Content area
The small red bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) variety "Tio Canela - 75" was evaluated in three regions in Honduras for productivity, yield stability, agronomic traits, disease resistance, and consumer acceptance. Twenty-nine field trials were conducted on small-scale farms in Danli Guinope and Francisco Morazan during the 1996 first and second growing seasons. The three treatments in each trial included (1) the traditional variety and fertilization practice used by the farmer, (2) "Tio Canela - 75" using the traditional fertilization practice and (3) "Tio Canela - 75" using fertilization recommended by the bean program of the Pan-American Agriculture School/Zamorano. Different factors in each production zone affected the adaptation and performance of beans. Drought and tillage quality were the two most important abiotic factors affecting productivity and yield stability. Tio Canela - 75 had greater resistance to the bean golden mosaic virus, common bacterial blight and rust than the traditional variety. Yield response to fertilization was site-specific. However, the recommended rate of fertilization resulted in significantly greater yields in 45% of the trials. Well managed farms produced mean yields similar to those obtained in trials planted on experimental stations. Farmer acceptance of Tio Canela - 75 was based on greater yield potential, disease resistance, and expected use of the crop. Results from the field trials confirmed the productivity and yield stability of Tio Canela - 75 and supported the breeding strategies used to develop this variety. Traits such as tolerance to drought and resistance to bean pod weevil (Apion godmani) should be incorporated into new small red varieties for Honduras.