Performance of Snap Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Genotypes for Green Pod Yield and Quality in the Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia

Multi-location variety trials were conducted to evaluate snap bean genotypes for yield and quality in 2013 and 2014 at Melkassa and Debrezeit agricultural research centers and Wonji. The experiment was laid out in RCBD with three replications. Data on yield and yield contributing traits were collected and subjected to environment wise analysis of variance followed by pooled analysis. The pooled analysis of variance for marketable yield showed significant difference (p< 0.01); and ranged from 7.5 t ha-1 to 9.14 t ha-1. Total green pod yield was also significant (p < 0.05); and ranged from 9.72 t ha-1 to 11.73 t ha-1 for genotypes BC4.4 and Plati respectively. There was also significant difference (p< 0.01) among genotypes in days to 50% flowering, pod diameter and length. Genotype Plati had the largest pod diameter (7.02 mm) and length(119.3 mm). The rest pod characters such as pod shape, color, fiber content and curvature were also diverse among genotypes. On the basis of total yield (11.73 t ha-1) and pod characters such as pod diameter(7.02 mm) and length(119.3 mm), low fiber content, green pod color, smooth pod surface, straight pod curvature and round pod shape, genotype Plati was identified as potential variety and thus released for production in the Central Rift Valley and similar agro-ecologies of Ethiopia