Progress of Common Bean Breeding and Genetics Research in Ethiopia

Abstract

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) contributes to food and nutrition security, and income generation for smallholder farmers and enhances foreign exchange earnings in Ethiopia. The crop is one of the major pulses that serve as a rotational crop in cereal based cropping systems in the lowland areas. However, the gap between the potential and national average productivity remains high due to several production constraints. Limited availability of improved multiple stress tolerant varieties like diseases, insect pests, moisture stress and soil fertility problems are the major problems. The national bean research program conducts research aimed to increase production and productivity through generation of consumer and market-preferred high yielding varieties tolerant to major biotic and abiotic stresses. Insitu population development by hybridization and introduction of advanced germplasm from International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), and introduction of commercially important bean varieties from both regional and intentional partners have been adopted. Major breeding efforts are put on the development of four major grain market classes, such as:(i) navy beans,(ii) speckled/sugar beans,(iii) red beans, and (iv) yellow beans. In the last ten years, the breeding program has released thirty varieties of these market types and several genetic information has been generated. Moreover, high advancement has been recorded in promoting bean varieties and package technologies through active involvement of common bean value chain actors from farmers to exporters. Other activities include identification of varieties for promotion, development and rolling out efficient and sustainable seed systems for faster and inclusive seed dissemination and stimulating market for bean products. The synergistic effect of demand driven variety development and promotion of common bean has doubled bean production and productivity and resulted in enhanced export earnings (>130million USD per annum) of the country and created employment for thousands of people through bean value chain development. Furthermore, the livelihood of bean producers and bean value chain actors has greatly improved from increased income from beans. Generally, the research program has played a significant role to enhance income, nutrition, and food security.

Full text

Progress of Common Bean Breeding and
Genetics Research in Ethiopia
Berhanu Amsalu1*, Kassaye Negash1, Tigist Shiferaw1, Kidane Tumssa1, Dagmawit
Tsegaye1, Rubyogo Jean Claude2, and Clare Mugisha Mukankusi3
1 Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Melkassa Research Centre, P.O.Box 436, Adama, Ethiopia;
2International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), P.O. Box 2704, Arusha; Tanzania, 3International
Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), P.O.Box 6247, Kampala, Uganda
*Corresponding Author: berhanufenta@gmail.com;
Abstract
Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) contributes to food and nutrition security,
and income generation for smallholder farmers and enhances foreign exchange
earnings in Ethiopia. The crop is one of the major pulses that serve as a rotational
crop in cereal based cropping systems in the lowland areas. However, the gap
between the potential and national average productivity remains high due to
several production constraints. Limited availability of improved multiple stress
tolerant varieties like diseases, insect pests, moisture stress and soil fertility
problems are the major problems. The national bean research program conducts
research aimed to increase production and productivity through generation of
consumer and market-preferred high yielding varieties tolerant to major biotic and
abiotic stresses. Insitu population development by hybridization and introduction of
advanced germplasm from International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT),
and introduction of commercially important bean varieties from both regional and
intentional partners have been adopted. Major breeding efforts are put on the
development of four major grain market classes, such as:(i) navy beans,(ii)
speckled/sugar beans,(iii) red beans, and (iv) yellow beans. In the last ten years, the
breeding program has released thirty varieties of these market types and several
genetic information has been generated. Moreover, high advancement has been
recorded in promoting bean varieties and package technologies through active
involvement of common bean value chain actors from farmers to exporters. Other
activities include identification of varieties for promotion, development and rolling
out efficient and sustainable seed systems for faster and inclusive seed
dissemination and stimulating market for bean products. The synergistic effect of
demand driven variety development and promotion of common bean has doubled
bean production and productivity and resulted in enhanced export earnings
(>130million USD per annum) of the country and created employment for
thousands of people through bean value chain development. Furthermore, the
livelihood of bean producers and bean value chain actors has greatly improved
from increased income from beans. Generally, the research program has played a
significant role to enhance income, nutrition, and food security.
Keywords: Common bean, Phaseolus vulgaris, genetic variation, varietal
development, convectional breeding

