Plant breeding effi ciency relies mainly on genetic diversity and selection to release new cultivars. This study aimed to identify landraces with favorable characteristics that can be used as parents of segregating populations in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) breeding programs. Firstly, ten bean genotypes were selected because they showed promising agronomic performance, and the following seven adaptive traits of four commercial bean cultivars were evaluated: i) plant height; ii) diameter of the stem; iii) height of the insertion of the fi rst pod; iv) pod number per plant; v) grain number per pod; vi) weight of a thousand grains and vii) grain yield. The accessions BAF 07, BAF 44, and BAF 45 are promising in terms of increasing plant height, and accession BAF 01, in terms of reducing plant height. The accession BAF 07 was also the most promising in terms of a plant ideotype that combines higher plant height, maximum height of the insertion of the fi rst pod, and increment in grain yield. Moreover, the selection can be made between and within accessions, because genetic variability is also present within landraces.

The purpose of this study was to predict the genetic progress in the selection for common bean agronomic traits based on the trait expression, using two indices of adaptive selection. The existence of correlation between various traits in common bean breeding is a major restriction, but some tools that allow breeders to predict the expected gains could optimize results. The following traits were evaluated:(1) plant cycle (days), (2) plant height (in cm), (3) stem diameter (cm), (4) insertion of the first pod (cm); (5) number of pods per plant; (6) number of grains per pod; (7) pod length (cm). Results show the possibility of selecting accessions for several agronomically important traits evaluated together. The only genotype selected by both indices was UDESC 03, confirming the possibility of selecting plants with superior agronomic traits among genotypes of common bean landraces.

This study aimed to identify which is the main component of grain yield of bean that that shows less sensitivity effect of the environment, and provides greater consistency in the expression of

ResumoEste trabalho teve como objetivo verifi car quais as principais difi culdades dos pesquisadores com relação ao uso de testes de comparação de médias, bem como propor alternativas para uma melhor inferência estatística. Para uma aplicação correta dos testes estatísticos é fundamental o conhecimento por parte do pesquisador, do delineamento experimental, dos tipos de fatores, das variáveis respostas e dos tratamentos que irão constituir o seu trabalho. Foram revisados duzentos e noventa e dois (292) trabalhos científi cos na área de fi totecnia, publicados num periódico da área das Ciências Agrárias, Qualis A nacional, no período compreendido entre 2000 e 2006. Para tanto, os artigos foram classifi cados quanto à utilização de testes de comparação de médias em: i) apropriado; ii) parcialmente apropriado; iii) inapropriado. Existe difi culdade na escolha do procedimento correto em relação ao tipo de fator experimental estudado, sendo que dos trabalhos que empregaram mais de um fator, (75%) foram classifi cados como inapropriados devido ao abuso dos testes de comparações de médias. Os demais, que representam 3% e 22%, foram classifi cados como parcialmente apropriados e apropriados, respectivamente. Unitermos: fatores qualitativos e quantitativos, comparação de médias, contrastes, regressão AbstractDiffi culties related to the use of tests of comparison of averages in scientifi c articles. The objective of this work was to verify the researcher's main diffi culties in the use of means comparison tests, as well as to propose alternatives for a better statistical inference. For a correct application of the statistical tests it is fundamental for the researcher to know the experimental design, the factors, the variables and the treatments that will constitute the work, because these are decisive in the choice of the statistical test. Two hundred and ninety-two scientifi c papers from plant sciences were revised. These papers were published in the Brazilian Qualis A journal, from 2000 until 2006. The papers were classifi ed by their use of means comparison tests as i) appropriate, ii) Biotemas, 21 (2): 145-153, junho de 2008

-The purpose of this study was to suggest a division of the State of Santa Catarina in macro-environments for experimentation and bean production. Data of the traits grain yield and plant cycle were evaluated in 10 common bean genotypes grown in nine environments. The data were submitted to the Student-Newman Keuls test, to detect differences between environments, and the Best Linear Unbiased Prediction, to predict the environmental values. The results showed: (a) differences between the regions of Santa Catarina for the traits grain yield and plant cycle, which had a significant positive correlation of 0.26 (b) Based on the genotypes and environments studied the state can be divided in two macro-environments (MA1 and MA2) and four micro-environments (MI1, MI2, MI3 and MI4). The state of Santa Catarina may be roughly divided in at least two macro-environments for the recommendation of new cultivars.