Genotype x environment interaction in the iron and zinc biofortification of common bean grains

Abstract

Bean breeding programs have focused on the generation of early bush cultivars with higher yields, commercial acceptance and resistance to crop-limiting diseases. This study prioritized the nutritional quality in terms of iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) content in bean grains grown in three high tropical environments. Two bush bean cultivars and five climbing bean cultivars were evaluated. The mineral content of the grains was determined with atomic absorption spectroscopy. The results indicated that the bush genotypes Bacatá and Bianca are biofortified with Fe and Zn and the climbing cultivar Sutagao is biofortified with Zn. Statistical differences were found between genotypes (G), environments (E) and GxE interactions. According to the AMMI stability value (ASV), the cultivars Sutagao, Bianca and Iraca were stable, whereas Bacatá, which was the one with the highest nutritional quality, was moderately stable. The Simijaca environment showed an adequate edaphic contribution to bean production with nutritional quality.