Correlation between seed-coat color and the seeding characters in Phaseolus vulgaris L.

Abstract

Studies on 271 varieties of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), randomly selected from the bean collection of the Tropical Higher Education and Research Center (IICA), showed that there is a close relationship between seed color and seedling color. This is most evident in black-seeded varieties, which produce red hypocotyls, cotyledons, and leaf veins, while white-seeded varieties produce the same organs in green. This correlation provides a key to predicting seed color from seedling color. In this way, a selection method can be developed to isolate potential mutants from black-seeded varieties in a mutation breeding program.