The objective of this study was to estimate the genetic progress after three recurrent selection cycles in common bean. The progenies in each cycle were evaluated over three generations S0:1, S0:2 and S0:3 on the experimental field of the Department of Biology at the Federal University of Lavras (UFLA), in Lavras, Minas Gerais, from 2001 to 2006. In the experiments, grain yield, grain type and plant architecture were evaluated. Analyses of variance and the estimates of genetic and phenotypic parameters were obtained in all progeny evaluations. The progress per trait was estimated and, upon standardization of variables, the progress for the three traits simultaneously. Since the cycles refer to different years, the performance of two lines that participated in all evaluations was used as base to lessen the environmental effect in the estimates. The difference between the b's of the linear regression, of the number of cycles, the independent variable (x), and the mean performance of the trait under selection, the dependent variable (y), of the progenies and of the controls, provided the estimate of the genetic progress. Considering the three traits simultaneously after three recurrent selection cycles the genetic progress was 3.1% per cycle,. The existence of genetic variability in the progenies suggests the possibility of continuous success with selection.
Phaseolus vulgaris; genetic progress; linear regression
