Screening for yield-related agronomic traits in a panel of locally conserved common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) accessions

Characterization and conservation of germplasm is a critical step toward the genetic improvement crop. This study assessed variation in 257 common bean genotypes which included 207 accessions obtained National Gene Bank Kenya, 33 from Kenya Agricultural Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), 13 landraces collected farmers’ fields four commercial varieties for various agronomic traits. The experiments were laid out randomized complete block design with three replicates at Jomo Kenyatta University Agriculture Technology (Kenya) seasons between 2019 2020. Significant differences (P≤0.05) existed among all traits studied. Seed yield ranged 220.6 to 4641.9 kg/ha (KNB0106) mean 1267.0 kg/ha. (P ≤0.05) positive correlation was recorded days flowering maturity (0.73), while 100-seed weight had significantly negative number pods per plant (-0.66) seeds pod (-0.65). High (>20%) broad-sense heritability (89.0%), (76.8%), grain (60.5%). Nineteen that combined early high-yielding identified. On average, higher seed yields large-seeded climbing compared small-seeded bush types. Common characterized can be exploited breeding programs. Key words: bean, traits, Phaseolus vulgaris, variability, broad sense heritability.