The genetic variability in plant populations can be estimated through multivariate analysis, which allows to analyze the genotypes based on a set of traits to identify the traits with the greatest influence for the divergence and the correlation between them. In this sense, the objective of the present work was to estimate the genetic divergence between golden flax lines using multivariate analysis for initial plant selections. For this purpose, 73 lines, in addition to the control, were tested in a randomized complete block design, with three replications, and traits of cycle, stature, and yield were measured. Twelve groups were obtained based on the Mahalanobis distance estimate and Tocher cluster, and the technical length was the most important trait for the dissimilarity. The line of group XI was promising, with early maturation and satisfactory seed productivity. The graphic of dispersion of the canonical variables showed the most divergent lines, and the greatest divergence was observed between groups III and IV. Multivariate analysis was an important tool for the initial choice of superior golden flax.

Bacteria from the rhizobia group are able to associate symbiotically with bean crop, forming nodules in the root, in which the biological nitrogen-fixing process occurs. However, the efficiency of this process has been low and it can be attributed to genetic and environmental factors. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the capacity of nodulation of local varieties and commercial common bean cultivars inoculated with a Rhizobium tropici strain used in commercial inoculants and rhizobia isolates from common bean root nodules. The experiment was carried out in a factorial scheme (2x4), in a randomized block design with four replicates. It was tested two local varieties and two commercial cultivars, inoculated with the reference Rhizobium tropici strain CIAT899 and the RBZ14 strain isolated from common bean nodules grown in soils of Southern Brazil, in adapted Leonard-type pots. The CIAT899 strain promoted either higher mass of viable nodules and higher nitrogen accumulation in the aerial part. The black group local variety showed better response than the cultivar TAA Dama for nodule viability, suggesting more efficiency for nodulation. The interaction between genotypes (local varieties and commercial cultivars) and bacteria showed the specificity of the complex symbiotic relationship of biological nitrogen fixation in common bean, requiring further studies of these interactions.