A half century of a bean breeding program in the South and Alto Paranaíba regions of Minas Gerais

The success of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) crops in Brazil is due to the development of new cultivars. The aim of the present study was to critically analyze the fifty years of a bean breeding program at the Universidade Federal de Lavras (UFLA) and estimate the genetic progress (GP) achieved for grain yield. The estimated genetic progress for grain yield was 0.35% per year, which is associated with visible improvement in plant architecture, resistance to some pathogens, and better carioca bean grain quality. The program was found to be efficient, generating 119 theses and 43 dissertations during the period under study. In addition, hundreds of articles have been published, especially studies aimed at improving the efficiency of genetic breeding programs. Over the past few years, partnerships with other public institutions in performing Value for Cultivation and Use tests have resulted in 12 recommended cultivars.