Yaba Raj Pandey*, Durga Mani Gautam**, Resham Bahadur Thapa**, Moha Dutta Sharma** and Krishna Prasad Paudyal***
*Regional Agriculture Research Station, Lumle, Kaski
**Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, Rampur, Nepal
***Horticulture Research Division Khumaltar
Abstract
Eleven exotic and indigenous pole type French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) genotypes were evaluated at Agriculture Research Station, Malepatan, Pokhara (848 masl) during summer and autumn Seasons 2009/10 and 2010/11 with an objective to identify and recommend the suitable varieties. The experiment was conducted in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications for pod yield and yield attributes. The results of the study showed that the highest number of flower buds per inflorescence was produced by Madhav (5.70 and 5.57) whereas the lowest by Tarbare (3.43 and 3.33) during summer and autumn season respectively. The longest pods were produced by Chinese Long (20.47 and 20.67 cm) whereas the shortest by Syangia (7.67 and 7.60 cm) during Summer and autumn season respectively. The highest pod width was found in Tarbare (33.53 and 33.43 mm) whereas the lowest width in Makwanpur (8.37 and 8.47 mm) during summer and autumn season respectively. The highest fresh pod yield was produced by Makwanpur (23.91 t/ha) and the lowest by Tarbare (8.63 t/ha) during summer. During autumn season, Four Season produced the highest pod yield (28.43 t/ha) and the lowest by Tarbare (7.70 t/ha). The result revealed that the fresh pod yield was not influenced by other floral and pod characteristics. Most genotypes produced fresher pod yield during autumn than summer season. Four Seasons produced 28.5% more yield during autumn than in summer whereas Trishuli and Makwanpur produced 32.7 and 13.2% more yield respectively. It could be concluded that Four Season followed by Makwanpur and Trishuli could successfully be grown during autumn season and Makwanpur followed by Four Season and Trishuli during summer season for western mid hills of Nepal.