Berhanu et al. Ethiop. J. Crop Sci. Special Issue Vol. 6 No.3 (2018)
[116]
Introduction
Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris
L.), usually termed as haricot bean,
dry bean or beans is believed to be
introduced to Ethiopia during the 16th
century (EIAR, 2000). Since then, it is
under production all over the lowlands
of the country. Common bean has
different types of growth habits, of
which bush beans (type I and type II)
are widely produced as a sole or
intercrop for the purpose of local and
international market. The other types
are the climbing beans (type III)
mainly produced around homestead
gardens and along the fences and
sometimes intercropped with
maize/pigeon peas. It can also be
planted in the production fields by
using stacks. Bush beans take the
lion's share both in hectarage and
production in the country and the
research and development works have
also mainly focused on these types
(Amsalu et al., 2016).
The crop can be grown with a
minimum amount of agricultural
inputs like fertilizers and it is among
the suitable grain legume crops for
crop rotation in the maize/sorghum
based cropping systems. Since it is the
main pulse crop grown in the lowland
areas of the country, common bean
contributes to farming system
sustainability, useful as a catch crop to
parasitic striga, and as a low-risk and
reliable crop for the farmers. Under
rain-fed growing conditions, common
beans also fit into various cropping
systems (mono-cropping, sequential/
relay-cropping, double-cropping,
mixed-cropping and inter-cropping).
Common bean is a short season annual
crop, which is under production in
both main and short (belg) growing
seasons. It is produced by over 4
million smallholder farmers in
Ethiopia. In 2015/16 (2008 E.C.)
cropping season, the area covered by
common bean was 357,299 and
306,335 hectares of land in main and
belg seasons, respectively (CSA,
2016). Moreover, in the same year,
private farmers (large scale) covered
10,212 hectares of land with common
bean. Thus, totally 673,846ha of land
was covered by beans with a total
annual production of 845 thousand
metric tons, mainly from three regions
(Oromiya, SNNP and Amhara) of the
country where Oromiya region alone
covers 50% of the total production
followed by Southern Nation
Nationality and Peoples (27%) and
Amahara Regional States (20.1%)
(CSA, 2015).
Common bean is one of the most
important food legume crops which
has high starch, protein and dietary
fiber and is an excellent source of
minerals and vitamins including iron,
zinc, calcium, thiamine, vitamin B6,
and folic acid (Admassu and Kumar,
2004). It can be consumed both as a
grain and vegetable in the drier regions
where the diets tend to heavily rely on
starchy foods such as millet, sorghum,
maize, enset and cassava. Beans can

Progress of common bean breeding and genetics research in Ethiopia
[117]
be prepared and consumed in different
types of recipes as Nifro, Sambosa,
shiro and kik. Further, it can be mixed
with different cereals or vegetables to
prepare soup, and other local recipes
like kurkufa (cabbage and boiled bean
mashed mixture) and fossese (maize
flour and boiled bean mashed mixture)
(Teamir et al., 2003). Apart from its
importance for human food, common
bean straw is also highly nutritious for
animal feed. Bean straw has found to
have 7.7 MJ/kg dry matter
“Metabolisable Energy” (ME) which
is an estimate of the energy available
to animals from digestion of a feed
material. Further, it has higher crude
protein (5.5%), natural digestible fiber
(56.1%) digestibility, and lower fiber
contents than cereal straws (Tolera,
2016).
Common bean also serves as a source
of income for smallholder farmers
especially those who grow exportable
types of beans. In addition, production
of common beans in the two seasons
(main and belg) enabled the farming
community to gain income throughout
the year. Thus, farmers consider beans
as a source of their income and as the
main contributor for improvement of
their livelihood. Common bean has
been one of the leading exportable
pulse crops in Ethiopia for the last four
decade (Ferris and Kaganzi, 2008),
Ethiopia being the leading exporter of
common bean in Africa. The major
bean market class for export is small
white pea bean, but currently other
bean market classes such as small red,
sugar bean, pinto and cream beans are
also exported to Europe, Middle East
and Asia (Ministry of trade
unpublished report). In recent years,
the country's export earnings from
common bean takes the first rank from
pulses. According to Ethiopian
Revenue and Costumes Authority
(2015), common bean export earnings
increased by three folds from 19
million USD in 2005 to 134 million
USD in 2014, the quantity exported
being 43 thousand MT in 2005 and
171 thousand MT in 2014. The main
importers of Ethiopian common bean
during the last ten years (2005-2014)
include Yemen (10.7%), Belgium
(8%), Greece (7.8%), and Russia
(7.2%), Czech Republic and Italy
(6.4%), Turkey (5.7%), Djibouti
(5.4%) and others (Ministry of Trade,
2016).
Nationally coordinated bean breeding
program was started at Melkassa
Agricultural Research Center in the
early 1970’s, the objective being
improvement of livelihood of
smallholder farmers through
generation and promotion of high
yielder, disease tolerant/resistant bean
and adaptable varieties suitable for
export market and local consumption.
This paper reviews progresses and
achievements of past bean breeding
efforts, a collaborative program with
CGIAR centers like CIAT and other
regional research programs like Pan
Africa Bean Research Program
(PABRA) and East and Central Africa
Bear Research Network (ECABREN).

