Y.R. Pandey , D.M. Gautam , R.B. Thapa , M.D. Sharma and K.P. Paudyal

DOI

ABSTRACT

Eleven pole bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) genotypes (Four Season, LB-31, LB39, Madhav, Trishuli, Chinese Long, Makwanpur, Samjhana, Myagdi, Syangja and Tarbare)) were evaluated during autumn seasons of 2010 and 2011 at the Agriculture Research Station, Malepatan, Pokhara (848 msl) to assess the variability in the genotypes and their potential utilization in improvement programs. The experiment was conducted in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The variability was significant among the genotypes in adaptation, vegetative growth, floral and pod characteristics and fresh pod yield. The highest number of branches and nodes per plant were produced by Syangja (9.2 and 44.0, respectively), while the lowest number of branches (3.7) and nodes (24.4) were produced by LB- 39. Makwanpur was the earliest in flowering (37.5 days) and Syangja was lattest in flowering (72.2 days). The tallest plants were found in Chinese Long (278.3cm) and the shortest in LB-31 (212.6cm). Makwanpur produced the highest number of flower buds per inflorescence (5.7) and the lowest flower bud producer was Myagdi (3.4). Pod length and width were the highest in Chinese Long and Myagdi (20.7cm and 33.5 mm, respectively), and the lowest in Tarbare and Makwanpur (7.6cm and 8.5 mm, respectively) genotypes. Four Season produced the highest fresh pod yield (30.3 t/ha, which was followed by Makwanpur (28.0 t/ha) and the lowest fresh pod yielder was Myagdi (7.9 t/ha). The range of diversity among the evaluated genotypes showed the possibility of their utilization in variety selection for commercial production.