GENOTYPIC vulgaris

COMPETITION L.) VARIETIES

IN

FIELD

BEANS

(Phaseolus

by REUBEN M. OTSYULA

A thesis submitted the University

to the Faculty of Agriculture of Nairobi in partial

in

fulfillment of

of the requirements MASTER OF SCIENCE

for the degree

IN PLANT BREEDING

Department

of crop science Kenya.

Nairobi

1991

(x )
ABSTRACT

Beans in Kenya are normally farmers mixture cu Lti vars. cultivars cultivation. available on the in mixtures often for subsistence

..

grown by small scale agriculture. or most These

comprise do not

landraces select the in

improved sui table system of

Farmers for the There

combination is also

this

little

information interactions study and was

on the effects of

of competitive mixtures.

production to study

such

This

designed analyse of

genotype

interactions

hence

the effect

of competition cultivars. It

on the performance was therefore to

established

bean

identify

the varieties systems

best suited to varietal farming

mixture

production

in the peasant

sector.

Four established Canadian Wonder,

bean cu l, tivars namely Rosecoco, and Mwezi Moja planted in

Red Haricot

Kenya were used in this study. The four varieties used to develop of six biblends proportion and of each the

were

biblend component a total

comprised varieties.

equal

The biblends which

and uniblends were planted

formed

of ten treatments compete Genotype block

in a randomised and Bukura. according to

design

at Kabete, analysis

Kakamega was done

competition

model presented

by Federer

et al.,

(1982).

(xi) It was genotypic forms

(1968).

evident

from

the

study

that

there

was Four

interaction

in the mixtures as described effects, by

studied. Schutz

of competition namely

et al.,

neutral

overcompesation

(cooperati ve), observed.

undercompesation Among was these considered as it

and compl imentary were interaction as the most pointed forms important at yield

overcompesation interaction advantage.

form

clearly

Competi ti ve

abil ity of

various

genotypes

showed awider variability Ii is therefore location recommended

over seasons and locations.

that the results from one before Wonder For

or season

can not be used short

in another Canadian

it is tested. and Mwezi

For Kabete be

rains

Moj a would

considered however was

favourable. none of the favourable. combination and At

Kabete mixture long

during

the long rains, for

combinations at Red

yield

For of

rains and

Kakamega, Haricot could

mixture and be

Rosecoco Wonder Rosecoco Mwezi

Rosecoco adapted.

Canadian Bukura and

combination

and Red Haricot

combination

and Rosecoco

Moja mixtures

may be favourable

combinations.