Berhanu et al. Ethiop. J. Crop Sci. Special Issue Vol. 6 No.3 (2018)
[118]
Breeding Common Bean
in Ethiopia
Sources of genetic variation
The basic aim of any breeding
program is broadening the genetic
base of the crop and to exploit the
variation created in different traits of
interest. The national bean
improvement program has been
conducting research and variable
germplasms have been developed
through different breeding approaches.
The primary source of breeding
materials is mainly introduction of
germplasm and advanced lines from
CIAT/PABRA. The other sources are
targeted hybridization with the aim of
improving diseases and insect pest
resistance, seed quality traits
(preferred color and shape) and
adaptability to moisture stress and
collection and utilization of landraces
from the local sources.
From among the introductions of
segregating progenies and landraces, a
series of selection and multi-location
evaluation have been made during the
past 50 years. Superior genotypes for
agronomic, adaptive and quality
characters have been selected and
advanced to subsequent stages of
variety trials, starting from breeding
nursery to the final stage of yield
evaluation and verification. Genotypes
selected from nursery (16 to 25) have
been promoted to preliminary variety
trial (PVT) to be evaluated at 5 to 6
locations followed by national variety
trial to be tested across multi-
environment(at 8 to 10 locations for
two years). Randomized Complete
Block Design (RCBD) and balanced
lattice designs with three replications
have been used at PVT and NVT
stages. At the advanced yield trials,
genotypes have been evaluated for
yield and yield components, disease
resistance and all other relevant
agronomic characteristics. From the
multi-environment trials, varieties with
outstanding performance have been
identified based on yield and quality
traits as compared to the standard
checks. The candidate varieties are
proposed and verified for release, after
being assessed by the National Variety
Release Committee (NVRC). The
NVRC evaluate the varieties not only
for their biological performance but
also for legal requirements including
uniformity, distinctness and stability.
In a number of cases, however, when
such established cultivars are not
available, the bean breeding program
also make an accelerated agronomic
and adaptive evaluation from which
better performing varieties are
presented to the NVRC for registration
of candidate cultivars.
In addition to variety development,
basic information have also been
generated in areas like genetic
progress from breeding in released
varieties (Bekele et al., 2016),
response to inoculation with Rhizobial
strains (Assefa et al., 2017), tolerance
of bean varieties to soil acidity stress
(Kassim et al., 2016; Alemu et al.,
2016), tolerance of bean populations

Progress of common bean breeding and genetics research in Ethiopia
[119]
for drought and bruchid resistance
(Assefa, 2010), resistance to bean
buchids (Zabrotes subfasciatus
Boheman) (Shiferaw et al., 2017),
grouping of environments for testing
navy beans (Negash et al., 2017),
genotype by environment interaction
studies (Ashango et al., 2016; Alemu
et al., 2017; Ejara et al.,2017) and
molecular and morphological
characterization of Ethiopian landraces
and breeding materials (Asfaw et al.,
2009; Dagnew et al., 2014, Fisseha,
2016; Bareke et al, 2016; Shiferaw,
2017).
Varietal development
During the past one decade, the bean
breeding program has developed
several widely and specifically
adapted, high yielding and disease
resistant varieties meeting the
requirements for local consumption
and/or export markets (Tables 1 and
2).
Among 30 varieties released in the
past ten years, two varieties each form
food type (Adda/ KAT B1 and
Dursetu/KAT B9) and export type
(Acos-red or DRK and Cranscope),
were legally registered through
importation of 'finished' technologies
from abroad. These four varieties have
been imported and registered in the
interest of the production sector due to
their high market demand by the
exporters and also for extra early
maturity of the two food types. The
remaining 26 varieties (87%) of the
released varieties were developed and
release through the regular procedures.
Breeding efforts during the past
decade resulted in releases of a
number of small and large red and red
mottled beans as the major bean
market classes (Table 1). Likewise,
small white pea bean with a well-
established export market, large
specked bean with emerging market
and large white beans for future
market were also released for
commercial production/export market
(Table 2). The release and promotion
of commercial bean types of different
seed color and size is considered as a
shining success of the national bean
improvement program. The recent
release of the large white beans has
been the first of its kind in bean
variety development history of
Ethiopia. The release of food types for
local consumption was also a great
achievement not only because of their
magnificent role in food and nutrition
security but also because of their
earliness and adaptation in areas with
terminal drought/short production
season (belg) and fitness in double
cropping system. For example, two of
these varieties, namely Adda and
Dursitu, need only two months for
maturity and they have a regional
market demands mainly in Kenya and
Uganda.

