The development of common bean germplasm with higher iron content would be an interesting alternative to reduce the low in take of this mineral in Brazilians diet. The objectives of this research were to evaluate the existence of maternal effect in iron content and to analyse the inheritance of this trait. The F1, F1 reciprocal, F2, F2 reciprocal, F3, F3 reciprocal, backcross 1 and backcross 2 generations were performed among the cultivars Minuano x Diamante Negro and Diamante Negro x IAPAR 44. The iron content was ascertained by nitric-perchloric digestion and determination on the atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Genetic variability in grain iron content was revealed in two crosses, beyond expression of maternal effect . Estimates of heritability in the broad sense was of 76.36% and the narrow sense of 50.60% in the cross Minuano x Diamante Negro. The gain from selection was of 11.14% and it is able to increase in grain iron content in common bean by plant breeding. The selection performed in the early generation may be effective for development of common bean germplasm with higher iron content.
Phaseolus vulgaris L.; mineral; maternal effect; heritability; gain from selection
