseudo-t2, and cubic clustering criteria. The points where local peaks of the CCC and pseudo-F statistic join with small values of the pseudo-t2 statistic followed by a larger pseudo-t2 for the next cluster combination were used to determine the number of clusters. The dendrogram was also constructed by using the SAS software package based on the average linkage and Euclidean distance used to measure dissimilarity (the distance) technique.


#### 2.7.1. Genetic Distance Analysis

Genetic divergence between clusters was determined using the generalized MahalanobisD2 statistics [24]. In matrix notation, the distance between any two groups was estimated from the following relationship.D2ij = ((xi−xj) S−1 (xi−xj), where D2ij = the squared distance between any two genotypes i and j.Xi and Xj = the vectors of the values for ith and jth genotypes, respectively. S−1 = the inverse of the pooled covariance matrix within groups.TheD2 values obtained for pairs of clusters were considered as the calculated values of chi-square (X2) and tested against tabulated X2 values at n−1 degree of freedom at 1% and 5% probability levels, where n = number of characters considered [15].


### 2.8. Principal Component Analysis (PCA)

Principal component analysis was computed using the correlation matrix of SAS version 9.3 [22] to examine the relationships among the quantitative characters that are correlated with each other by converting them into uncorrelated characters called principal components. Below is the general formula to compute scores on the first component extracted (created) in a principal component analysis.PC1 =b11 (x1) + b12 + ….b1p (xp), where PC1 = the subject’s score on principal component 1 (the first component extracted); b1p = the regression coefficient (or weight) for observed variable p, as used in creating principal component 1; and Xp = the subject’s score on observed variable p.


## 2.1. Description of Study Area

This study was conducted at the Jimma Agricultural Research Center (JARC). It is located at a 7°40′N 36050′E/7.667°N 36.833°E about 355 km away from the capital of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, and it is found in Jimma Zone of the Oromia Region. The study area is 1753 m.a.s.l and receives an average rainfall of 1561 mm per annum. The maximum and minimum annual temperatures of the area are 28.8 and 11.8°C, respectively. The soil type of the study area was classified as Chromic Nito-soil and Cambi-soil with PHof 5–6 and Cation exchange capacity (CEC) of 28.6 and nitrogen, organic carbon, and the available P of 0.25%, 2.96%, and 5 ppm, respectively.


## 2.2. Experimental Materials

For this study, 100 common bean landraces were obtained from Melkasa Agricultural Research Center (MARC) that are collected from different major common bean producing regions of Ethiopia (Table1).Table 1
List of landrace accessions used in the study.
SerialAccession1P#9092P#12853P#10784P#10705P#13166P#11077P#8828P#10839P#76010P#93211P#131512P#102713P#109714P#124715P#26416P#117617P#115718P#125019P#109220P#123221P#103822P#105723P#107224P#98525P#127526P#83127P#86428P#107429P#118730P#105031P#104632P#1433P#130634P#121235P#129836P#108637P#104338P#130039P#77240P#115841P#118242P#4042P#107744P#86145P#106346P#126847P#112448P#99049P#131450P#98951P#76952P#106353P#107854P#96755P#113956P#8257P#98458P#76359P#104960P#109461P#90662P#117963P#14564P#91665P#90166P#13367P#105568P#98669P#130970P#110371P#93472P#131073P#121174P#127975P#94176P#122777P#107978P#109579P#85980P#15781P#94582P#104283P#107184P#115485P#93186P#127087P#9388P#110289P#5890P#81191P#115092P#85793P#112494P#112795P#99996P#1397P#111798P#128399P#989100P#872


## 2.3. Experimental Design and Management

The experiment was laid out in a 10 × 10 simple lattice design in two replications with plot size of 0.8 m × 2 m. The total area of the experimental field was 701.8 m2. The distance between the block, plot, rows, and plants was 1 m, 50 cm, 40 cm, and 10 cm, respectively. The experiment was conducted during 2020/21 main growing season. Di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) was applied at the rate of 100 kg ha−1, and all other agronomic practices were applied as per the recommendations of the lowland pulse improvement program.


## 2.4. Data Collected

Five plants randomly taken from the two rows were considered for recorded plant and plot-based data and the average of the five plants was used for data analysis. To record those parameters, descriptors in [12] were used.


### 2.4.1. Data Collected on a Plant Basis

Plant base data collected from plant height and pod per plant.


### 2.4.2. Data Collected on a Plot Basis

Data on plot base were collected from days flowering, days to maturity (g plot−1), hundred seed weight (gm), Biomass yield (Biological yield) (kg ha−1), and Harvest index (%).


## 2.4.1. Data Collected on a Plant Basis

Plant base data collected from plant height and pod per plant.


## 2.4.2. Data Collected on a Plot Basis

Data on plot base were collected from days flowering, days to maturity (g plot−1), hundred seed weight (gm), Biomass yield (Biological yield) (kg ha−1), and Harvest index (%).


## 2.5. Data Analysis

### 2.5.1. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA)

The data collected for each quantitative trait were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA).Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed using Proc GLM procedures of SAS version 9.3 [13]. The mathematical model for simple lattice design is(1)Yikj=μ+Gi+Rj+Bkj+εilj,where Yilj is the observation of the i th genotype grown in the Kth block of the replication j, μ is the grand mean, Gi is the effect of the i th genotype, Rj is the effect of the jth replicate, Bkj is the effect of k th block in the j th replicate and, and εikj is the intra-block residual.


### 2.5.2. Analysis of Genetic Parameters

(1) Estimation of Phenotypic and Genotypic Coefficients of Variation. Phenotypic and genotypic variances and coefficients of variations were estimated as described in [14, 15].Genotypic varianceσ2g = (MSg−MSe)/r.Phenotypic variance2p = 2g + 2e, where MSg = mean square due to genotypes, MSe = environmental variance (error mean square), and r = the number of replications.(2)PhenotypiccoefficientsofvariationPCV=σ2px¯x100,genotypiccoefficientsofvariationGCV=σ2gx¯x100.(2) Heritability in a Broad Sense (h2b). Heritability in a broad sense for all characters was computed using the formula given in [16]. h2b =  2g/2p × 100, where: h2 b = heritability in a broad sense, 2g = genotypic variance, and 2p = phenotypic variance.(3) Expected Genetic Advance under Selection (GA). Expected genetic advance for each character at 5% selection intensity was computed using the formulae described in [17].(3)GA=K∗σP∗h²b,where GA = expected genetic advance, K = constant (selection differential where K = 2.056 at 5% selection intensity), σp = phenotypic standard deviation on the mean basis, and h2 = heritability in a broad sense.(4) Genetic Advance as a Percentage of Mean (GAM). The genetic advance as a percentage of mean was computed as described in [17].GAM =GA/X¯ x100, where: GAM = genetic advance as percentage of mean, GA = genetic advance under selection, and X¯ = mean of the population in which selection was employed.


## 2.5.1. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA)

The data collected for each quantitative trait were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA).Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed using Proc GLM procedures of SAS version 9.3 [13]. The mathematical model for simple lattice design is(1)Yikj=μ+Gi+Rj+Bkj+εilj,where Yilj is the observation of the i th genotype grown in the Kth block of the replication j, μ is the grand mean, Gi is the effect of the i th genotype, Rj is the effect of the jth replicate, Bkj is the effect of k th block in the j th replicate and, and εikj is the intra-block residual.


## 2.5.2. Analysis of Genetic Parameters

(1) Estimation of Phenotypic and Genotypic Coefficients of Variation. Phenotypic and genotypic variances and coefficients of variations were estimated as described in [14, 15].Genotypic varianceσ2g = (MSg−MSe)/r.Phenotypic variance2p = 2g + 2e, where MSg = mean square due to genotypes, MSe = environmental variance (error mean square), and r = the number of replications.(2)PhenotypiccoefficientsofvariationPCV=σ2px¯x100,genotypiccoefficientsofvariationGCV=σ2gx¯x100.(2) Heritability in a Broad Sense (h2b). Heritability in a broad sense for all characters was computed using the formula given in [16]. h2b =  2g/2p × 100, where: h2 b = heritability in a broad sense, 2g = genotypic variance, and 2p = phenotypic variance.(3) Expected Genetic Advance under Selection (GA). Expected genetic advance for each character at 5% selection intensity was computed using the formulae described in [17].(3)GA=K∗σP∗h²b,where GA = expected genetic advance, K = constant (selection differential where K = 2.056 at 5% selection intensity), σp = phenotypic standard deviation on the mean basis, and h2 = heritability in a broad sense.(4) Genetic Advance as a Percentage of Mean (GAM). The genetic advance as a percentage of mean was computed as described in [17].GAM =GA/X¯ x100, where: GAM = genetic advance as percentage of mean, GA = genetic advance under selection, and X¯ = mean of the population in which selection was employed.


## 2.6. Phenotypic and Genotypic Correlations

Phenotypic and genotypic correlations between yield and yield-related traits were estimated using the formulae described in [18, 19] from the corresponding variance and covariance components as follows.Phenotypic correlation coefficients (rpxy) = pcovx,y/σ2px∗σ2py.Genotypic correlation coefficients (rgxy) = gcovx,y/σ2gx∗σ2gy.The calculated phenotypic and genotypic correlation values were tested for their significance using t-test according to [20].


### 2.6.1. Phenotypic and Genotypic Path Coefficient Analysis

The direct and indirect effects of yield-related characters on yield and among themselves were computed using the following formulae suggested in [21].(4)rij=Pij+Σrikpkj.The residual effect =1−R2, where R2 is the residual factor, Pij is the direct effect of yield by ith character, and rij is the correlation of yield of the ith character.


## 2.6.1. Phenotypic and Genotypic Path Coefficient Analysis

The direct and indirect effects of yield-related characters on yield and among themselves were computed using the following formulae suggested in [21].(4)rij=Pij+Σrikpkj.The residual effect =1−R2, where R2 is the residual factor, Pij is the direct effect of yield by ith character, and rij is the correlation of yield of the ith character.


## 2.7. Cluster Analysis

Clustering was performed using the proc cluster procedure of SAS version 9.3 [22] by employing the method of average linkage clustering strategy of the observation. The number of clusters was determined by following the approach suggested by Copper and Milligan [23] by looking into three statistics, namely, pseudo-F, pseudo-t2, and cubic clustering criteria. The points where local peaks of the CCC and pseudo-F statistic join with small values of the pseudo-t2 statistic followed by a larger pseudo-t2 for the next cluster combination were used to determine the number of clusters. The dendrogram was also constructed by using the SAS software package based on the average linkage and Euclidean distance used to measure dissimilarity (the distance) technique.


### 2.7.1. Genetic Distance Analysis

Genetic divergence between clusters was determined using the generalized MahalanobisD2 statistics [24]. In matrix notation, the distance between any two groups was estimated from the following relationship.D2ij = ((xi−xj) S−1 (xi−xj), where D2ij = the squared distance between any two genotypes i and j.Xi and Xj = the vectors of the values for ith and jth genotypes, respectively. S−1 = the inverse of the pooled covariance matrix within groups.TheD2 values obtained for pairs of clusters were considered as the calculated values of chi-square (X2) and tested against tabulated X2 values at n−1 degree of freedom at 1% and 5% probability levels, where n = number of characters considered [15].


## 2.7.1. Genetic Distance Analysis

Genetic divergence between clusters was determined using the generalized MahalanobisD2 statistics [24]. In matrix notation, the distance between any two groups was estimated from the following relationship.D2ij = ((xi−xj) S−1 (xi−xj), where D2ij = the squared distance between any two genotypes i and j.Xi and Xj = the vectors of the values for ith and jth genotypes, respectively. S−1 = the inverse of the pooled covariance matrix within groups.TheD2 values obtained for pairs of clusters were considered as the calculated values of chi-square (X2) and tested against tabulated X2 values at n−1 degree of freedom at 1% and 5% probability levels, where n = number of characters considered [15].


## 2.8. Principal Component Analysis (PCA)

Principal component analysis was computed using the correlation matrix of SAS version 9.3 [22] to examine the relationships among the quantitative characters that are correlated with each other by converting them into uncorrelated characters called principal components. Below is the general formula to compute scores on the first component extracted (created) in a principal component analysis.PC1 =b11 (x1) + b12 + ….b1p (xp), where PC1 = the subject’s score on principal component 1 (the first component extracted); b1p = the regression coefficient (or weight) for observed variable p, as used in creating principal component 1; and Xp = the subject’s score on observed variable p.