Berhanu et al. Ethiop. J. Crop Sci. Special Issue Vol. 6 No.3 (2018)
[120]
Table 1. Food type common bean varieties released mainly for local consumption between 2006 and 2014
Name of Variety
Altitude
(m)
Seed color
Productivity (q/ha)
Year of
release
Seed maintaining
center*
Research field
Famers
field
SER-119
1450-2000
Red
33
25
2014
Melkassa
SER-125
1450-2000
Red
35
22
2014
Melkassa
Dendesu
1300-1650
Red
22-30
19-23
2013
Melkassa
Adda
1300-1650
Yellow
19-33
17-25
2013
Melkassa
Tinike
1600-2200
Red Kidney
30
25
2012
HU
Hundene
1600-2200
Red mottled
30
25
2012
HU
Fedis
1600-2200
Red mottled
30
20
2012
HU
Babile
1600-2200
Red
36
30
2012
HU
Hirna
1600-2200
Red
30
27
2012
HU
Morka(ECAB-0056)
1400-2200
Red mottled
25
20
2012
Melkassa
SARI-1
1800-2200
25
20
2011
Hwassa
GLP-2
1400-2200m
Red mottled
30
22
2011
Melkassa
Lehode
1200-1900
Cream
24
18
2010
Sirinka
Lokku
1300-1900
Cream
14-20
13-18
2009
Bako
Kufanziq
1600-2200
Pinto
40
32
2008
HU
HawassaDume
1800-2200
Red
28
22
2008
Hawassa
Dursetu
1600-2200
Red
24-40
18-30
2008
HU
Gabisa
1200-1900
Light yellow
17-35
16-30
2007
Bako
Haremaya
1650-2200
Cream
20-32
15-30
2006
HU
Mekadima
1300-1800
Red
28
18
2006
Melkassa
Dinknesh
1400-1850
Red
25-30
20-23.5
2006
Melkassa
* HU= Haremaya University
Table 2. Commercial type of common bean varieties released between 2006 and 2014
Name of Variety
Date of
maturity
Seed color
Productivity (q/ha)
Year of release
Seed
maintaining
centre*
Research field
Famer
s field
Ado (SAB736)
85-90
Large White
20-25
18-22
2014
Melkassa
Tafach (SAB- 632)
85-90
Speckled
22-26
19-24
2014
Melkassa
Awash-2
85-90
White
28-31
18-22
2013
Melkassa
Deme
85-90
Red Speckled
19-20
18-22
2008
Melkassa
Batu
75-85
Large White
18-25
16-20
2008
Melkassa
Acos-red (DRK)
75-82
Dark red
19- 22
16
2007
Melkassa
Cranscope
90-98
Red Speckled
19-27
16
2007
Melkassa
Chorie
87-109
White
23
19
2006
Melkassa
Chercher
95-105
White
22-28
21-27
2006
HU
*HU= Haremaya University
Generation of basic genetic
information
Apart from variety development, basic
studies have been conducted on
genetic progresses from past breeding.
Accordingly, a study in western
Ethiopia revealed existence of 22.3 kg
ha-1 (0.31%) and 10.56 kg ha-

