Comparison of Different Methods for

The objective of this study was to group common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) accessions originating from different collection sites according to their morphological similarity. Classification based on genetic diversity should improve the maintenance of the collection of bean accessions and enhance its use as a valuable source of desirable traits in plant breeding. Materials used in this study are accessions of common bean, collected at various locations in Croatia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and stored in the Croatian Bank of Plant Genes (HBBG). In order to use a number of qualitative and quantitative morphological traits, scored according to IPGRI (International Plant Genetic Resources Institute, Rome), and HBBG descriptor lists, we followed the method of classification described by Franco and Crossa (2003). Results obtained from this study reveal some weaknesses as well as advantages of methods used for classification of gene bank accessions. KEY WORDS distance measure, cluster analysis, genetic diversity, modified location mode