## 3. Results and Discussion

### 3.1. Analysis of Variance

The mean square of the traits showed highly significant differences (0.01) among the tested genotypes (Table 2). This indicates the existence of sufficient variability among genotypes for all traits which can be exploited for common bean yield improvement. In agreement with these findings, the authors in [25, 26] reported the presence of genetic variability among common bean genotypes.Table 2
Mean square values for the 10 characters of 100 haricot bean genotypes grown at Jimma (2020/21).
TraitsReplication (df = 1)Genotype (df = 99)Block (18)ErrorRECV%MeanUn-adjAdjIntra (81)RCBD (99)DF1.628.328.25∗∗3.291.631.93108.562.6148.83DM1.1319.9518.30∗∗2.051.231.38104.581.1298.23PH677.57243.57225.44∗∗122.69105.1108.28100.4315.4966.15NPP73.6215.3014.32∗∗9.207.097.48101.1913.8119.28NSP352.77375.90274.67∗∗664.44127123.5397.2216.3668.89PL0.403.542.88∗∗0.170.150.15100.193.5510.92PW0.0010.050.03∗∗0.010.0040.005107.539.650.67HI100.91223.71198.18∗∗1.781.321.41101.563.3234.55HWS10.3015.0312.83∗∗3.912.422.69104.018.6717.91YLD408402963996908976∗∗48464617465849100.0420.173367.5∗∗ = highly significant at 0.01, df = degrees of freedom, DF = days to 50% flowering, DM = days to 90% maturity, PH = plant height, NPP = number of pods per plant, NSP = number of seeds per plant, PL = pod length, PW = pod width, HSW = hundred seed weight, and HI = harvest presence of genetic variability in common bean genotype efficiency of simple lattice to RCBD (complete randomized block design).


### 3.2. Range and Mean Values

Days to 50% flowering ranged from 45.5 to 54 days with a mean of 48.83 days. Days to 90% maturity ranged from 98.22 to 115.5 with a mean of 98.22 (Table3). The wide range in days to 50% maturity indicated that early maturing variety can be developed for areas of the short rainy season (such as rift valley areas of Ethiopia) through selection. Additionally, late-maturing varieties could be evolved for areas with protracted rainy seasons through simple selection without hybridization. The values of plant height ranged from 57.45 (shortest) cm to 99.26 (tallest) cm with a mean of 66.14 (Table 3). In agreement with this study, the authors in [27, 28] reported various variations for plant height, days to 50% flowering, and days to 90% maturity (Table 3).Table 3
Mean, minimum, and maximum values were recorded for ten quantitative variables in 100 common bean accessions from Ethiopia (2020/21).
TraitsRangesσ2gσ2pH2PCVGCVGAGAM (%)Mean ± SEMDTF45.5–543.314.9466.984.553.733.086.2848.83 ± 0.98DTM98.22–115.58.549.7687.433.182.975.635.7398.22 ± 0.82PH57.45–99.2660.18165.2636.4219.4311.739.6414.5866.14 ± 7.4NPP12.9–27.43.6110.7133.7516.979.862.2711.8019.28 ± 1.9NSP50.4–10873.81200.8636.7520.5712.4710.7315.5768.89 ± 7.6PL8.05–14.051.361.5290.0311.2710.692.2820.910.92 ± 0.28PW0.45–1.240.0150.0278.2320.6718.310.2233.320.66 ± 0.05HI20.72–55.5598.4399.7598.6728.9028.7120.3058.7534.55 ± 0.8HWS12.4–24.325.217.6268.3115.4212.743.8821.6917.90 ± 1.16YLD1645–263 2.122364668533032.6324.5814.04556.5216.533367.47 ± 482.6DTF = days to 50% flowering, DM = days to 90% maturity, PH = plant height, NPP = number of pods per plant, NSP = number of seeds per plant, PL = pod length, PW = pod width, HSW = 100-seed weight, HI = harvest index, and YLD = yield per hectare tone per hectare.Table 4
Mean performance of one hundred genotypes tested at Jimma during 2020/21.
LandracesDTFDTMPHNPPNSPPLPWHIHSWYLD151a-f94.5r-t52.4q-w16.8n-x80.4b-r13.05 b0.515l-m29.895x-z16.510r-z3444.9c-s249.5d-i98.5j-n86.05a-f18.4h-w95.7a-e13.05 b0.905d-e35.285s-u17.525p-z3203.5f-t350 d-h97.5l-p56.8p-w20.2b-s61.6o-z10.05l-o0.705i-j22.070n-q16.350s-z3631.2b-q449.5d-i96.5n-r52.6q-w25.3a-b94.8a-f13.15 b0.6k-l29.83x-z16.065u-z2753.0l-v548.5f-k97m-q53.35q-w15.5q-x63.5n-z11.55d-h0.66i-k54.055a-c15.735v-z3005.8h-u654a100.5f-j61.95j-w17m-x56.1t-z10.05l-o0.515l-m30.025x-z18.330i-y2832.3k-v748g-l99i-m57.8n-w19.1d-u56t-z12.05c-d0.705i-j50.19f-j17.125p-z2912.9i-v845.5 l96o-s67e-u17.6k-x38.6c9.15p-s0.705i-j49.01i-j18.360i-y2659.1n-v947i-l99.5h-l79.40a-l17.5k-x62.5n-z11.1g-i0.615k-l44.18l-m19.556e-r4087.2a-l1053a-c101.5d-h99.26a17.8j-x58.2r-z10.05l-o0.615k-l22.885l-q16.730q-z3571.2b-s1153.5a-b102c-g67.6d-t21b-o88.1a-m12c-e0.75f-i28.435z15.635w-z3551.7b-s1249e-j104.5 b69.3d-r19e-v75.6b-w11g-j0.6k-l49.9f-j17.440p-z3102.1g-u1352a-d95q-t76.3b-p23.6a-h84.6b-n12.05c-d1.1b-c35.21s-u12.405 l3295.5f-t1448.5f-k100.5f-j77.9b-n24a-f77.7b-t11g-j0.7i-j24.96g-l18.165m-z4526.0a-f1546.5j-l96o-s67.85d-t21.3b-o60.4o-z13.05 b0.605k-l21.330p-q16.900q-w2839.6k-v1653.5a-b100g-k68.2d-s19.4c-u80.4b-r11.15f-i0.505l-m21.835n-q17.830n-z4381.6a-g1749-j103.5b-d84.6a-i17.5k-x55.9t-z12.1c-d0.71i-j30.55x-z19.625e-q3744.9b-p1853a-c102c-g65.7f-w18.8f-v64.2n-z9.1q-s0.515l-m34.945s-u13.680h-l2549.4o-v1948g-l95.5p-t63.1j-w20.6b-r70.50h-z13.15 b0.705i-j29.1y-z18.735g-v4528.4a-f2049e-j101.5d-h65.6g-w22.9a-j66.1l-z9.05q-s0.55k-m39.855o-p15.650v-z2278.0r-v2149e-j102c-g85.2a-h21b-o69.6h-z10.05l-o0.61k-l21.540o-q18.020n-z3279.0f-t2248g-l93.5 t47.8t-w23.5a-i74.2c-x12c-e1.1b-c26.745d-i14.925b-l2253.1s-v2347i-l98.5j-n64.5i-w20.6b-r75c-w12c-e0.7i-j33.715t-v14.060g-l3953.0a-n2447.5h-l98.5j-n67.3e-t22.5a-l80.9b-q11.05g-j0.81g-h51.22d-i14.680d-l3023.5h-u2546.5j-l96.5n-r80.4a-j17.2m-x59.6p-z11.9c-f0.605k-l50.8e-i21.165b-m3303.8f-t2649.5d-i94s-t51.3r-w22.2a-m69.9h-z11.15f-i0.72g-j20.725q15.275a-y3235.9f-t2748g-l95q-t60.8j-w18.9f-v68.5i-z10.05l-o0.65i-k30.86w-y23.385a-c3689.5b-p2848.5f-k97.5l-p78.3b-m17.8j-x68i-z13.1 b0.65i-k24.59h-m19.270f-t2634.2n-v2950.5c-g102.5b-f79.9a-k18.5g-w61.7o-z12.05c-d1c-d30x-z17.385p-z2853.9j-v3053.5a-b102c-g59.9k-w20.4b-r80.9b-q12.1c-d0.61k-l30.89w-y15.430a-y3215.8f-t3153.5a-b103b-e72.3c-q18.9f-v55.4t-z11.1g-i0.605k-l27.380c-f16.465r-z4128.9a-k3245.5 l97.5l-p62.7j-w15.4r-x56.3t-z10l-o0.6k-l33.2u-v22.51a-e4039.4a-m3349.5d-i97.5l-p58.7m-w18.4h-w69.3h-z10.1l-o0.6k-l29.775x-z17.400p-z2827.1k-v3446.5j-l99.5h-l68.8d-r23.2a-i70.4h-z11.05g-j0.5l-m27.04c-g16.825q-w2525.7o-v3551a-f95q-t66.3f-u24.25a-e82.7b-o11.1g-i0.605k-l29.89x-z17.210p-z3946.3a-n3647i-l98k-o69.3d-r27.4a91.4a-h10.05l-o0.705i-j37.025q-s17.670p-z3088.0g-u3751.5a-e101e-i64.1j-w18.7g-v73.4e-y12.05c-d0.61k-l35.05s-u18.530h-w3785.0b-p3849.5d-i97m-q63.00j-w19.9c-u54.6x-z9.1q-s0.705i-j43.715m-n17.735o-z3430.1c-s3950.5c-g99.5h-l58.9m-w21.5b-n66.7l-z13b0.5l-m53.115b-d16.805q-w4345.0a-h4048g-l96.5n-r55.25q-w22.7a-k90a-j11.15f-i1.2a-b50.05f-j13.690h-l3231.5f-t4151.5a-e101.5d-h45.65v-w24.5a-c98a-b11g-j0.5l-m49.75h-j13.610i-l2811.1k-v4247i-l95q-t65.6g-w20.2b-s63.8n-z12.1c-d0.705i-j55.55a22.045a-f3295.0f-t4349.5d-i98k-o60.4j-w18.4h-w67.9j-z10.9h-k0.515l-m50.705e-i20.070d-p5263.7a4447.5h-l95.5p-t48.4s-w18.4h-w74.5c-w14.05a0.505l-m41.455n-o50.705a4682.2a-e4547.5h-l94s-t60.55j-w12.9x50.5z12.1c-d0.605k-l55.03a-b18.205l-z2691.2m-v4648g-l94s-t57.45w17.1m-x55u-z11.75d-g0.7i-j23.91j-n18.155m-z3907.9b-n4746.5k-l95.5p-t52.85q-w19.6c-u73.6d-y9.5n-q1.25a51.415d-h21.620a-h3412.1c-s4848.5f-k97m-q57.7n-w17.5k-x63.2n-z12.55b-c0.61k-l42.865m-n21.350a-k4691.4a-d4950d-h96.5n-r64.85hw22.57a-l89.2a-k11.95c-e0.845e-g36.995q-s15.305a-y3665.7b-p5050.5c-g102c-g69.8c-r21.1b-o96.6a-c11.25e-i0.65i-k23k-q15.705v-z3668.0b-p5152a-d99.5h-l53.8q-w17.5k-x54.5x-z12.15c-d0.71i-j30.105x-z16.250t-z4040.7a-m5248.5f-k99i-m63.3j-w17m-x65.7m-z11.05g-j0.505l-m34.93s-u15.670v-z3114.2g-t5349e-j99.5h-l72.2c-q17.4l-x76.4b-v11.1g-i0.705i-j25.000g-l18.410i-x3608.8b-r5449.5d-i101.5d-h69.95c-r18.3i-w61.2o-z12.05c-d0.6k-l24.52i-m16.325s-z4242.6a-i5547i-l96.5n-r70.4c-r15.4r-x62.9n-z10.15k-n0.5 m38.94p-q15.685v-z2023.6t-v5647i-l97.5l-p62.4j-w19.4c-u54.1x-z8.05 t0.55k-m23.845j-n16.570q-z1751.8u-v5749e-j97.5l-p67.6d-t20.9b-o67.9j-z9.05q-s0.515l-m27.06c-g19.530e-r3868.6b-o5846.5k-l97m-q68.6d-s17m-x64.4n-z10.05l-o0.515l-m53.38a-d23.060a-d4800.0a-b5948g-l99.5h-l90.1a-c16.2o-x66.3l-z13b0.7i-j34.14t-v19.505e-r4110.9a-k6050.5c-g96.5n-r68d-t19.7c-u57.2s-z10.1l-o0.605k-l23.155k-o18.545h-w4218.5a-i6147.5h-l101.5d-h77.5b-o22.2a-m81.6b-p10.05l-o0.75f-i25.6e-j18.695g-w2249.1s-v6249.5d-i95.5p-t51.55r-w20.8b-p88.4a-l8.55s-t0.8e-h50.19f-j12.945k-l3031.7g-u6345.5 l94.5r-t57.9n-w20.2b-s62.3n-z13.05 b0.61k-l27.625b-e23.975a-b3200.7f-t6449.5d-i96.5n-r54.55q-w19.8c-u90.4a-i10.65k-m0.805e-h24.635h-m14.270f-l2753.5l-v6549e-j94.5r-t58.05m-w20.9b-o77.1b-u8.15 t1.105b-c26.65d-i13.000j-l4197.6a-j6647i-l97m-q66.5e-u20.1b-t53.6x-z10.1l-o0.515l-m23.77j-o16.690q-z3346.7d-t6751.5a-e100g-k58.7m-w22.6a-l77.2b-u8.6r-t0.705i-j52.72c-e14.830c-l3238.1f-t6847.5h-l115.5a70.9c-r24.3a-d72.56f-z10.05l-o0.61k-l26.845c-h19.230f-t2284.2q-v6949.5d-i95q-t70.3c-r20.7b-q89.3a-k9.35o-r0.85e-f29.845x-z16.045u-z3419.2c-s7047i-l99i-m66.6e-u19.2d-u48.8a-c12.15c-d0.61k-l28.885y-z17.680p-z3054.0g-u7147i-l96.5n-r65.55g-w17.2m-x69.6h-z9.05q-s0.505l-m29.745x-z21.355a-k3276.9f-t7250.5c-g97.5l-p94a-b14.75u-x66.9k-z10.05l-o0.805e-h38.43p-q17.885n-z3385.2c-s7347.5h-l100g-k66.6e-u16.2o-x51.9x-z12.05c-d0.515l-m25.25f-k15.810u-z3155.2g-t7447i-l98k-o79.4a-l13.8v-x57.6s-z9.05q-s0.7i-j33.11u-w20.780c-o3156.5g-t7550.5c-g97m-q69.1d-r17.9j-x68.4i-z12c-e0.6k-l35.88r-t18.835g-u3570.3b-s7648g-l99i-m58.6m-w19.6c-u59.6p-z11.15f-i0.71i-j52.07c-g15.170a-z3846.4b-o7748g-l95.5p-t71.5c-r16.2o-x58.8q-z11.05g-j0.605k-l28.165a-d18.715g-w3002.0h-u7848g-l104b-c86.8a-e13.3w-x46.9b-c11.1g-i0.61k-l42.13m-o21.285a-l3475.2b-s7947i-l97.5l-p54.7q-w20.3b-s79.2b-s9.1q-s0.505l-m49.83g-j20.840c-n3244.0f-t8047.5h-l99i-m67.3e-t19.9c-u56.8s-z11.15f-i0.65i-k25.59e-j16.100u-z2248.0s-v8150d-h97m-q59.3l-w18.6g-v70.3h-z8.05 t0.55k-m22.365m-q18.310j-z2814.5k-v8251.5a-e101e-i87.7a-d18.3i-w71.57g-z10l-o0.6k-l22.805l-q17.245p-z3371.6c-t8348.5f-k96.5n-r70.4c-r21.2b-o90.1a-j10.05l-o0.91d-e53.8a-c16.730q-z3503.6b-s8449e-j101.5d-h70c-r17.2m-x59.1q-z9.05q-s0.605k-l22.390m-q18.230l-z3337.8e-t8547i-l97.5l-p60k-w18.3i-w57.9s-z10.05l-o0.605k-l38.02p-r21.365a-j3171.4g-t8650d-h96.5n-r66f-v18.4h-w51.7y-z11.1g-i0.605k-l43.405m-n18.265k-y3727.4b-p8747.5h-l97.5l-p53.2q-w15.4r-x55.9t-z10.15k-n0.65i-k31.945v-x21.415a-i3251.6f-t8848g-l97.5l-p85.7a-g19.5c-u67.8j-z10.05l-o0.515l-m30.12x-z19.400f-s4346.9a-h8947.5h-l94.5r-t70.1c-r20c-u53.7x-z12.05c-d0.6k-l34.91s-u21.700a-g4688.7a-e9045.5 l95q-t46.9u-w20.8b-p67.2k-z10.05l-o0.6k-l27.22c-g23.520a-c3535.3b-s9149e-j97m-q62.5j-w22.6a-l108a10.7k-l0.7i-j48.16j-k16.195t-z3308.7f-t9246.5k-l94s-t45.5w17.8j-x66.3l-z11.1g-i0.505l-m40.215o-p24.160a-b4709.0a-c9346.5j-l102.5b-f76.4b-p23.7a-g93.4a-g12c-e0.8e-h24.990g-l14.520e-l1642.1v9450d-h97m-q54.2q-w14.9t-x51.2y-z10.05l-o0.705i-j24.105j-n16.815q-w2933.3i-v9550.5c-g97.5l-p77.8b-o20.4b-r96a-d10.3k-m0.9d-e46.025k-l15.120a-l2728.0m-v9648g-l96o-s79.9a-k15.6p-x65.1n-z9.9m-p0.605k-l29.775x-z22.005a-f3517.0b-s9750d-h103b-e76.2b-p19.5c-u66l-z12.95 b0.725f-j23.425j-p17.080p-z3302.0f-t9847i-l97m-q59.4l-w15.1s-x50.4z12.05c-d0.75f-i23.34j-p17.985n-z2483.3p-v9950.5c-g96o-s59.25l-w16.5n-x51.7y-z10.15k-n0.605k-l22.825l-q16.395s-z2738.9l-v10045.5 l96.5n-r51.2r-w17.1m-x66.6l-z11.1g-i0.505l-m52.15c-f23.475a-c2946.6i-vMean48.8398.22566.148619.281768.892310.92250.66674934.554417.907863367.471min45.197393.545.512.938.68.050.445220.72512.4051642.08Max54.0298115.599.2627.410814.051.240155.5524.325263.66LSD (0.05%2.542.220.395.2922.420.770.122.283.091351.9CV%2.611.1215.4913.8116.363.559.653.328.6720.17Regarding seeds per plant, the minimum and maximum values were 50.4 and 108, respectively, with a mean of 68.89. The number of pods per plant ranged from 12.9 to 27.4, with a mean of 19.28. The mean value of the harvest index was 34.55, with minimum and maximum values of 20.72 and 55.55, respectively (Table3). 100-seed weight ranged from 12.4 g to 24.32 g, with a mean value of 17.90 (Table 4). In agreement with these results, the authors in [1, 29, 30] reported the number of seeds per plant, the number of pods per plant, and the 100-seed weight. In agreement with this work, several authors reported a wide range in the number of pods per plant among common bean accessions from various parts of the world [1, 29, 31–33].Pod length ranged from 8.05 cm to 14.05 cm with mean values of 10.92 cm. The pod width ranged from 0.45 to 1.24 with mean values of 1.24. The mean yield per hectare recorded was 3367 kg, with minimum and maximum values of 1642.1 kg and 5263 kg per hectare. The eight top yielder landraces were 14 (4526.0) kg per hectare, 19 (4528.4 kg ha−1), 43 (5263.7 kg ha−1), 44 (4682.2 kg ha−1), 48 (4691.1 kg ha−1), 58 (4800.0 kg ha−1), 89 (4688.7 kg ha−1), and 92 (4709.00 kg ha−1). As observed in these findings, the genotype showed wide variation Tables 3 and 4. This implies that the common bean landraces of Ethiopia possess a tremendous genetic potential for use in future breeding programs to improve the seed yield of common beans. The authors in [34, 35] reported similar results in their previous studies.