Progress of common bean breeding and genetics research in Ethiopia
[121]
1(0.19%) genetic gain for grain yield
in medium and small seeded common
bean varieties (Bekele et al., 2016).
Yield gain in large-seeded beans was
very minimal
as compared to medium and small
seeded beans, as more focus was given
to seed size in large-seeded beans in
order to fulfill market requirements.
A study on response of six food and
commercial type common bean
varieties (Batu, DRK, Awash Melka,
Awash-1, Nassir and Dinkinesh) to
Rhizobium inoculation resulted in
yield increments ranging from 7-35%
as compared to the control. The
variety Nassir was found to be the best
for nodulation and biological nitrogen
fixation (Assefa et al., 2017). The
significant differential response of
these varieties for nitrogen fixation
gave an insight that further
investigation may be needed for
improvement of N-fixing ability in
common bean.
An evaluation of common bean lines
for adaptation on acidic soils in
western Ethiopia resulted in significant
differences among the genotypes for a
number of traits including
phenological characters, root
morphology, yield and yield
components. Three of the genotypes,
namely ALB 204, ALB 17 and ALB
209,gave a high mean grain yield of 2
t/ha on both lime treated and untreated
soils (Kassim et al., 2016), indicating
the potential of common bean in soil
acidity prone areas .
Results from characterization of local
and exotic germplasm collections from
different eco-geographical locations
showed existence of high genetic
diversity for a number of traits
including seed color, shape, and size,
particularly in southern Ethiopia than
in northern Ethiopia (Bareke et al,
2016; Berhane et al., 2017). The
genetic diversity and population
structure of common bean landraces
were done by using different markers
including, Inter Simple Sequence
Repeat (ISSR) (Dagnew et al., 2014),
Simple Sequence Repeats (SSR)
(Fisseha et al., 2016 and Asfaw et al.,
2009) and Single-Nucleotide
Polymorphism (SNP) (Shiferaw,
2017). The studies revealed existence
of considerable variation among the
Ethiopian common bean genotypes,
the two known genepools (Andean and
Middle American) and the Middle
American genepool which are
predominant in Ethiopia. Therefore,
the common bean breeding program
must focus on broadening of the
genetic base through continuous
collection and conservation of
landraces, introduction from exotic
sources and hybridization of broader
parents.
Genotype by environment interaction
and the association of yield and yield
related traits were studied in different
types of beans in different areas
(Alemu et al., 2016; Ashango et al.,
2016; Ejara et al., 2017). Alemu
(2016) ascertained the existence of
significant differences among the
locations, genotypes, and genotype by

Berhanu et al. Ethiop. J. Crop Sci. Special Issue Vol. 6 No.3 (2018)
[122]
environment interaction effects for
phenological traits, yield and other
yield related traits (number of pod per
plant and seed per pod). Moreover,
genotypes with specific and wide
adaptability were identified (ALB 179,
ALB 209 and BFS 39). Ashango
(2016) also identified the most stable
genotype (KG-71-1, KG-71-23, and
KG-71-44) based on AMMI and GGE
ranking and GGE comparison bi-plots.
Another study grouped some testing
sites of common bean as high-yielding
(Melkassa, Alemtena and Haramaya)
and other sites (Jimma, Bako, Pawe,
Areka, Assosa and Sirinka) as low to
medium yielding (Negash et al.,
2017). Ejara et al. (2017) found that
thousand seeds weight, seed number
per plant, seed number per pod and
number of primary branches per plant
had high positive correlations with
grain yield in beans.
Technology promotion
The bean research program has been
engaged not only in variety
development, but also in
multiplication of early generation seed
to catalyze common bean seed system
and promotion of bean varieties to the
end users in collaboration with multi-
stakeholders following different
innovative approaches including the
following:
Identification of potential
partners to implement de-
centralized bean seed system:
The national bean research program
has taken the leadership role and
initiatives in identification of potential
partners and organization of forums
that helped in establishing functional
bean seed system and technology
promotion. The different forums
organized at different levels (e.g.
annual planning and review meetings
and regional extension-farmer linkage
forums) enhanced the engagement and
commitment of partners in the
implementation process. Funds
obtained from CIAT/PABRA and
Tropical Legume projects (TL-II and
TL-III) specifically helped in
designing the seed system. Forums are
mainly meant for mapping the seed
demand, sharing information on seed
production, discussing challenges and
possible solutions during seed
production-to-marketing. Multiple
stakeholders also share responsibilities
willingly in a win-win bases. As a core
partner, the national bean research
program has been serving in capacity
building to enhance the knowledge of
development actors mainly personnel
from the Ministry of Agriculture and
Natural Resource based at village and
higher levels, partner NGO
community facilitators, and seed
producing farmers. Development and
production of training manuals,
posters, leaflets and calendars and
their distribution to trainers, trainees
and to the community at large have
been the other important tools in
facilitating the capacity building for
not only seed but also grain producers
(Amsalu et al., 2016).

