African Journal of Agricultural Research Vol. 6(28), pp. 6155-6166, 26 November, 2011 Available online at http://www.academicjournals.org/AJAR DOI: 10.5897/AJAR11.1361 ISSN 1991-637X ©2011 Academic Journals Full Length Research Paper Morphological and phenological characterization of Turkish bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) genotypes and their present variation states Seher Yıldız MADAKBA 1 * and Meral ERGİN 2 1 Horticulture Department, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ahi Evran, 40100, Kırehir, Turkey. 2 Department of Field Crops, Black Sea Agricultural Research Institute, Samsun, Turkey. Accepted 31 October, 2011 In this study, seeds from 51 bean genotypes obtained from the Izmir Aegean Agricultural Research Institute were multiplied under ecological conditions of the Samsun province in 2006. Similarities and differences in terms of morphological variation were identified for 16 genotypes carrying the phenological, morphological and pod characteristics of fresh bean in 2007. It was determined that the length of time between sowing to sprouting had an important relationship and a positive correlation with the date of initial flowering, 50% flowering and pod width in the correlation matrix. In the principle component analysis (PCA), the two initial PC axis explained the 53.9% of the total variation. The cluster analysis was based on 19 parameters. Five groups were obtained and shown in a dendrogram. High levels of variation between bean genotypes were detected. Key words: Phaseolus vulgaris, phenological observations, morphological measurements, variation, correlation, principle component analysis (PCA), cluster analysis. INTRODUCTION Bean has spread out worldwide after the discovery of Americas, its homeland region. Although the Phaseolus genus consists of approximately 230 species, the most widely produced members are P. vulgaris and P. coccineus. All of the beans cultivated in Turkey belong to the P. vulgaris species. Moreover, P. coccineus is most widely cultivated as ornamental plant (Vural et al., 2000; Anonymous, 2005a; Anonymous, 2005a, b,c). Bean has a 250 to 300 years old history in Turkey. Bean, having a very important place in the nutritiun of Turkish people, is cultivated both in coastal and inland regions of Turkey; it is easily cultivated in regions above 1000 m of altitude (Salk et al., 2008). Turkey is the 3rd ranking country in bean cultivation after China and Indonesia (603,653 tons), Samsun province ranks first with 63.36 tons of bean production in the Caramba plain (Korkmaz, 2007; FAO, 2009). *Corresponding author. E-mail: seheryldz@yahoo.com. Tel: +0 90 368 2114470. Fax: +0 90 368 2114453. There are many local bean types adapted to the regional conditions of Turkey and a major population richness is present.This potential showing a great genetic richness has to be utilized. Both development of new varieties towards promotion of agricultural production and passing the genetical resources to the following generations without infliction of erosion is only possible through preservation and protection of the present populations. Gene resources obtained from any species do not get included in breeding programs unless they are identified through characterization; even if they are included they are quickly lost. It is for this reason that determining the properties of these acquired gene resources carries great importance both in terms of breeding studies and gene banks. (Anonymous, 2001; Balkaya and Yanmaz, 2001; Balkaya and Karagac, 2005; Karaagac and Balkaya, 2010). In the recent years, use of multivariate analysis methods in data evaluation towards formation of quality gene pools inside the breeding programs has become a commonly used application. Multi-faceted examination of morphological properties allow detection of the observed