### 3.3. Heritability Estimate in a Broad Sense (h2b)

Heritability ranged from 32.63% for yield to 98.67% for the harvest index. According to Robinson et al. [36], heritability catagorised as low (<30), medium (30 to 60), and high (above 60). Accordingly, days to 50% flowering (66.98), days to 90% maturity (87.43), pod length (90.03), pod width (78.23), harvest index (98.67), and 100-seed weight (68.31) showed high heritability values (Table 3). High heritability estimates for these traits indicated that the variation observed was mainly under genetic control and was less influenced by the environment. Hence, the success of crop improvement through selection could be possible in the accessions. Lad et al. [37] reported high heritability values for days to 50% flowering and plant height. Yonas [38] also reported high heritability for days to 50% flowering and 100-seed weight. In this study, moderate heritability values were recorded for the number of plant heights (36.42), number of pods per plant (33.75), number of seeds per plant (36.75), and yield per hectare (32.63). For these traits, selecting superior individuals based on heritability estimates leads to genetic improvement. This result is in agreement with the report [39]. However, selecting superior individuals based on heritability estimates alone may not lead to genetic improvement; hence, heritability estimates along with genetic advances would be more useful in predicting the effectiveness of selecting the best individuals [17].


### 3.4. Genetic Advance (GA) and Genetic Advance as a Percentage of Mean (GAM)

The value of expected genetic advance and advance as a percentage of the mean is presented in Table3. High values of GAM indicate additive gene action, whereas low values indicate non-additive gene action [40]. In this study, the genetic advance as a percentage of the mean ranged from 5.73 days to 90% maturity to 58.75% for the harvest index (Table 3). According to Johnson et al. [41], genetic advance as a percent of mean categorized as low (<10), moderate (10 to 20), and high (above 20). Based on these values, high genetic advance as a percentage of mean was found for pod length (20.9), pod width (33.32), harvest index (58.750), and 100-seed weight (21.69) (Table 3). The selection based on these traits will improve the performance of the landraces for the traits. Lad et al. [37] reported high GAM for pod length and pod width. Moderate GAM was found for plant height, the number of pods per plant, and the number of seeds per plant. Low GAM was obtained for days to 50%` flowering (6.28) and days to 90% maturity (5.73) (Table 3). This low estimate of genetic advance as a percentage of the mean arises from a low estimate of phenotypic variance and heritability. High heritability estimates along with the high genetic advance are usually more helpful in predicting gain under selection than heritability estimates alone [17]. This would probably indicate additive gene action for the inheritance of these traits and simple selection would be effective for improving these traits. Lad et al. [37] reported high GAM coupled with high heritability for pod length, pod width, harvest index, and yield.


### 3.5. Phenotypic and Genotypic Correlation

#### 3.5.1. Phenotypic and Genotypic Relationships of Grain Yield with Other Traits

Grain yield had a positive and significant association with 100-seed weight and pod length (rg = 0.492∗∗ and rg = 0.282∗∗) at the genotypic level, respectively (Table 5). At the phenotypic level, it had a positive and significant correlation with 100-seed weight (rp = 0.294∗∗) and pod length (rp = 0.153∗). Generally, a positive and significant correlation of different traits with grain yield indicates the presence of component interactions in which conditioning in one trait will influence another traits. Kassaye [28] reported similar results in the common bean that grain yield significantly correlated with pod length. Additionally, Ejigu et al. [42] reported a significant and positive association between thousand seed weights and grain yield in common bean. Further, the authors in [27, 43–45] reported a similar result in that yield had a significant positive correlation with 100-seed weight. This relationship is caused by genetic and non-genetic factors. Kassa et al. [46] also reported a significant and positive association of 100-seed weight with grain yield in common beans.Table 5
Phenotypic (above diagonal) and genotypic (below diagonal) correlation coefficients of 100 common bean genotypes were tested at Jimma (2020/021).
CharacterDTFDTMPHNPPNSPPLPWHIHSWYLDDTF10.269∗∗0.0910.1060.204∗∗0.0160.028−0.18∗∗0.362∗∗0.102DTM0.311∗∗10.317∗∗0.0960.029−0.018−0.129−0.134−0.147∗−0.135PH0.1840.557∗∗1−0.117−0.051−0.006−0.03−0.169∗−0.0070.132NPP0.0740.153−0.247∗10.637∗∗0.0040.194∗∗−0.02−0.28∗∗−0.001NSP0.269∗∗0.032−0.0720.629∗∗10.0380.28∗∗0.093−0.27∗∗−0.009PL0.013−00090.0180.008NS0.07110.008−0.003−0.3240.153∗PW0.004−0.1870.0380.389∗∗0.425∗∗0.01510.0920.324∗∗−0.101HI−0.223∗−0.146-0.258∗∗−0.0490.131−0.0080.09710.0880.083HSW−0.688∗∗-0.1770.018−0.617∗∗−0.51∗∗0.045−0.37∗∗0.11710.294∗∗YLD0.124−0.213∗−0.292∗∗−0.396∗∗−0.1450.282∗∗−0.1590.1570.492∗∗1∗∗ = highly significant, ∗ = significant, Ns = non-significant, DTF = date to flowering, DTM = date to maturity, PH = plant height, NNP = number of pods per plant, NSD = number of seeds per pod, PL = pod length, PW = pod width, HI = harvest index, HSW = hundred seed weight, and GYD = grain yield.


