Combining ability and heterosis for concentration of mineral elements and protein in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Bean is one of the most consumed pulse crops in the world. Hence, the quality of the protein and mineral content is important for producers and consumers. Line × tester methods were used to determine the combining ability and heterosis of protein content and mineral accumulation in common beans that were crosses of PV1, PV2, PV3, PV4, PV5, PV6, Sehirali 90, Akman 98, and Yunus 90. Mean squares of line × tester interactions were significant for all of the investigated traits and indicated the prevalence of nonadditive variance; moreover, the value of the s2 gca/s2 sca ratio for all characters was less than 1 and indicated predominance of nonadditive gene effects. Line × tester analysis revealed significant general combining ability and specific combining ability (SCA) effects for all the traits. Among the parents, PV2 and Yunus 90 were found to have high general combining abilities for protein and minerals. The most promising specific combiners for protein and minerals were from crosses PV1 × Akman 98, PV2 × Akman 98, and PV5 × Yunus 90. The average heterosis for protein was -0.70% in the F1 generation. The crosses PV1 × Akman 98, PV2 × Akman 98, and PV5 × Yunus 90 for protein content had significant estimates of both SCA effects and heterosis, suggesting the predominance of nonadditive gene action for the trait in these crosses. Additionally, only potassium content showed significant differences among the bean lines, while the testers exhibited nonsignificant differences for all of the investigated features. Analysis of the data indicated that the selection of parents should be based on per-seed content, as well as combining ability and heterosis, in order to improve protein and mineral contents in the common bean. © TÜBİTAK.