Runner bean (Phaseolus coccineus L.), also known as butter bean in Kenya, is a high value vegetable and grain crop traditionally grown in high altitudes (>1,800 m) of eastern Africa for domestic consumption and processing. However, it has not received attention from breeders. Consequently, farmers rely on low‐yielding landraces which are susceptible to diseases. Available long‐day vegetable type varieties are poorly adapted to tropical conditions. In 2005, a regional program was initiated at the University of Nairobi to develop tropically adapted short‐day varieties with better agronomic potential to meet both producer and consumer requirements. The objective of this study was to determine the agronomic potential of advanced grain‐type runner bean lines selected from populations derived from crosses between local landraces and long‐day European varieties. Fifty lines were selected from 139 F_6.8 lines based on their previous performance at Kabete Field Station and Ol Joro Orok in 2012 and 2013. The 50 lines were evaluated at both sites during the 2014 long rain season. The best 20 lines from both sites were further evaluated for agronomic characteristics, disease resistance, and yield. Results showed considerable variation for duration to flowering (40–55 days at three different sites), plant vigor, racemes per plant, reaction to diseases, and grain yield. The crop was extremely vigorous in Naivasha due to supplementary irrigation and fertilization regimes. The results indicated that new high‐yielding grain runner bean varieties with resistance to major diseases and tropical adaptation can contribute to improved productivity, food and nutritional security, and resilient livelihoods in the region, and regular supply of raw materials for the canning industry.

中文翻译：

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在非洲东部育种红花菜豆以短期适应，提高谷物产量和抗病能力

红花菜豆（菜豆） L.），在肯尼亚也被称为黄油豆，是传统上在东部非洲高海拔（> 1,800 m）上种植的高价值蔬菜和谷物作物，供国内消费和加工。但是，它尚未引起育种者的注意。因此，农民依靠容易感染疾病的低产地方品种。现有的长日蔬菜类型品种不太适合热带条件。2005年，内罗毕大学发起了一项区域计划，以开发适应热带气候的短期品种，其具有更好的农艺潜力，可以满足生产者和消费者的需求。这项研究的目的是确定从本地地方品种和欧洲长日品种杂交后代中选出的高级谷粒型红花菜豆系的农艺潜力。F _6.8根据2012年和2013年在Kabete Field Station和Ol Joro Orok上的表现，对50条线路进行了评估。在2014年长雨季节，对这50条线路进行了评估。进一步评估了两个地点的最佳20个品系的农艺特性，抗病性和产量。结果显示，开花期（在三个不同地点的40-55天），植物活力，单株外消旋体，对病害的反应和谷物产量的变化很大。由于补充灌溉和施肥制度，奈瓦夏的作物极为旺盛。结果表明，具有抗重大疾病和热带适应能力的高产谷物红花菜豆新品种可有助于提高该地区的生产力，粮食和营养安全以及恢复生计的能力，