#### 3.5.2. Phenotypic and Genotypic Correlations among Yield-Related Traits

At phenotypic level, days to 50% flowering had a significant and positive association with hundred seed weight (rp = 0.362∗∗), days to maturity (rp = 0.269∗∗), and the number of seeds per plant (rp = 0.204∗∗) (Table 5). The association of those characters shows that genotypes with early flowering would tend to mature early and genotypes that take longer to mature also have taller plant height, whereas it had a negative and significant association with harvest index (rp = −0.182∗∗ and (rg = −0.223∗). This result agrees with the findings of Barecha and Ejigu et al. [25, 42]. According to Laura et al. [47], days to 50% flowering were positively correlated with days to maturity, pod length, and the number of seeds per pod. Genotypically days to 50% flowering had significant and positive correlation with days to 90% maturity (rg=0.311∗∗) and number of seed per plant (rg=0.269∗∗). It also had a negative correlation with the harvest index (rg = −0.223∗) and hundred seed weight (rg = −0.688∗∗) (Table 5). The current result agrees with the previous works reported in [29, 39, 48, 49]. Similarly, Sadeghi et al. [44] reported a similar significant negative correlation between days and 50% flowering and harvest index.The result further indicated that days to 90% maturity positively correlated with plant height (rp = 0.317∗∗) and hundred seed weight (rp = −0.147∗) at the phenotypic level; similarly, it had a significant positive correlation with plant height (rg = 0.557∗∗) at genotypic level. This suggests that genotypes with taller plant height took many days for maturity to produce the maximum number of seeds per plant. However, the seeds were small. The current finding is supported by Loko et al. [50] who reported a positive and significant association between days and flowers with days to 50% flowering and the number of seeds per plant. Plant height negatively correlated with harvest index (rp = −0.1699∗) and pods per plant (rg = −0.247∗) at phenotypic level, whereas it had a negative association with harvest index (rg = −0.258∗∗) at genotypic level. This result concurred with those reported in previous studies, in which plant height correlated with the number of pods per plant and harvest index [28, 38, 42, 43]. The number of pods per plant was positively and significantly associated with the number of seeds per plant (rp = 0.637∗∗), pod width (rp = 0.1948∗∗), and hundred seed weight (rp = −0.283∗∗) at genotypic level.Number of pod per plant exhibit positive and significant correlation with number of seed per pod (0.629) and pod width (0.389) (Table5). The correlation between seed per pod and the number of pods per plant is interesting to the breeder because this character is relatively easy to determine the yield substantially. This result agrees with the reports of several scholars [27, 43–45]. The number of seeds per plant positively correlated with pod width (rp = 0.282∗∗) and seed weight (rp = −0.271∗∗) at phenotypic level and significantly correlated with pod width (rg = 0.425∗∗) and hundred seed weight (rg = −0.511∗∗) at genotypic level. The pod width correlated with hundreds of seed weights (rp = −0.324∗∗) and genotypically correlated with hundreds of seed weights (rg = −0.370∗∗). Zewdu [27] reported the same scenario.


### 3.6. Path Coefficient Analysis

Path analysis is the breakdown of correlations in the direct and indirect effects of independent characters and explanatory variables on a basic main variable and its estimations obtained by regression equations, in which the variables are previously determined [50]. Genotypic path coefficient analysis for yield and yield component of common bean is revealed in Table 6. The 100-seed weight that had a significant genotypic correlation with yield had the highest direct effect (0.294). This justifies that the correlation explains the true relationship and that direct selection through this trait is effective. Another direct effect was recorded from the number of pods per plant (0.025) and plant height (0.005). The results agreed with Wright [51] who reported the positive direct effect of the number of pods per plant and plant height on grain yield. In this respect, many researchers have found positive direct effects on yield for plant height [42, 43, 52, 53]. However, the trait days to 90% maturity and pod length had a negative direct effect on grain yield. These negative direct effects will not be considered for selection in a breeding program [15].Table 6
Genotypic direct and indirect effects of different traits on grain yield.
DTMPHNPPPLHSWrgDTM−0.2719−0.00270.16896−0.05578−0.0522−0.2136∗PH−0.48770.005370.09420.089870.00531−0.29294∗NPP0.120620.00240.02594−0.3634−0.1817−0.39605∗PL−0.00920.28342−0.0016−0.00310.013220.28272∗HSW−0.00880.01275−0.030.224450.294060.49247∗Residual = 0.51, NPP = number of pod per plant, PL = pod length, HSW = hundred seed weight, HI = harvest index, rg = genotypic correlation coefficient.At the phenotypic level, the highest direct effect was exerted by 100-seed weight (Table7). The correlation it had with yield was positive and significant. This indicates the true relationship between the two traits. Thus, 100-seed weight could be considered in indirect selection criteria for yield improvement. A similar finding was reported in [54]. The residual effect at genotypic path coefficient was 51% which suggests that the traits included in path analysis explain 49% of the variation in yield. In this regard, Johnson et al. [41] found high residual effects at both phenotypic (45.82%) and genotypic (51.3%) levels.Table 7
The phenotypic direct and indirect effects of different traits on grain yield.
PLHSWrpPL0.140380.013520.154HSW0.006600.287700.294Residual = 89.


### 3.7. Cluster Analyses

Clustering is the partition of data into a group of similar or dissimilar data points and each group is a set of data points called clusters [55]. The more divergent the two genotypes are, the more will be the probability of improvement through selection and hybridization. Hence, to develop a sound hybridization program, the genotypes must be genetically divergent, especially for quantitative characters that contribute toward yield [56]. The distribution of accessions into 7 clusters and one solitary is presented in Table 8 and Figure 1. Cluster II was the largest containing 33 genotypes followed by cluster IV which consists 19 genotypes. Whereas cluster I and III consist 16 genotypes, Cluster V consists 7 genotypes, cluster VI consists 6 genotypes, cluster VII consists 2 genotypes, and one solitary (ungrouped genotype. These indicate considerable variability among the genotypes under study. Kassaye [28] grouped 114 common bean genotypes into nine clusters, which makes them divergent. Furthermore, Getachew [57] grouped 36 common bean accessions into five clusters.Table 8
The cluster of 100 common bean genotypes based on the qualitative traits under study (2020/21).
ClusterNo. of genotypesProportion (100%)Name of genotypes11616P#264, P#1250,p#1074, P#1187, P#1306, P#1212, P#1070, P#1182, P#1063, P#1107, P#916, P#1083, P#945, P#999, P#1283, P#98923333P#872, P#1027, P#1097, P#1285, P#1038, P#985, P#1275, P#831, P#1050, P#1086, P#1158, P#40, P#1316, P#1063, P#1179 P#145,P#133, P#1055, P#882, P#1103, P#934, P#1310, P#1211, P#1279, P#1079, P#859, P#1042, P#1154, P#931, P#93, P#1150, P#1127, P#111731616P#1176, P#1072, P#1046, P#14, P#1298, P#772, P#1268, P#769, P#967, P#984, P#1049, P#1094, P#901, P#1227, P#1102, P#760, P#77241919P#909, P#1315, P#932, P#1157, P#864, P#1078, P#1043, P#1300, P#1124, P#1314, P#989, P#1078, P#1309, P#941, P#1095, P#1071, P#1270, P#811, P#13577P#1247, P#1092, P#861, P#990, P#763, P#58, P#857666P#1232, P#1057, P#1139, P#906, P#986, P#157722P#82, P#1124811P#1077Figure 1
Dendrogram of eight clusters of traits for 100 genotypes tested at Jimma during 2020/21.Accessions in clusters CI and CII were characterized by medium mean values for all traits (Table9). Accession in cluster CIII is characterized by the lowest mean value of the number of seeds per plant. Accessions in cluster CIV are characterized by the highest mean values of days to 50% flowering and pod width. Accessions in cluster CV are characterized by the lowest value of days to 90% maturity and the highest mean values of pod length and 100-seed weight. Accession in cluster CVI is characterized by the highest value of days to 90% maturity. Accessions in CVII are characterized by the lowest mean value of days to 50% flowering, pod length, harvest index, 100-seed weight, and yield, whereas the highest mean values of plant height, the number of pods per plant, and the number of seeds per plant are recorded.Table 9
Mean value of 10 traits for the eight clusters of 100 common bean genotypes.
TraitsClustersIIIIIIIVVVIVIIDTF49.3548.4549.3549.64∗∗47.5347.7846.42∗DTM97.9798.1198.2898.1896.28∗101.25∗∗100PH63.5866.3167.5968.2961.61∗66.5869.4∗∗NPP19.1119.1219.2018.9119.3321.3621.55∗∗NSP68.1769.6365.35∗71.3367.1869.0373.75∗∗PL10.9410.8211.0610.8311.99∗∗10.4110.03∗PW0.650.670.640.71∗∗0.590.670.69HI32.5337.2132.1933.7838.1330.5924.42∗HWS16.7617.7917.5218.5421.64∗∗16.7115.55∗YLD2718.433182.444103.853576.374660.81∗∗2222.651696.94∗∗ = lowest values, ∗∗ = highest values, DTF = days to 50% flowering, DTM = days to 90% maturity, PH = plant height, NPP = number of pods per plant, NSP = number of seeds per plant, PL = pod length, PW = pod width, HSW = hundred seed weight, HI = harvest index, and YDKPHA = yield per hectare tone per hectare.


### 3.8. Genetic Distance Analysis

Cluster formation and finding out intra and inter-cluster divergence provide a basis for selecting genetically divergent parents and it may be useful to produce crosses between genotypes belonging to the clusters separated by large estimated distances [58]. This finding showed the existence of an accepted difference among all clusters, and the genetic divergences between all pairs were highly significant (0.01), except between clusters CII and CIV (Table 10). Regarding the inter-cluster distance, the maximum distance was found between cluster CVII and CV (D2 = 616.64), followed by CVI and CV (D2 = 423.83). The presence of high inter-cluster distance between different clusters indicates wider genetic diversity (Table 10), which creates an opportunity for genetic recombination through hybridization, which is the basis for the identification of important recombinants in the segregating population. This result indicate that, crossing the genotype of cluster VII and V might be rewarding for improving the common bean yield by developing superior inbred lines from the segregated generations. According to [59–61], the cross between genotypes with maximum genetic distance would bring maximum heterosis (Table 10).Table 10
Pair-wise generalized squared distance (D2) among 100 common bean genotypes in seven clusters (2020/21).
ClusterIIIIIIIVVVIVIIVIIII—16.41∗135.84∗∗49.17∗∗269.62∗∗20.53∗∗75.75∗∗465.44∗∗II—59.44∗∗9.73NS155.03∗∗68.28∗∗156.44∗∗309.78∗∗III—23.91∗∗25.83∗∗250.97∗∗403.08∗∗101.6∗∗IV—91.48∗∗126.72∗∗240.87∗∗216.72∗∗V—423.83∗∗616.64∗∗31.25∗∗VI—19.82∗∗663.56∗∗VII—901.22∗∗VIII—∗ and ∗∗ indicate significant at 0.05 and highly significant at 0.01 probability levels, respectively.