Progress of common bean breeding and genetics research in Ethiopia
[123]
Enhancing seed production:
One of the responsibilities of the
national bean research program has
been facilitation of seed production
through formal and informal seed
systems in addition to producing early
generation seeds. In the formal seed
system, research centers, public seed
producers, private seed producers and
farmer’s cooperative unions have been
engaged. In the informal seed sector,
mostly progressive individual farmers,
seed producer groups, and private seed
producer entrepreneurs produce
quality declared seed (QDS) with
some technical and material
assistance. Optional distribution of
initial seeds in 'small packs'(0.5-10 kg)
and 'commercial packs' (25-50 kg) has
been used as an innovative approach to
reach both the poor-of-poor and well-
to-do farmers, thereby facilitating the
promotion of improved technologies.
Labels on the bags/sacks provide the
necessary biological and legal
information based on the national seed
standards. Generally, substantial
amount of seed have been produced
and distributed during the last ten
years. For instance, during the period
of 2004/5 to 2013/14, the amount of
seed produced by research centers and
other actors have covered about 30%
of the bean seed demand in the
country with a significant spillover
effects on bean production (Amsalu et
al., 2016). The recent aggressive move
in both technology generation and
promotion in partnership with multi-
stakeholders has tremendously boosted
yield and transformed bean production
as could be witnessed from the
increased productivity from lower than
1t/ha to 1.5 t/ha in the last ten years
(Figure 1) (CSA, 2016). Expansion of
bean production all over the
production areas and increment in total
production were among the measured
impacts obtained from the intervention
work (Figure 2). Likewise, the foreign
currency earnings of the country from
the export of bean grain is also
periodically increasing (Figure 3)
(Ministry of Trade, 2016 unpublished
report).
Figure 1: Common bean productivity per hectare for the period 2004/5 to 2013/14 (Source: modified from
CSA, 2004 to 2015)

Berhanu et al. Ethiop. J. Crop Sci. Special Issue Vol. 6 No.3 (2018)
[124]
Figure 3.Common bean export for the period 2006 to 2015 (Source: Ministry of Trade, 2016).
Challenges and opportunities
Although common bean research
program has been contributing a lot to
the national agricultural development
in technology generation and
promotion, there are still challenges,
which need to be tackled in the future
to enhance the benefits from this sub-
sector. Some of the challenges include:
narrow genetic base in navy bean
germplasm, limited source materials
with multiple-stress tolerance, lack of
varieties adaptable to new production
niches (heat, cold, acid soil), limited
0
50000
100000
150000
200000
250000
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
VOLUME/MT VALUE/1000USD
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
0
50000
100000
150000
200000
250000
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
VOLUME/MT VALUE/1000USD
Volume /MT
Value /1000USD
Production year
Figure 2: Geographic distribution of common bean production in Ethiopia
(Source: Nigusse, 2016)

Progress of common bean breeding and genetics research in Ethiopia
[125]
number of varieties tolerant/resistant
to bruchids and bean stem maggot,
limited number of nutrient dense bean
varieties and lack of varieties which
suit to mechanization. There are also
several other challenges including
limited crop management (agronomic
and pest management) and
mechanization technologies which
need more attention in the future.
Moreover, there are also general
challenges which hinders the
technology promotion and
dissemination in the country. These
include limited engagement of the
private sector in common bean seed
production and delivery, limited focus
of the extension system on pulse
technology promotion, common bean
seed and grain market fluctuation and
too many market actors in bean value
chain which reduces the benefit of
producers, recurrent drought, decline
in soil fertility and expansion of soil
acidity with time.
To unlock these challenges, there are
several opportunities, which need to be
harnessed. These include the existence
of several new common bean varieties,
which might bring immense changes.
There are also enormous experiences
in common bean technology
promotion and well linked established
value chain actors, willingness of
different partners to collaborate with
bean program, expansion of common
bean into different agro-ecologies,
conducive policy environment for
research and development, availability
of several exporters and structured
market platform (ECX) for beans and
high international and regional market
demand for bean products. These
opportunities should be utilized by the
bean value chain actors to solve the
research-development-market
challenges of this crop.
Summary and
Conclusions
In the past ten year, the common bean
improvement program has generated
substantial number of common bean
varieties which are targeted for export
and local market. Moreover, several
genetic information on genetic gain
from breeding, assessment of genetic
variation, G × E interaction and other
relevant information have been
developed as backgroundconcepts and
principles of bean breeding. Apart
from technology generation,
promotion of bean technologies has
also been conducted using the support
of CIAT-TL-III projects and
significantly contributed to the
enhanced recent bean production and
bean export in the country.
In the future, there is a dire need to
bring about better genetic gains from
breeding. Conducting strategic
research and building the information
base, broadening the genetic base
through further introduction,
collection, and hybridization followed
by selection and evaluation of
germplasm with broad genetic base
using multidisciplinary and
participatory approaches to come up

