During the process of cultivar releasing and registration, several marketing requeriments, as important as yelding potential and disease resistance , should be taken into account in a bean breading program. These are related to the grain cooking quality and can determine the level of acceptance by the final consumer: a) reduced cooking time; b) stability of grain tegument during cooking; c) high volume expansion after cooking, and so on. The main aims of this research work has been to evaluate cooking quality of nineteen common bean genotypes, sown in seven experimental sites and three different growing seasons (summer, winter and dry periods) in the State of São Paulo, Brazil, as well as the possible correlation with agronomic characters. High and significant genotype x environment interactions have been detected as to cooking quality characters but correlation with agronomic characters ware of low values. Genotypes FT-Porto Real, IAPAR-80, PF 902998, FT 901909 and Gen C 97-10 have revealed statistically shorter cooking times as compared to control checks.
common bean; cooking time; variability; high volume expansion