### 3.9. Principal Component Analysis (PCA)

Yield is a polygenic trait that is directly or indirectly influenced by several other traits. Therefore, a technique must identify and prioritize the important traits by minimizing the number of traits for effective selection and genetic gain. PCA is a well-known data reduction technique that identifies the minimum number of traits, which contributes to maximum variability [62]. The first eight principal components with eigenvalues greater than one altogether explained about 92.3% of the total variation among the 100 common bean genotypes based on 10 quantitative traits (Table 11). The variation in PC1 (22.75%) was chiefly due to pod length (0.4790), seeds per pod (0.47), days to 90% maturity (0.360), and yield (−0.45). The current finding agrees with the former studies that reported the maximum contribution of 100-seed weight, seeds/plant, and pod length [63–65].Table 11
The principal component of 100 common bean genotypes in five components (2020/21).
TraitsPCPC1PC2PCA3PCA4PCA5PCA6PC7PC8DF−0.28−0.080.610.080.1−0.210.65−0.12DM0.360.34−0.07−0.09−0.390.180.430.52PH0.180.520.080.260.230.340.15−0.55NPP0.0450.480.12−0.170.66−0.1−0.140.35NsPS0.47−0.220.130.460.1−0.14−0.25−0.08PL0.48−0.260.150.330.18−0.10.170.28PW0.05−0.01−0.720.090.21−0.390.46−0.19HI0.29−0.280.11−0.640.3−0.180.07−0.10HWS−0.06−0.42−0.15−0.030.320.760.220.06YLD−0.46−0.052−0.090.390.26−0.1−0.020.40Eigenvalue2.281.621.222.542.752.662.562.65% of the total variance explained22.7516.2312.229.899.558.926.626.12The cumulative percentage of total variance explained22.7538.9851.261.0970.6479.5686.1892.3DF = days to 50% flowering, DM = days to 90% maturity, PH = plant height, NPP = number of pods per plant, NSP =  number of seeds per plant, PL = pod length, PW = pod width, HSW = hundred seed weight, HI = harvest index, and YDTPHA = yield per hectare tone per hectare.The second principal component accounts for about 16.22% of the total variation. The major contributing traits to the variation were plant height (0.519), the number of pods per plant (0.476), seed weight (−0.422), and pod length (−0.2652). The third principal component accounted for 12.22% of the total variation. The traits that had a major contribution were days to 50% flowering (0.612) and pod length (0.145), pod width (−0.71), and hundred seed weight (−0.15). The character contributing to the maximum loading for variation should be given greater emphasis. The authors in [26, 37] also used principal component analysis in the genetic variability study of common beans. The fourth principal component accounts for 9.89% of the total variation, and traits that contribute to this component were the number of seeds per pod (0.45) and yield (0.38), harvest index (−0.63), and the number of pods per plant (−0.17). The fifth principal component accounts 9.55% of the total variation. The contributing traits for this PC were the number of seeds per pod (0.66), hundred seed weights (0.31), and days to 90% maturity (−0.39). Positive and negative loadings show variation. The sixth PC contributes to 8.92% of the total variation. This study showed that Ethiopian common bean germplasm showed variation for the characters studied. This trait diversity evident among the accessions suggests the presence of opportunities for genetic improvement through selection directly from the accessions and/or selection of diverse parents for hybridization programs and conservation of the germplasm for further usage. Such an existence of broad agro-morphological genetic diversity among common bean germplasm is in agreement with the results of previous studies [1, 30, 34, 59, 60].


## 3.1. Analysis of Variance

The mean square of the traits showed highly significant differences (0.01) among the tested genotypes (Table 2). This indicates the existence of sufficient variability among genotypes for all traits which can be exploited for common bean yield improvement. In agreement with these findings, the authors in [25, 26] reported the presence of genetic variability among common bean genotypes.Table 2
Mean square values for the 10 characters of 100 haricot bean genotypes grown at Jimma (2020/21).
TraitsReplication (df = 1)Genotype (df = 99)Block (18)ErrorRECV%MeanUn-adjAdjIntra (81)RCBD (99)DF1.628.328.25∗∗3.291.631.93108.562.6148.83DM1.1319.9518.30∗∗2.051.231.38104.581.1298.23PH677.57243.57225.44∗∗122.69105.1108.28100.4315.4966.15NPP73.6215.3014.32∗∗9.207.097.48101.1913.8119.28NSP352.77375.90274.67∗∗664.44127123.5397.2216.3668.89PL0.403.542.88∗∗0.170.150.15100.193.5510.92PW0.0010.050.03∗∗0.010.0040.005107.539.650.67HI100.91223.71198.18∗∗1.781.321.41101.563.3234.55HWS10.3015.0312.83∗∗3.912.422.69104.018.6717.91YLD408402963996908976∗∗48464617465849100.0420.173367.5∗∗ = highly significant at 0.01, df = degrees of freedom, DF = days to 50% flowering, DM = days to 90% maturity, PH = plant height, NPP = number of pods per plant, NSP = number of seeds per plant, PL = pod length, PW = pod width, HSW = hundred seed weight, and HI = harvest presence of genetic variability in common bean genotype efficiency of simple lattice to RCBD (complete randomized block design).


