In order to determine the best indirect selection criteria for genetic
improvement of biological nitrogen fixation, sixty four common bean genotypes
were cultivated in two randomized complete block design. Genotypes were
inoculated with bacteria Rhizobium legominosarum biovar Phaseoli isolate
L-109 only in one of the experiments. The second experiment was considered as
check for the first. Correlation analysis showed positive and highly
significant correlation of majority of the traits with percent of nitrogen
fixation. Step-wise regression designated that traits percent of total
nitrogen of shoot, number of nodule per plant and biological yield accounted
for 92.3 percent of variation exist in percent of nitrogen fixation. Path
analysis indicated that these traits have direct and positive effect on
percent of nitrogen fixation. Hence, these traits are promising indirect
selection criteria for genetic improvement of nitrogen fixation capability in
common bean genotypes especially in early generations.
CO2-assimilation and chlorophyll fluorescence as indirect selection criteria for host tolerance against Striga
