The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of the early selection of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) grain yield. 192 families from the cross 'Carioca' (P1) x 'FT-Tarumã' (P2), which 64 from F2 generation and 128 from F2 of the backcrosses (64 of the BC1 and 64 of the BC2) were assessed. These families were conducted by within F2 family bulk breeding and evaluated in the generations F2:3 (February/1997), F2:4 (July/1997), F2:5 (November/1997) and F2:6 (February/1998), in the Department of Biology of the Federal University of Lavras, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. It was used the simple lattice design , 14 x 14, including the 192 families, the parents and two checks. The following genetic and phenotypic parameters were estimated: genetic and phenotypic variances; realized heritability; correlations between families of the evaluated generations; and genetic gain observed based on divergent selection. General results indicated that the best families were observed in all generations derived from BC2 and genotypes x environments interaction affected the early selection. Therefore, to improve its efficiency, the families should be evaluated for at least two generations. The early selection was efficient mainly for elimination of the worst families, reducing in that way the work of breeder in advanced generations.
early selection; genotypes x environments interaction; common bean