## 3.2. Range and Mean Values

Days to 50% flowering ranged from 45.5 to 54 days with a mean of 48.83 days. Days to 90% maturity ranged from 98.22 to 115.5 with a mean of 98.22 (Table3). The wide range in days to 50% maturity indicated that early maturing variety can be developed for areas of the short rainy season (such as rift valley areas of Ethiopia) through selection. Additionally, late-maturing varieties could be evolved for areas with protracted rainy seasons through simple selection without hybridization. The values of plant height ranged from 57.45 (shortest) cm to 99.26 (tallest) cm with a mean of 66.14 (Table 3). In agreement with this study, the authors in [27, 28] reported various variations for plant height, days to 50% flowering, and days to 90% maturity (Table 3).Table 3
Mean, minimum, and maximum values were recorded for ten quantitative variables in 100 common bean accessions from Ethiopia (2020/21).
TraitsRangesσ2gσ2pH2PCVGCVGAGAM (%)Mean ± SEMDTF45.5–543.314.9466.984.553.733.086.2848.83 ± 0.98DTM98.22–115.58.549.7687.433.182.975.635.7398.22 ± 0.82PH57.45–99.2660.18165.2636.4219.4311.739.6414.5866.14 ± 7.4NPP12.9–27.43.6110.7133.7516.979.862.2711.8019.28 ± 1.9NSP50.4–10873.81200.8636.7520.5712.4710.7315.5768.89 ± 7.6PL8.05–14.051.361.5290.0311.2710.692.2820.910.92 ± 0.28PW0.45–1.240.0150.0278.2320.6718.310.2233.320.66 ± 0.05HI20.72–55.5598.4399.7598.6728.9028.7120.3058.7534.55 ± 0.8HWS12.4–24.325.217.6268.3115.4212.743.8821.6917.90 ± 1.16YLD1645–263 2.122364668533032.6324.5814.04556.5216.533367.47 ± 482.6DTF = days to 50% flowering, DM = days to 90% maturity, PH = plant height, NPP = number of pods per plant, NSP = number of seeds per plant, PL = pod length, PW = pod width, HSW = 100-seed weight, HI = harvest index, and YLD = yield per hectare tone per hectare.Table 4
Mean performance of one hundred genotypes tested at Jimma during 2020/21.
LandracesDTFDTMPHNPPNSPPLPWHIHSWYLD151a-f94.5r-t52.4q-w16.8n-x80.4b-r13.05 b0.515l-m29.895x-z16.510r-z3444.9c-s249.5d-i98.5j-n86.05a-f18.4h-w95.7a-e13.05 b0.905d-e35.285s-u17.525p-z3203.5f-t350 d-h97.5l-p56.8p-w20.2b-s61.6o-z10.05l-o0.705i-j22.070n-q16.350s-z3631.2b-q449.5d-i96.5n-r52.6q-w25.3a-b94.8a-f13.15 b0.6k-l29.83x-z16.065u-z2753.0l-v548.5f-k97m-q53.35q-w15.5q-x63.5n-z11.55d-h0.66i-k54.055a-c15.735v-z3005.8h-u654a100.5f-j61.95j-w17m-x56.1t-z10.05l-o0.515l-m30.025x-z18.330i-y2832.3k-v748g-l99i-m57.8n-w19.1d-u56t-z12.05c-d0.705i-j50.19f-j17.125p-z2912.9i-v845.5 l96o-s67e-u17.6k-x38.6c9.15p-s0.705i-j49.01i-j18.360i-y2659.1n-v947i-l99.5h-l79.40a-l17.5k-x62.5n-z11.1g-i0.615k-l44.18l-m19.556e-r4087.2a-l1053a-c101.5d-h99.26a17.8j-x58.2r-z10.05l-o0.615k-l22.885l-q16.730q-z3571.2b-s1153.5a-b102c-g67.6d-t21b-o88.1a-m12c-e0.75f-i28.435z15.635w-z3551.7b-s1249e-j104.5 b69.3d-r19e-v75.6b-w11g-j0.6k-l49.9f-j17.440p-z3102.1g-u1352a-d95q-t76.3b-p23.6a-h84.6b-n12.05c-d1.1b-c35.21s-u12.405 l3295.5f-t1448.5f-k100.5f-j77.9b-n24a-f77.7b-t11g-j0.7i-j24.96g-l18.165m-z4526.0a-f1546.5j-l96o-s67.85d-t21.3b-o60.4o-z13.05 b0.605k-l21.330p-q16.900q-w2839.6k-v1653.5a-b100g-k68.2d-s19.4c-u80.4b-r11.15f-i0.505l-m21.835n-q17.830n-z4381.6a-g1749-j103.5b-d84.6a-i17.5k-x55.9t-z12.1c-d0.71i-j30.55x-z19.625e-q3744.9b-p1853a-c102c-g65.7f-w18.8f-v64.2n-z9.1q-s0.515l-m34.945s-u13.680h-l2549.4o-v1948g-l95.5p-t63.1j-w20.6b-r70.50h-z13.15 b0.705i-j29.1y-z18.735g-v4528.4a-f2049e-j101.5d-h65.6g-w22.9a-j66.1l-z9.05q-s0.55k-m39.855o-p15.650v-z2278.0r-v2149e-j102c-g85.2a-h21b-o69.6h-z10.05l-o0.61k-l21.540o-q18.020n-z3279.0f-t2248g-l93.5 t47.8t-w23.5a-i74.2c-x12c-e1.1b-c26.745d-i14.925b-l2253.1s-v2347i-l98.5j-n64.5i-w20.6b-r75c-w12c-e0.7i-j33.715t-v14.060g-l3953.0a-n2447.5h-l98.5j-n67.3e-t22.5a-l80.9b-q11.05g-j0.81g-h51.22d-i14.680d-l3023.5h-u2546.5j-l96.5n-r80.4a-j17.2m-x59.6p-z11.9c-f0.605k-l50.8e-i21.165b-m3303.8f-t2649.5d-i94s-t51.3r-w22.2a-m69.9h-z11.15f-i0.72g-j20.725q15.275a-y3235.9f-t2748g-l95q-t60.8j-w18.9f-v68.5i-z10.05l-o0.65i-k30.86w-y23.385a-c3689.5b-p2848.5f-k97.5l-p78.3b-m17.8j-x68i-z13.1 b0.65i-k24.59h-m19.270f-t2634.2n-v2950.5c-g102.5b-f79.9a-k18.5g-w61.7o-z12.05c-d1c-d30x-z17.385p-z2853.9j-v3053.5a-b102c-g59.9k-w20.4b-r80.9b-q12.1c-d0.61k-l30.89w-y15.430a-y3215.8f-t3153.5a-b103b-e72.3c-q18.9f-v55.4t-z11.1g-i0.605k-l27.380c-f16.465r-z4128.9a-k3245.5 l97.5l-p62.7j-w15.4r-x56.3t-z10l-o0.6k-l33.2u-v22.51a-e4039.4a-m3349.5d-i97.5l-p58.7m-w18.4h-w69.3h-z10.1l-o0.6k-l29.775x-z17.400p-z2827.1k-v3446.5j-l99.5h-l68.8d-r23.2a-i70.4h-z11.05g-j0.5l-m27.04c-g16.825q-w2525.7o-v3551a-f95q-t66.3f-u24.25a-e82.7b-o11.1g-i0.605k-l29.89x-z17.210p-z3946.3a-n3647i-l98k-o69.3d-r27.4a91.4a-h10.05l-o0.705i-j37.025q-s17.670p-z3088.0g-u3751.5a-e101e-i64.1j-w18.7g-v73.4e-y12.05c-d0.61k-l35.05s-u18.530h-w3785.0b-p3849.5d-i97m-q63.00j-w19.9c-u54.6x-z9.1q-s0.705i-j43.715m-n17.735o-z3430.1c-s3950.5c-g99.5h-l58.9m-w21.5b-n66.7l-z13b0.5l-m53.115b-d16.805q-w4345.0a-h4048g-l96.5n-r55.25q-w22.7a-k90a-j11.15f-i1.2a-b50.05f-j13.690h-l3231.5f-t4151.5a-e101.5d-h45.65v-w24.5a-c98a-b11g-j0.5l-m49.75h-j13.610i-l2811.1k-v4247i-l95q-t65.6g-w20.2b-s63.8n-z12.1c-d0.705i-j55.55a22.045a-f3295.0f-t4349.5d-i98k-o60.4j-w18.4h-w67.9j-z10.9h-k0.515l-m50.705e-i20.070d-p5263.7a4447.5h-l95.5p-t48.4s-w18.4h-w74.5c-w14.05a0.505l-m41.455n-o50.705a4682.2a-e4547.5h-l94s-t60.55j-w12.9x50.5z12.1c-d0.605k-l55.03a-b18.205l-z2691.2m-v4648g-l94s-t57.45w17.1m-x55u-z11.75d-g0.7i-j23.91j-n18.155m-z3907.9b-n4746.5k-l95.5p-t52.85q-w19.6c-u73.6d-y9.5n-q1.25a51.415d-h21.620a-h3412.1c-s4848.5f-k97m-q57.7n-w17.5k-x63.2n-z12.55b-c0.61k-l42.865m-n21.350a-k4691.4a-d4950d-h96.5n-r64.85hw22.57a-l89.2a-k11.95c-e0.845e-g36.995q-s15.305a-y3665.7b-p5050.5c-g102c-g69.8c-r21.1b-o96.6a-c11.25e-i0.65i-k23k-q15.705v-z3668.0b-p5152a-d99.5h-l53.8q-w17.5k-x54.5x-z12.15c-d0.71i-j30.105x-z16.250t-z4040.7a-m5248.5f-k99i-m63.3j-w17m-x65.7m-z11.05g-j0.505l-m34.93s-u15.670v-z3114.2g-t5349e-j99.5h-l72.2c-q17.4l-x76.4b-v11.1g-i0.705i-j25.000g-l18.410i-x3608.8b-r5449.5d-i101.5d-h69.95c-r18.3i-w61.2o-z12.05c-d0.6k-l24.52i-m16.325s-z4242.6a-i5547i-l96.5n-r70.4c-r15.4r-x62.9n-z10.15k-n0.5 m38.94p-q15.685v-z2023.6t-v5647i-l97.5l-p62.4j-w19.4c-u54.1x-z8.05 t0.55k-m23.845j-n16.570q-z1751.8u-v5749e-j97.5l-p67.6d-t20.9b-o67.9j-z9.05q-s0.515l-m27.06c-g19.530e-r3868.6b-o5846.5k-l97m-q68.6d-s17m-x64.4n-z10.05l-o0.515l-m53.38a-d23.060a-d4800.0a-b5948g-l99.5h-l90.1a-c16.2o-x66.3l-z13b0.7i-j34.14t-v19.505e-r4110.9a-k6050.5c-g96.5n-r68d-t19.7c-u57.2s-z10.1l-o0.605k-l23.155k-o18.545h-w4218.5a-i6147.5h-l101.5d-h77.5b-o22.2a-m81.6b-p10.05l-o0.75f-i25.6e-j18.695g-w2249.1s-v6249.5d-i95.5p-t51.55r-w20.8b-p88.4a-l8.55s-t0.8e-h50.19f-j12.945k-l3031.7g-u6345.5 l94.5r-t57.9n-w20.2b-s62.3n-z13.05 b0.61k-l27.625b-e23.975a-b3200.7f-t6449.5d-i96.5n-r54.55q-w19.8c-u90.4a-i10.65k-m0.805e-h24.635h-m14.270f-l2753.5l-v6549e-j94.5r-t58.05m-w20.9b-o77.1b-u8.15 t1.105b-c26.65d-i13.000j-l4197.6a-j6647i-l97m-q66.5e-u20.1b-t53.6x-z10.1l-o0.515l-m23.77j-o16.690q-z3346.7d-t6751.5a-e100g-k58.7m-w22.6a-l77.2b-u8.6r-t0.705i-j52.72c-e14.830c-l3238.1f-t6847.5h-l115.5a70.9c-r24.3a-d72.56f-z10.05l-o0.61k-l26.845c-h19.230f-t2284.2q-v6949.5d-i95q-t70.3c-r20.7b-q89.3a-k9.35o-r0.85e-f29.845x-z16.045u-z3419.2c-s7047i-l99i-m66.6e-u19.2d-u48.8a-c12.15c-d0.61k-l28.885y-z17.680p-z3054.0g-u7147i-l96.5n-r65.55g-w17.2m-x69.6h-z9.05q-s0.505l-m29.745x-z21.355a-k3276.9f-t7250.5c-g97.5l-p94a-b14.75u-x66.9k-z10.05l-o0.805e-h38.43p-q17.885n-z3385.2c-s7347.5h-l100g-k66.6e-u16.2o-x51.9x-z12.05c-d0.515l-m25.25f-k15.810u-z3155.2g-t7447i-l98k-o79.4a-l13.8v-x57.6s-z9.05q-s0.7i-j33.11u-w20.780c-o3156.5g-t7550.5c-g97m-q69.1d-r17.9j-x68.4i-z12c-e0.6k-l35.88r-t18.835g-u3570.3b-s7648g-l99i-m58.6m-w19.6c-u59.6p-z11.15f-i0.71i-j52.07c-g15.170a-z3846.4b-o7748g-l95.5p-t71.5c-r16.2o-x58.8q-z11.05g-j0.605k-l28.165a-d18.715g-w3002.0h-u7848g-l104b-c86.8a-e13.3w-x46.9b-c11.1g-i0.61k-l42.13m-o21.285a-l3475.2b-s7947i-l97.5l-p54.7q-w20.3b-s79.2b-s9.1q-s0.505l-m49.83g-j20.840c-n3244.0f-t8047.5h-l99i-m67.3e-t19.9c-u56.8s-z11.15f-i0.65i-k25.59e-j16.100u-z2248.0s-v8150d-h97m-q59.3l-w18.6g-v70.3h-z8.05 t0.55k-m22.365m-q18.310j-z2814.5k-v8251.5a-e101e-i87.7a-d18.3i-w71.57g-z10l-o0.6k-l22.805l-q17.245p-z3371.6c-t8348.5f-k96.5n-r70.4c-r21.2b-o90.1a-j10.05l-o0.91d-e53.8a-c16.730q-z3503.6b-s8449e-j101.5d-h70c-r17.2m-x59.1q-z9.05q-s0.605k-l22.390m-q18.230l-z3337.8e-t8547i-l97.5l-p60k-w18.3i-w57.9s-z10.05l-o0.605k-l38.02p-r21.365a-j3171.4g-t8650d-h96.5n-r66f-v18.4h-w51.7y-z11.1g-i0.605k-l43.405m-n18.265k-y3727.4b-p8747.5h-l97.5l-p53.2q-w15.4r-x55.9t-z10.15k-n0.65i-k31.945v-x21.415a-i3251.6f-t8848g-l97.5l-p85.7a-g19.5c-u67.8j-z10.05l-o0.515l-m30.12x-z19.400f-s4346.9a-h8947.5h-l94.5r-t70.1c-r20c-u53.7x-z12.05c-d0.6k-l34.91s-u21.700a-g4688.7a-e9045.5 l95q-t46.9u-w20.8b-p67.2k-z10.05l-o0.6k-l27.22c-g23.520a-c3535.3b-s9149e-j97m-q62.5j-w22.6a-l108a10.7k-l0.7i-j48.16j-k16.195t-z3308.7f-t9246.5k-l94s-t45.5w17.8j-x66.3l-z11.1g-i0.505l-m40.215o-p24.160a-b4709.0a-c9346.5j-l102.5b-f76.4b-p23.7a-g93.4a-g12c-e0.8e-h24.990g-l14.520e-l1642.1v9450d-h97m-q54.2q-w14.9t-x51.2y-z10.05l-o0.705i-j24.105j-n16.815q-w2933.3i-v9550.5c-g97.5l-p77.8b-o20.4b-r96a-d10.3k-m0.9d-e46.025k-l15.120a-l2728.0m-v9648g-l96o-s79.9a-k15.6p-x65.1n-z9.9m-p0.605k-l29.775x-z22.005a-f3517.0b-s9750d-h103b-e76.2b-p19.5c-u66l-z12.95 b0.725f-j23.425j-p17.080p-z3302.0f-t9847i-l97m-q59.4l-w15.1s-x50.4z12.05c-d0.75f-i23.34j-p17.985n-z2483.3p-v9950.5c-g96o-s59.25l-w16.5n-x51.7y-z10.15k-n0.605k-l22.825l-q16.395s-z2738.9l-v10045.5 l96.5n-r51.2r-w17.1m-x66.6l-z11.1g-i0.505l-m52.15c-f23.475a-c2946.6i-vMean48.8398.22566.148619.281768.892310.92250.66674934.554417.907863367.471min45.197393.545.512.938.68.050.445220.72512.4051642.08Max54.0298115.599.2627.410814.051.240155.5524.325263.66LSD (0.05%2.542.220.395.2922.420.770.122.283.091351.9CV%2.611.1215.4913.8116.363.559.653.328.6720.17Regarding seeds per plant, the minimum and maximum values were 50.4 and 108, respectively, with a mean of 68.89. The number of pods per plant ranged from 12.9 to 27.4, with a mean of 19.28. The mean value of the harvest index was 34.55, with minimum and maximum values of 20.72 and 55.55, respectively (Table3). 100-seed weight ranged from 12.4 g to 24.32 g, with a mean value of 17.90 (Table 4). In agreement with these results, the authors in [1, 29, 30] reported the number of seeds per plant, the number of pods per plant, and the 100-seed weight. In agreement with this work, several authors reported a wide range in the number of pods per plant among common bean accessions from various parts of the world [1, 29, 31–33].Pod length ranged from 8.05 cm to 14.05 cm with mean values of 10.92 cm. The pod width ranged from 0.45 to 1.24 with mean values of 1.24. The mean yield per hectare recorded was 3367 kg, with minimum and maximum values of 1642.1 kg and 5263 kg per hectare. The eight top yielder landraces were 14 (4526.0) kg per hectare, 19 (4528.4 kg ha−1), 43 (5263.7 kg ha−1), 44 (4682.2 kg ha−1), 48 (4691.1 kg ha−1), 58 (4800.0 kg ha−1), 89 (4688.7 kg ha−1), and 92 (4709.00 kg ha−1). As observed in these findings, the genotype showed wide variation Tables 3 and 4. This implies that the common bean landraces of Ethiopia possess a tremendous genetic potential for use in future breeding programs to improve the seed yield of common beans. The authors in [34, 35] reported similar results in their previous studies.


## 3.3. Heritability Estimate in a Broad Sense (h2b)

Heritability ranged from 32.63% for yield to 98.67% for the harvest index. According to Robinson et al. [36], heritability catagorised as low (<30), medium (30 to 60), and high (above 60). Accordingly, days to 50% flowering (66.98), days to 90% maturity (87.43), pod length (90.03), pod width (78.23), harvest index (98.67), and 100-seed weight (68.31) showed high heritability values (Table 3). High heritability estimates for these traits indicated that the variation observed was mainly under genetic control and was less influenced by the environment. Hence, the success of crop improvement through selection could be possible in the accessions. Lad et al. [37] reported high heritability values for days to 50% flowering and plant height. Yonas [38] also reported high heritability for days to 50% flowering and 100-seed weight. In this study, moderate heritability values were recorded for the number of plant heights (36.42), number of pods per plant (33.75), number of seeds per plant (36.75), and yield per hectare (32.63). For these traits, selecting superior individuals based on heritability estimates leads to genetic improvement. This result is in agreement with the report [39]. However, selecting superior individuals based on heritability estimates alone may not lead to genetic improvement; hence, heritability estimates along with genetic advances would be more useful in predicting the effectiveness of selecting the best individuals [17].