Berhanu et al. Ethiop. J. Crop Sci. Special Issue Vol. 6 No.3 (2018)
[126]
with adaptable, high yielding, multiple
stress tolerant and nutrient dense
varieties with good market demand
and better fitness for mechanization.
The conventional breeding techniques
should be complemented with modern
biotechnological tools and modernize
breeding data management system in
order to accelerate gains from breeding
and improve the technical relevance of
the varieties to different
recommendation domains. A more
innovative seed system and promotion
strategies should also be implemented
for effective and efficient seed
multiplication and technology
promotion.
Acknowledgments
We are grateful for the technical and
financial support of Tropical legume
III (TL III) through International
Centre of Tropical Agricultural
(CIAT) Cali, Colombia and Pan Africa
Bean Research Alliance (PABRA),
Uganda.
References
Admassu, S. and Rakshit, S.K. 2004.
Proximate composition and
physico-chemical properties of
improved dry bean (Phaseolus
vulgaris L.) varieties grown in
Ethiopia. Food Sci. and Techno 8:
331–338.
Alemu, H., Mekbib, F. and Amsalu, B.
2017. Genotype x Environment x
Management interaction of
common bean (Phaseolus
vulgaris L.) on acidic soils of
Western Ethiopia.M.SC Thesis,
Haremya University, Ethiopia.
Amsalu, B, Tumsa, K., Negash, K.,
Ayana, G., Fufa, M., Wondemu,
A., Teamir, M., and Rubyogo,
J.C. 2016. Lowland pulses
research in Ethiopia:
achievement, challenges and
future prospect .pp 44-60.In:
Dawit Alemu, Eshetu Derso,
Getnet Assefa and Abebe Kirub
(eds). Agricultural Research for
Ethiopian Renaissance.
Proceedings of the National
Conference on Agricultural
Research for Ethiopian
Renaissance held on January 26-
27, 2016, in UNECA, Addis
Ababa to mark the 50th
Anniversary of the establishment
of the Ethiopian Institute of
Agricultural Research (EIAR).
Asfaw, A., Blair, M.W. and
Almekinders, C. 2009. Genetic
diversity and population structure
of common bean (Phaseolus
vulgaris L.) landraces from the
East African highlands. Theor
Appl Genet 120: 1–12.
Ashango, Z., Amsalu, B., Fikre, A.,
Tumisa, K. and Negash, K. 2016.
Seed yield stability and Genotype
x Environment interaction of
common bean (Phaseolus
vulgaris L.) lines in Ethiopia. Int.
J. Plant Breeding Crop Sci. 3:
135-144.
Assefa, T. 2010. Selection for drought
and bruchid resistance of common

