YIELD GENETIC GAIN AT NATIONAL LEVEL OF CARIOCA COMMON BEANS FROM THE EMBRAPA BREEDING PROGRAM - 1993 TO 2008

摘要

The continuous demand for improved bean cultivars, with high yield and resistance to restrictive production factors have guided Embrapa breeding program in Brazil. In the last 25 years 48 cultivars of various commercial types, with an average of 1.9 cultivars per year, were released. The assessment of genetic breeding programs carried out in species of economic importance through the estimate of the genetic progress is a method used by breeders to measure intended goals. Some research work had been carried out to estimate common bean genetic gains at state level, but never at national level. After more than 20 years from the beginning of that program, an estimate has not been done yet. Those estimates are important to assess the efficiency of the program, and to organize data base banks to support further strategic planning. Therefore, the objective of this work was to estimate the genetic gain of the commercial type carioca dry beans breeding program carried out by Embrapa Rice and Beans ResearchCenter in a period of 16 years, from 1993 to 2008.