## 3.4. Genetic Advance (GA) and Genetic Advance as a Percentage of Mean (GAM)

The value of expected genetic advance and advance as a percentage of the mean is presented in Table3. High values of GAM indicate additive gene action, whereas low values indicate non-additive gene action [40]. In this study, the genetic advance as a percentage of the mean ranged from 5.73 days to 90% maturity to 58.75% for the harvest index (Table 3). According to Johnson et al. [41], genetic advance as a percent of mean categorized as low (<10), moderate (10 to 20), and high (above 20). Based on these values, high genetic advance as a percentage of mean was found for pod length (20.9), pod width (33.32), harvest index (58.750), and 100-seed weight (21.69) (Table 3). The selection based on these traits will improve the performance of the landraces for the traits. Lad et al. [37] reported high GAM for pod length and pod width. Moderate GAM was found for plant height, the number of pods per plant, and the number of seeds per plant. Low GAM was obtained for days to 50%` flowering (6.28) and days to 90% maturity (5.73) (Table 3). This low estimate of genetic advance as a percentage of the mean arises from a low estimate of phenotypic variance and heritability. High heritability estimates along with the high genetic advance are usually more helpful in predicting gain under selection than heritability estimates alone [17]. This would probably indicate additive gene action for the inheritance of these traits and simple selection would be effective for improving these traits. Lad et al. [37] reported high GAM coupled with high heritability for pod length, pod width, harvest index, and yield.


## 3.5. Phenotypic and Genotypic Correlation

### 3.5.1. Phenotypic and Genotypic Relationships of Grain Yield with Other Traits

Grain yield had a positive and significant association with 100-seed weight and pod length (rg = 0.492∗∗ and rg = 0.282∗∗) at the genotypic level, respectively (Table 5). At the phenotypic level, it had a positive and significant correlation with 100-seed weight (rp = 0.294∗∗) and pod length (rp = 0.153∗). Generally, a positive and significant correlation of different traits with grain yield indicates the presence of component interactions in which conditioning in one trait will influence another traits. Kassaye [28] reported similar results in the common bean that grain yield significantly correlated with pod length. Additionally, Ejigu et al. [42] reported a significant and positive association between thousand seed weights and grain yield in common bean. Further, the authors in [27, 43–45] reported a similar result in that yield had a significant positive correlation with 100-seed weight. This relationship is caused by genetic and non-genetic factors. Kassa et al. [46] also reported a significant and positive association of 100-seed weight with grain yield in common beans.Table 5
Phenotypic (above diagonal) and genotypic (below diagonal) correlation coefficients of 100 common bean genotypes were tested at Jimma (2020/021).
CharacterDTFDTMPHNPPNSPPLPWHIHSWYLDDTF10.269∗∗0.0910.1060.204∗∗0.0160.028−0.18∗∗0.362∗∗0.102DTM0.311∗∗10.317∗∗0.0960.029−0.018−0.129−0.134−0.147∗−0.135PH0.1840.557∗∗1−0.117−0.051−0.006−0.03−0.169∗−0.0070.132NPP0.0740.153−0.247∗10.637∗∗0.0040.194∗∗−0.02−0.28∗∗−0.001NSP0.269∗∗0.032−0.0720.629∗∗10.0380.28∗∗0.093−0.27∗∗−0.009PL0.013−00090.0180.008NS0.07110.008−0.003−0.3240.153∗PW0.004−0.1870.0380.389∗∗0.425∗∗0.01510.0920.324∗∗−0.101HI−0.223∗−0.146-0.258∗∗−0.0490.131−0.0080.09710.0880.083HSW−0.688∗∗-0.1770.018−0.617∗∗−0.51∗∗0.045−0.37∗∗0.11710.294∗∗YLD0.124−0.213∗−0.292∗∗−0.396∗∗−0.1450.282∗∗−0.1590.1570.492∗∗1∗∗ = highly significant, ∗ = significant, Ns = non-significant, DTF = date to flowering, DTM = date to maturity, PH = plant height, NNP = number of pods per plant, NSD = number of seeds per pod, PL = pod length, PW = pod width, HI = harvest index, HSW = hundred seed weight, and GYD = grain yield.


### 3.5.2. Phenotypic and Genotypic Correlations among Yield-Related Traits

At phenotypic level, days to 50% flowering had a significant and positive association with hundred seed weight (rp = 0.362∗∗), days to maturity (rp = 0.269∗∗), and the number of seeds per plant (rp = 0.204∗∗) (Table 5). The association of those characters shows that genotypes with early flowering would tend to mature early and genotypes that take longer to mature also have taller plant height, whereas it had a negative and significant association with harvest index (rp = −0.182∗∗ and (rg = −0.223∗). This result agrees with the findings of Barecha and Ejigu et al. [25, 42]. According to Laura et al. [47], days to 50% flowering were positively correlated with days to maturity, pod length, and the number of seeds per pod. Genotypically days to 50% flowering had significant and positive correlation with days to 90% maturity (rg=0.311∗∗) and number of seed per plant (rg=0.269∗∗). It also had a negative correlation with the harvest index (rg = −0.223∗) and hundred seed weight (rg = −0.688∗∗) (Table 5). The current result agrees with the previous works reported in [29, 39, 48, 49]. Similarly, Sadeghi et al. [44] reported a similar significant negative correlation between days and 50% flowering and harvest index.The result further indicated that days to 90% maturity positively correlated with plant height (rp = 0.317∗∗) and hundred seed weight (rp = −0.147∗) at the phenotypic level; similarly, it had a significant positive correlation with plant height (rg = 0.557∗∗) at genotypic level. This suggests that genotypes with taller plant height took many days for maturity to produce the maximum number of seeds per plant. However, the seeds were small. The current finding is supported by Loko et al. [50] who reported a positive and significant association between days and flowers with days to 50% flowering and the number of seeds per plant. Plant height negatively correlated with harvest index (rp = −0.1699∗) and pods per plant (rg = −0.247∗) at phenotypic level, whereas it had a negative association with harvest index (rg = −0.258∗∗) at genotypic level. This result concurred with those reported in previous studies, in which plant height correlated with the number of pods per plant and harvest index [28, 38, 42, 43]. The number of pods per plant was positively and significantly associated with the number of seeds per plant (rp = 0.637∗∗), pod width (rp = 0.1948∗∗), and hundred seed weight (rp = −0.283∗∗) at genotypic level.Number of pod per plant exhibit positive and significant correlation with number of seed per pod (0.629) and pod width (0.389) (Table5). The correlation between seed per pod and the number of pods per plant is interesting to the breeder because this character is relatively easy to determine the yield substantially. This result agrees with the reports of several scholars [27, 43–45]. The number of seeds per plant positively correlated with pod width (rp = 0.282∗∗) and seed weight (rp = −0.271∗∗) at phenotypic level and significantly correlated with pod width (rg = 0.425∗∗) and hundred seed weight (rg = −0.511∗∗) at genotypic level. The pod width correlated with hundreds of seed weights (rp = −0.324∗∗) and genotypically correlated with hundreds of seed weights (rg = −0.370∗∗). Zewdu [27] reported the same scenario.


## 3.5.1. Phenotypic and Genotypic Relationships of Grain Yield with Other Traits

Grain yield had a positive and significant association with 100-seed weight and pod length (rg = 0.492∗∗ and rg = 0.282∗∗) at the genotypic level, respectively (Table 5). At the phenotypic level, it had a positive and significant correlation with 100-seed weight (rp = 0.294∗∗) and pod length (rp = 0.153∗). Generally, a positive and significant correlation of different traits with grain yield indicates the presence of component interactions in which conditioning in one trait will influence another traits. Kassaye [28] reported similar results in the common bean that grain yield significantly correlated with pod length. Additionally, Ejigu et al. [42] reported a significant and positive association between thousand seed weights and grain yield in common bean. Further, the authors in [27, 43–45] reported a similar result in that yield had a significant positive correlation with 100-seed weight. This relationship is caused by genetic and non-genetic factors. Kassa et al. [46] also reported a significant and positive association of 100-seed weight with grain yield in common beans.Table 5
Phenotypic (above diagonal) and genotypic (below diagonal) correlation coefficients of 100 common bean genotypes were tested at Jimma (2020/021).
CharacterDTFDTMPHNPPNSPPLPWHIHSWYLDDTF10.269∗∗0.0910.1060.204∗∗0.0160.028−0.18∗∗0.362∗∗0.102DTM0.311∗∗10.317∗∗0.0960.029−0.018−0.129−0.134−0.147∗−0.135PH0.1840.557∗∗1−0.117−0.051−0.006−0.03−0.169∗−0.0070.132NPP0.0740.153−0.247∗10.637∗∗0.0040.194∗∗−0.02−0.28∗∗−0.001NSP0.269∗∗0.032−0.0720.629∗∗10.0380.28∗∗0.093−0.27∗∗−0.009PL0.013−00090.0180.008NS0.07110.008−0.003−0.3240.153∗PW0.004−0.1870.0380.389∗∗0.425∗∗0.01510.0920.324∗∗−0.101HI−0.223∗−0.146-0.258∗∗−0.0490.131−0.0080.09710.0880.083HSW−0.688∗∗-0.1770.018−0.617∗∗−0.51∗∗0.045−0.37∗∗0.11710.294∗∗YLD0.124−0.213∗−0.292∗∗−0.396∗∗−0.1450.282∗∗−0.1590.1570.492∗∗1∗∗ = highly significant, ∗ = significant, Ns = non-significant, DTF = date to flowering, DTM = date to maturity, PH = plant height, NNP = number of pods per plant, NSD = number of seeds per pod, PL = pod length, PW = pod width, HI = harvest index, HSW = hundred seed weight, and GYD = grain yield.


## 3.5.2. Phenotypic and Genotypic Correlations among Yield-Related Traits

At phenotypic level, days to 50% flowering had a significant and positive association with hundred seed weight (rp = 0.362∗∗), days to maturity (rp = 0.269∗∗), and the number of seeds per plant (rp = 0.204∗∗) (Table 5). The association of those characters shows that genotypes with early flowering would tend to mature early and genotypes that take longer to mature also have taller plant height, whereas it had a negative and significant association with harvest index (rp = −0.182∗∗ and (rg = −0.223∗). This result agrees with the findings of Barecha and Ejigu et al. [25, 42]. According to Laura et al. [47], days to 50% flowering were positively correlated with days to maturity, pod length, and the number of seeds per pod. Genotypically days to 50% flowering had significant and positive correlation with days to 90% maturity (rg=0.311∗∗) and number of seed per plant (rg=0.269∗∗). It also had a negative correlation with the harvest index (rg = −0.223∗) and hundred seed weight (rg = −0.688∗∗) (Table 5). The current result agrees with the previous works reported in [29, 39, 48, 49]. Similarly, Sadeghi et al. [44] reported a similar significant negative correlation between days and 50% flowering and harvest index.The result further indicated that days to 90% maturity positively correlated with plant height (rp = 0.317∗∗) and hundred seed weight (rp = −0.147∗) at the phenotypic level; similarly, it had a significant positive correlation with plant height (rg = 0.557∗∗) at genotypic level. This suggests that genotypes with taller plant height took many days for maturity to produce the maximum number of seeds per plant. However, the seeds were small. The current finding is supported by Loko et al. [50] who reported a positive and significant association between days and flowers with days to 50% flowering and the number of seeds per plant. Plant height negatively correlated with harvest index (rp = −0.1699∗) and pods per plant (rg = −0.247∗) at phenotypic level, whereas it had a negative association with harvest index (rg = −0.258∗∗) at genotypic level. This result concurred with those reported in previous studies, in which plant height correlated with the number of pods per plant and harvest index [28, 38, 42, 43]. The number of pods per plant was positively and significantly associated with the number of seeds per plant (rp = 0.637∗∗), pod width (rp = 0.1948∗∗), and hundred seed weight (rp = −0.283∗∗) at genotypic level.Number of pod per plant exhibit positive and significant correlation with number of seed per pod (0.629) and pod width (0.389) (Table5). The correlation between seed per pod and the number of pods per plant is interesting to the breeder because this character is relatively easy to determine the yield substantially. This result agrees with the reports of several scholars [27, 43–45]. The number of seeds per plant positively correlated with pod width (rp = 0.282∗∗) and seed weight (rp = −0.271∗∗) at phenotypic level and significantly correlated with pod width (rg = 0.425∗∗) and hundred seed weight (rg = −0.511∗∗) at genotypic level. The pod width correlated with hundreds of seed weights (rp = −0.324∗∗) and genotypically correlated with hundreds of seed weights (rg = −0.370∗∗). Zewdu [27] reported the same scenario.


