The objectives of this study were to assess the agronomic performance of common bean genotypes, previously selected for their response to infestation, by Mexican bean weevil and to identify promising lines that can be used as parents in a downstream breeding program. Field experiments were conducted using 144 genotypes under three different agro-ecologies in an unbalanced incomplete block design with three replications. Data on 15 agro-morphological traits were collected, and multivariate methods were used to examine the patterns of variation among the genotypes. The genotypes revealed a high level of phenotypic diversity for all agronomic traits. Six principal components, which contributed 84% of the total variation among the genotypes, were identified. The 15 agro-morphological traits classified the genotypes into three distinct major clusters and sub-clusters. The clustering patterns of the genotypes were according to the seed size, whereby the small and medium beans were distinctly separated from the large-seeded beans. The study established the existence of considerable genetic variations among common bean genotypes. Unique genotypes, such as Nasir, Awash Melka, and RAZ-36 from Cluster I, RAZ-2, RAZ-11, and RAZ-42 from Cluster II, and SER-125, SCR-15, MAZ-200, MAZ-203, and RAZ-120 from Cluster III, were selected based on their distinct agronomic performance. The selected genotypes could be useful for the common bean breeding program.

Bruchids are a major storage pest of common bean. Genetic resistance is a suitable method to avoid grain losses during storage. The objective of the study was to introgress the arcelin‐based resistance locus into selected advanced breeding line and to validate the molecular marker BRU_00261. A total of 208 progeny F₄ families were phenotyped using a randomized complete block design, with three replications. Highly significant differences (P < .001) among the entries, parents and offspring were recorded for almost all traits. There was no significant difference between the two parents in the number of eggs laid. The progenies were grouped as highly resistant (34.3%), resistant (11.9%), moderately resistant (21.4%) and susceptible (32.4%). The levels of broad sense heritability ranged from 68.5%–93.9% for all the traits. Eighty‐three most resistant lines and the parental lines were genotyped with the marker BRU_00261 (snpPV0007). The marker segregation deviated significantly from the expected independent segregation towards a strong enrichment for the resistant marker in the selected families. This marker will be useful for selecting promising materials in early generations and phenotypic confirmation of positive lines in later generations.

This study was conducted to identify suitable parental genotypes for breeding for resistance to bruchid and to identify the farmers’ preferred traits in common bean. For this study, 144 diverse common bean genotypes were planted in an alpha lattice design, with 3 replications at 3 locations. Participatory variety selection was done using 20 farmers at each location. Farmers identified a number of criteria for selecting suitable varieties. Yield and yield-related traits were ranked as the most important selection criteria by all farmers at all locations. However, women ranked culinary traits as the top criteria, while men were more interested in marketable traits. From the 144 genotypes, farmers selected the 10 best genotypes in all the locations. The majority of the genotypes selected at Melkassa and Alemetena were small white-seeded released varieties and breeding lines. However, all the genotypes selected at Arsi Negele were predominantly landraces of small red-seeded beans. Traits such as earliness and resistance to storage insect were important in Melkassa and Alme tena but received less attention in Arsi Negele. The integration of the farmers’ selection preferences with the breeders’ criteria can improve the efficiency of plant breeding by developing crop varieties that better fit the specific needs of the farmers.

Common bean research program of Ethiopia aimed at development of demanded variety for enhanced adoption, improve food and nutrition security as well as to boost income of smallholder farmers thereby enhancing foreign earnings of the country. To achieve these aim, the breeding program use different strategies. These incudes, importing demanded variety and fast-track testing release, introducing bean germplasm and release stable variety and participatory variety selection for incorporating growers traits on variety selection. Accordingly, bean improvement program selected six major bean products that includes, small/large white beans, speckled bean, small/large reds and mottled beans. During variety selection stakeholders’ choice and trait of preference has been incorporated during interactive consultative forums of the value chain actor at bean innovation multi-stakeholder platform. Apart from bean variety development, integrated crop management technologies has been developed to implement good agricultural practice. To facilitate common variety adoption, bean seed system have been enhanced through integration of early generation seed production with formal and informal seed production of public and private seed producers. These efforts has enhanced transformed productivity from 0.7 to 1.5 t/ha and area expanded from 150,000 ha to 520,121 ha and total production up to 568,243 t. Due to this fact bean export has been increased up to 100–150 million USD per annum. Generally, the demand led breeding and value chain approach, synergetic and innovative technology generation and promotion has transformed bean productivity, area produced and market; consecutively livelihood of growers and income of the country has been enhanced.