Comparisons among methods to conduct segregating bean populations

The efficiency of five methods of conduction of segregating populations was compared in common beans. For this experiment, the segregating population from cross between the cultivars Carioca and Flor de Mayo was used. The met hods pedigree, bulk, single seed descent (SSD), F-3 derived bulk and F-2 de rived bulk were conducted as established for each method. They were evaluat ed in two locations, Lavras, in the south of Minas Gerais, and in Patos de Minas, located in the Alto Sao Francisco region. Utilizing a 18 x 18 triple lattice design, 320 families were evaluated, with 64 being derived from ea ch method, with the parents and two other checks. Estimatives were obtained from genetic and phenotypic parameters for grain yield data (g/plots). The main criteria utilized to compare the breeding methods were the average pe rformance of the families, the expected response with different selection i ntensities, and the number of families in each method with superior perform ance to a particular standard. There were no significant differences betwee n the methods to obtain the superior families, that is, if correctly conduc ted, all the methods enable similar success with the selection. Considering the estimatives of the genetic and phenotypic parameters, together with th e ease and flexibility of conduction, the bulk and SSD method proved to be the most advantageous.