## 3.6. Path Coefficient Analysis

Path analysis is the breakdown of correlations in the direct and indirect effects of independent characters and explanatory variables on a basic main variable and its estimations obtained by regression equations, in which the variables are previously determined [50]. Genotypic path coefficient analysis for yield and yield component of common bean is revealed in Table 6. The 100-seed weight that had a significant genotypic correlation with yield had the highest direct effect (0.294). This justifies that the correlation explains the true relationship and that direct selection through this trait is effective. Another direct effect was recorded from the number of pods per plant (0.025) and plant height (0.005). The results agreed with Wright [51] who reported the positive direct effect of the number of pods per plant and plant height on grain yield. In this respect, many researchers have found positive direct effects on yield for plant height [42, 43, 52, 53]. However, the trait days to 90% maturity and pod length had a negative direct effect on grain yield. These negative direct effects will not be considered for selection in a breeding program [15].Table 6
Genotypic direct and indirect effects of different traits on grain yield.
DTMPHNPPPLHSWrgDTM−0.2719−0.00270.16896−0.05578−0.0522−0.2136∗PH−0.48770.005370.09420.089870.00531−0.29294∗NPP0.120620.00240.02594−0.3634−0.1817−0.39605∗PL−0.00920.28342−0.0016−0.00310.013220.28272∗HSW−0.00880.01275−0.030.224450.294060.49247∗Residual = 0.51, NPP = number of pod per plant, PL = pod length, HSW = hundred seed weight, HI = harvest index, rg = genotypic correlation coefficient.At the phenotypic level, the highest direct effect was exerted by 100-seed weight (Table7). The correlation it had with yield was positive and significant. This indicates the true relationship between the two traits. Thus, 100-seed weight could be considered in indirect selection criteria for yield improvement. A similar finding was reported in [54]. The residual effect at genotypic path coefficient was 51% which suggests that the traits included in path analysis explain 49% of the variation in yield. In this regard, Johnson et al. [41] found high residual effects at both phenotypic (45.82%) and genotypic (51.3%) levels.Table 7
The phenotypic direct and indirect effects of different traits on grain yield.
PLHSWrpPL0.140380.013520.154HSW0.006600.287700.294Residual = 89.


## 3.7. Cluster Analyses

Clustering is the partition of data into a group of similar or dissimilar data points and each group is a set of data points called clusters [55]. The more divergent the two genotypes are, the more will be the probability of improvement through selection and hybridization. Hence, to develop a sound hybridization program, the genotypes must be genetically divergent, especially for quantitative characters that contribute toward yield [56]. The distribution of accessions into 7 clusters and one solitary is presented in Table 8 and Figure 1. Cluster II was the largest containing 33 genotypes followed by cluster IV which consists 19 genotypes. Whereas cluster I and III consist 16 genotypes, Cluster V consists 7 genotypes, cluster VI consists 6 genotypes, cluster VII consists 2 genotypes, and one solitary (ungrouped genotype. These indicate considerable variability among the genotypes under study. Kassaye [28] grouped 114 common bean genotypes into nine clusters, which makes them divergent. Furthermore, Getachew [57] grouped 36 common bean accessions into five clusters.Table 8
The cluster of 100 common bean genotypes based on the qualitative traits under study (2020/21).
ClusterNo. of genotypesProportion (100%)Name of genotypes11616P#264, P#1250,p#1074, P#1187, P#1306, P#1212, P#1070, P#1182, P#1063, P#1107, P#916, P#1083, P#945, P#999, P#1283, P#98923333P#872, P#1027, P#1097, P#1285, P#1038, P#985, P#1275, P#831, P#1050, P#1086, P#1158, P#40, P#1316, P#1063, P#1179 P#145,P#133, P#1055, P#882, P#1103, P#934, P#1310, P#1211, P#1279, P#1079, P#859, P#1042, P#1154, P#931, P#93, P#1150, P#1127, P#111731616P#1176, P#1072, P#1046, P#14, P#1298, P#772, P#1268, P#769, P#967, P#984, P#1049, P#1094, P#901, P#1227, P#1102, P#760, P#77241919P#909, P#1315, P#932, P#1157, P#864, P#1078, P#1043, P#1300, P#1124, P#1314, P#989, P#1078, P#1309, P#941, P#1095, P#1071, P#1270, P#811, P#13577P#1247, P#1092, P#861, P#990, P#763, P#58, P#857666P#1232, P#1057, P#1139, P#906, P#986, P#157722P#82, P#1124811P#1077Figure 1
Dendrogram of eight clusters of traits for 100 genotypes tested at Jimma during 2020/21.Accessions in clusters CI and CII were characterized by medium mean values for all traits (Table9). Accession in cluster CIII is characterized by the lowest mean value of the number of seeds per plant. Accessions in cluster CIV are characterized by the highest mean values of days to 50% flowering and pod width. Accessions in cluster CV are characterized by the lowest value of days to 90% maturity and the highest mean values of pod length and 100-seed weight. Accession in cluster CVI is characterized by the highest value of days to 90% maturity. Accessions in CVII are characterized by the lowest mean value of days to 50% flowering, pod length, harvest index, 100-seed weight, and yield, whereas the highest mean values of plant height, the number of pods per plant, and the number of seeds per plant are recorded.Table 9
Mean value of 10 traits for the eight clusters of 100 common bean genotypes.
TraitsClustersIIIIIIIVVVIVIIDTF49.3548.4549.3549.64∗∗47.5347.7846.42∗DTM97.9798.1198.2898.1896.28∗101.25∗∗100PH63.5866.3167.5968.2961.61∗66.5869.4∗∗NPP19.1119.1219.2018.9119.3321.3621.55∗∗NSP68.1769.6365.35∗71.3367.1869.0373.75∗∗PL10.9410.8211.0610.8311.99∗∗10.4110.03∗PW0.650.670.640.71∗∗0.590.670.69HI32.5337.2132.1933.7838.1330.5924.42∗HWS16.7617.7917.5218.5421.64∗∗16.7115.55∗YLD2718.433182.444103.853576.374660.81∗∗2222.651696.94∗∗ = lowest values, ∗∗ = highest values, DTF = days to 50% flowering, DTM = days to 90% maturity, PH = plant height, NPP = number of pods per plant, NSP = number of seeds per plant, PL = pod length, PW = pod width, HSW = hundred seed weight, HI = harvest index, and YDKPHA = yield per hectare tone per hectare.


## 3.8. Genetic Distance Analysis

Cluster formation and finding out intra and inter-cluster divergence provide a basis for selecting genetically divergent parents and it may be useful to produce crosses between genotypes belonging to the clusters separated by large estimated distances [58]. This finding showed the existence of an accepted difference among all clusters, and the genetic divergences between all pairs were highly significant (0.01), except between clusters CII and CIV (Table 10). Regarding the inter-cluster distance, the maximum distance was found between cluster CVII and CV (D2 = 616.64), followed by CVI and CV (D2 = 423.83). The presence of high inter-cluster distance between different clusters indicates wider genetic diversity (Table 10), which creates an opportunity for genetic recombination through hybridization, which is the basis for the identification of important recombinants in the segregating population. This result indicate that, crossing the genotype of cluster VII and V might be rewarding for improving the common bean yield by developing superior inbred lines from the segregated generations. According to [59–61], the cross between genotypes with maximum genetic distance would bring maximum heterosis (Table 10).Table 10
Pair-wise generalized squared distance (D2) among 100 common bean genotypes in seven clusters (2020/21).
ClusterIIIIIIIVVVIVIIVIIII—16.41∗135.84∗∗49.17∗∗269.62∗∗20.53∗∗75.75∗∗465.44∗∗II—59.44∗∗9.73NS155.03∗∗68.28∗∗156.44∗∗309.78∗∗III—23.91∗∗25.83∗∗250.97∗∗403.08∗∗101.6∗∗IV—91.48∗∗126.72∗∗240.87∗∗216.72∗∗V—423.83∗∗616.64∗∗31.25∗∗VI—19.82∗∗663.56∗∗VII—901.22∗∗VIII—∗ and ∗∗ indicate significant at 0.05 and highly significant at 0.01 probability levels, respectively.


## 3.9. Principal Component Analysis (PCA)

Yield is a polygenic trait that is directly or indirectly influenced by several other traits. Therefore, a technique must identify and prioritize the important traits by minimizing the number of traits for effective selection and genetic gain. PCA is a well-known data reduction technique that identifies the minimum number of traits, which contributes to maximum variability [62]. The first eight principal components with eigenvalues greater than one altogether explained about 92.3% of the total variation among the 100 common bean genotypes based on 10 quantitative traits (Table 11). The variation in PC1 (22.75%) was chiefly due to pod length (0.4790), seeds per pod (0.47), days to 90% maturity (0.360), and yield (−0.45). The current finding agrees with the former studies that reported the maximum contribution of 100-seed weight, seeds/plant, and pod length [63–65].Table 11
The principal component of 100 common bean genotypes in five components (2020/21).
TraitsPCPC1PC2PCA3PCA4PCA5PCA6PC7PC8DF−0.28−0.080.610.080.1−0.210.65−0.12DM0.360.34−0.07−0.09−0.390.180.430.52PH0.180.520.080.260.230.340.15−0.55NPP0.0450.480.12−0.170.66−0.1−0.140.35NsPS0.47−0.220.130.460.1−0.14−0.25−0.08PL0.48−0.260.150.330.18−0.10.170.28PW0.05−0.01−0.720.090.21−0.390.46−0.19HI0.29−0.280.11−0.640.3−0.180.07−0.10HWS−0.06−0.42−0.15−0.030.320.760.220.06YLD−0.46−0.052−0.090.390.26−0.1−0.020.40Eigenvalue2.281.621.222.542.752.662.562.65% of the total variance explained22.7516.2312.229.899.558.926.626.12The cumulative percentage of total variance explained22.7538.9851.261.0970.6479.5686.1892.3DF = days to 50% flowering, DM = days to 90% maturity, PH = plant height, NPP = number of pods per plant, NSP =  number of seeds per plant, PL = pod length, PW = pod width, HSW = hundred seed weight, HI = harvest index, and YDTPHA = yield per hectare tone per hectare.The second principal component accounts for about 16.22% of the total variation. The major contributing traits to the variation were plant height (0.519), the number of pods per plant (0.476), seed weight (−0.422), and pod length (−0.2652). The third principal component accounted for 12.22% of the total variation. The traits that had a major contribution were days to 50% flowering (0.612) and pod length (0.145), pod width (−0.71), and hundred seed weight (−0.15). The character contributing to the maximum loading for variation should be given greater emphasis. The authors in [26, 37] also used principal component analysis in the genetic variability study of common beans. The fourth principal component accounts for 9.89% of the total variation, and traits that contribute to this component were the number of seeds per pod (0.45) and yield (0.38), harvest index (−0.63), and the number of pods per plant (−0.17). The fifth principal component accounts 9.55% of the total variation. The contributing traits for this PC were the number of seeds per pod (0.66), hundred seed weights (0.31), and days to 90% maturity (−0.39). Positive and negative loadings show variation. The sixth PC contributes to 8.92% of the total variation. This study showed that Ethiopian common bean germplasm showed variation for the characters studied. This trait diversity evident among the accessions suggests the presence of opportunities for genetic improvement through selection directly from the accessions and/or selection of diverse parents for hybridization programs and conservation of the germplasm for further usage. Such an existence of broad agro-morphological genetic diversity among common bean germplasm is in agreement with the results of previous studies [1, 30, 34, 59, 60].


## 4. Summary and Conclusions

The present study indicated the presence of genetic variability among the tested genotypes which can be exploited in further common bean improvement. The presence of variability among the tested genotypes for quantitative traits shows the chance of selecting parental genotypes to develop hybrid varieties. The top eight landraces, namely, P#1247, P#1092, P#1077, P#861, P#990, P#763, P#58, and P#857, performed better than all other landraces. Therefore, for common bean yield improvement, direct selection of those genotypes will be rewarding. In general, the presence of genetic variability creates enormous opportunities for the improvement of common bean genotypes. Therefore, considering the above findings, grain yield improvement could be achieved through a direct selection of high-yielding genotypes or by crossing genotypes from a different cluster. However, this study was conducted for one season at one location. Thus, further studies should be conducted over locations and seasons to make more reliable conclusions and recommendations. Additionally, this genetic variability study of the present genotypes should be supported with molecular analysis techniques.



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*Source: 4400711-2022-11-03.xml*