Progress of common bean breeding and genetics research in Ethiopia
[127]
bean populations.PhD thesis,
University of Padova, Italy.
Assefa, H., Amsalu, B. and Tana, T.
2017. Response of common bean
(Pharsalus vulgaris L.) cultivars
to combined application of
rhizobium and NP Fertilizer at
Melkassa, Central Ethiopia .Int. J.
Plant Soil Sci. 14: 1-10.
Bareke, T., Asfaw, Z., Woldu, Z.,
Medvecky, B.A. and Amsalu, B.
2016.Landrace diversity of
common bean (Phaseolus
vulgaris L., Fabaceae) in Oromia
and SNNP Regions,
Ethiopia.M.SC thesis, Addis
Ababa University, Ethiopia.
Bekele, S., Mekbeb, F., Keneni, G.
and Amsalu, B. 2016. Genetic
progress for yield and yield
components of common bean
(Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in
Ethiopia.M.SC thesis, Haremya
University, Ethiopia.
Berhane, M., Asfaw, Z., Woldu, Z.
and Amsalu, B. 2017. Diversity in
farmers’ varieties (Landraces) of
common bean (Phaseolus
vulgaris L., Fabaceae) in South
Wollo and East Gojjam Zones of
Amhara Region, Ethiopia. M.Sc
Thesis, Addis Ababa University,
Ethiopia.
Central Statistics Agency (CSA).
2005-2015. Area and Production
of Crops, Central Statistics
Agency (CSA), Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia
Central Statistics Agency (CSA).
2016. Area and Production of
Crops, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Dagnew, K., Haileselassie, T. and
Feyissa, T. 2014. Genetic
diversity study of common bean
(Phaseolus vulgaris L.)
germplasm from Ethiopia using
inter simple sequence repeat
(ISSR) markers. Afr. J.
Biotechnol13: 3638–3649.
Ejara, E., Mohammed, W. and
Amsalu, B. 2017. Correlations
and path coefficient analyses of
yield and yield related traits in
common bean genotypes
(Phaseolus vulgaris L.) at Abaya
and Yabello, Southern Ethiopia.
Int. J. Plant Breed. Crop Sci. 4:
215-224.
EIAR. 2000. Lowland Pulses Research
Project Strategy. Ethiopian
Institute of Agricultural Research
(EIAR), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Ethiopian Revenue and Costumes
Authority (ERCA). 2015. Annual
report, Ethiopian Revenue and
Costumes Authority, Addis
Ababa, Ethiopia.
Ferris, S. and Kaganzi, E. 2008.
Evaluating marketing
opportunities for haricot beans in
Ethiopia. IPMS (Improving
Productivity and Market Success)
of Ethiopian Farmers Project,
Working Paper No. 7. ILRI
(International Livestock Research
Institute), Nairobi, Kenya. pp. 68
Fisseha, Z., Tesfaye, K., Dagne, K.,
Blair, M.W., Harvey, J., Kyallo,
M. and Gepts, P. 2016. Genetic
diversity and population structure
of common bean (Phaseolus
vulgaris L.) germplasm of
Ethiopia as revealed by
microsatellite markers. Afr. J.

Berhanu et al. Ethiop. J. Crop Sci. Special Issue Vol. 6 No.3 (2018)
[128]
Biotechnol 15: 2824–2847.
Kassim, I, Mekbeb, F., Amsalu, B. and
Leggese, H. 2016.Evaluation of
genotypes and liming on common
bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)
tolerance to soil acidity at Bako,
Western Ethiopia.M.SC Thesis,
Haremya University, Ethiopia.
Ministry of Trade .2016. Paper
presented at National common
bean stakeholders and innovation
platform meeting (EIAR),
February 18-19/2016, Addis
Ababa, Ethiopia.
Negash, K., Tumsa, K., Amsalu, B.,
Gebeyehu, S., Atero, B., Assefe,
S., Teso, B., Arega A. and
Rezene, Y. 2017. Grouping of
environments for testing navy
bean in Ethiopia. Ethiop. J. Agric.
Sci. 27: 111-130.
Nigusse D. 2016. Climate and
Geospatial Research Directorate
Annual report of the year 2015.
EIAR, Addis Ababa.
Shiferaw, T., Melis, R, Sibiya, J. and
Keneni, G. 2017. Evaluation of
different Ethiopian common bean
(Phaseolus vulgaris L.) genotypes
for host resistance to the Mexican
bean weevil (Zabrotes
subfasciatus Bohemian).Int. J.
Trop.l Ins. Sci.38:1-15.
Shiferaw, T. 2017. Genetic Studies on
Host Plant Resistance to Mexican
Bean Weevil (Zabrotes
subfasciatus Boheman) in
Ethiopian Common Bean
(Phaseolus vulgaris L.)
Germplasms. PhD thesis,
University of Kwazulu Natal,
South Africa.
Teamir M., Kerssie M., Wondimu A.,
Tekabe F., Yetneberk S., and
Admassu S..2003. Research on
Food Legumes Processing,
Utilization, and Reduction of
Toxic Factors. In: Food and
Forage Legumes of Ethiopia:
Progress and Prospects.
Proceedings of the workshop on
Food and Forage Legume 22-26
September 2003 Addis Abeba
Ethiopia. Pp301-308
Tolera A. 2016. Legumes as animal
feed in Ethiopia: Challenges and
Opportunities. Paper presented
at The Third Decadal National
Conference on Food and Forage
Legumes in Ethiopia, December
6-9/2016, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
.