Carioca bean genotypes (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) were evaluated in two growing seasons in Santa Maria, RS, Brazil. The objectives of this work were to evaluate which morpho-agronomic characteristics were the best descriptors, to group the genotypes in relation to genetic diversity and to determine which hybrid combinations are promissing to obtain higher segregation populations in carioca bean. From the 20 morpho-agronomic characteristics evaluated, only seven (pod rust, lodging, general note, colour of seed tegument, grain yield, 100 seed weight, height of first and final pod insertion and number of seeds per pod) showed higher contribution to genetic diversity. The evaluated carioca bean genotypes were clustered by the complete linkage method. The following hybrid combinations were promissing for obtaining segregant population with higher genetic variability: the genotype ESAL 550 with the genotype of the group 2 (LH-6, 17-4-32, R-78, H-4-5 e R-102) and genotype of the group 3 (FT 97-188, Cati-Taquari, CII-328, Carioca Precoce, FT 97-41, LH-11, FT 91-4067, Iapar 31, CI 102, Carioca MG, CII-54 and R-102).
Phaseolus vulgaris; morpho-agronomic descriptors; clustering; genetic variability
