Landraces versus commercial common bean cultivars under organic growing conditions: A comparative study based on agronomic performance and physicochemical traits

This study targeted to assess the yield components and physicochemical traits of eight common bean landraces versus four commercial cultivars widely grown in Greece. The genotypes were cultivated for two growing seasons under organic growing conditions and a preponderance [better agronomic characteristics; number of pods per plant, seed weight, biomass and enhanced physicochemical properties; protein and fat content (%)] of landraces over commercial cultivars was found. It was also observed that organic environment of experimentation allowed for better differentiation of the examined genetic material but displayed a negative impact on the commercial cultivars. These results were obtained by determining the genetic parameters (GCV, H) and orthogonal contrasts between different (landraces versus commercial cultivars) groups according both to growth type and origin. High detectable genetic variation in agronomic performance and physicochemical traits among the examined dry bean cultivars was found. Three high yield landraces of enhanced physicochemical properties (% protein and fat content) were identified as promising material for eventual production of ecotypes endowed with high adaptation to organic cropping system