Abstract:

Common bean is an important legume crop grown in Uganda providing a cheap
source of protein. Basing on growth habit, two types of beans occur namely bush and
climbing beans. In Uganda bush beans are the most predominant and yet climbing
beans are more common in Kabale, Kisoro, Kapiichorwa and Mbale districts.
Climbing beans have several advantages over bush beans. To exploit such
advantages, there is need to avail the farming communities with more climbing beans.
But release of any new varieties requires characterization and evaluation for
morphology and agronomical traits in order to provide different genotypes with
superior characters that will contribute to higher yields than the released varieties.
The purpose of the study was to characterize and determine the with in genotypes and
between genotype phenotypic variation of the 56 climbing bean genotype
introductions, and group them in defined groups based on there similarities. Data was
collected for the vegetative, inflorescence, fruit, and seed characters of each of the
genotypes. The data collected was subjected to analysis using SPSS computer
program version 10.0
Ninety one percent of the total materials in study displayed a narrow genetic
diversity, which calls for collection of more germplasm to widen the genetic base of
climbing bean genotypes. Genotypes, MAC 50, MAC 12-2, DB200-15 and BRC 19
displayed a wider genetic diversity. Genotypes MAC 12-2, LAS 400A and DB 200
15 were identified as large seeded which makes them acceptable for most consumers
in Uganda. Promising genotypes with yields greater than the local checks used in the
study were MAC 19-1, MAC 35 and MAC 70-2 and should be tested further in the breeding programme