Environmentally stable common bean genotypes for production in different agro-ecological zones of Tanzania

Genotype by environment interaction (GxE) complicates the process of selecting genotypes suitable for quantitative traits like seed yield in beans, hence slows down the development and release of varieties by breeding programs. GxE study on seed yield in beans enables identification of stable genotypes across sites and best site(s) for discriminating the tested genotypes in terms of seed yield. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of the environment, genotype, and genotype by environment interaction on seed yield stability and adaptability of common bean landraces, lines, and improved varieties across three different agro-ecologies in Tanzania. The 99 common bean genotypes (Landraces, lines, and improved varieties) were planted following alpha lattice design in three replications each contained five blocks with 20 plots. Soil properties from the experimental sites, days to 75% flowering, Seed yield, 100 seed weight, number of seeds/pod, and number of pods/plant were recorded. Data on seed yield and its components were analyzed using Additive main effect and multiplicative interaction (AMMI), genotype main effects plus genotype similar to environment interaction (GGE), and yield stability index (YSI). The AMMI revealed very highly significant (P similar to 0.001) effects of genotypes, environmental, and genotype similar to environment interaction on all the traits. AMMI analysis revealed that genotype main effects accounted for 39.3% of the total sum square of seed yield, whereas the environment and genotype similar to environmental interaction accounted for 31.4% and 26.8 % respectively. Genotype main effects largely influenced the variation in days to 75% flowering (55.5%), number of pods/plant (49.2%), number of seeds/pod (73.3%), and 100 seed weight (71.2%). Among soil properties recorded, available soil phosphorus, soil pH, soil exchangeable K, Ca, and Na had a strong positive association with common bean seed yield, while soil organic carbon and total nitrogen exhibited a strong negative association with seed yield. GGE revealed that E1 (TARISelian) was the most discriminative and representative site for common bean genotypes seed yield. Based on the yield stability index, the most stable and high seed yielding genotypes were ACC 714, Selian 14, Selian 9, Katuku, and Msolini. The identified high seed yielding and stable genotypes can be further tested in participatory variety selection involving farmers and later on released as varieties and can also be used for different breeding purposes in different agro-ecologies of Tanzania.