MORPHOLOGICAL TRAITS OF CULTIVATED, WILD AND WEEDY FORMS IN CLIMBING COMMON BEAN

Abstract

A morphologic characterization of domesticated, wild and weedy forms of climbing common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L., Fabaceae) was carried out. Fifteen genotypes were evaluated under a randomized complete block design with three replications. In order to know the relationships between included forms, 18 quantitative variables were registered. Data were analyzed by analysis of varian-ce, cluster analysis based on euclidian distance and principal components. Twelve of 18 traits showed differences (P ≤ 0.05) between domesticated and wild forms, 10 between domesticated and weedy types, and five between weedy and wild beans. Domesticated forms were higher in length and width of pod, seed length, width and thickness and seed weight, compared to wild forms; the weight of 100 grains varied from 5.04 to 42.93 g. The length of stem and number of nodes were not different among forms. The number of pods per plant and seeds per pod recognized as yield components, did not show reductions in the domesticated form; these traits are associated with high yield potential in cultivated forms. Within each bean form the materials presented little morphological variation. The domesticated, wild and weedy forms of common bean of climber growth habit, constitute three groups with different morphological traits. The weedy form comprises an intermediate group, morphologically closer to wild beans.