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A Factor Analysis of Plant Variables Related to Yield in Dry Beans. I. Morphologic Traits¹

A principal factor analysis was performed on 22 morphological and yield-determining traits of 16 cultivars and strains of dry beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) grown in replicated field plots at two locations in Michigan. in 1970. Factors, representing patterns of variables interpreted as weight (or size), number, and plant architecture were consistently extracted across and within locations in various subsets of the data. These factors were identiifed with the "source" and "sink" constructs of crop psysiologists. It is suggested that the development of higher yielding bean cultivars must be based upon relatively large plants bearing numerous nodes, leaves, and reproductive structures, and with an architectural display of phytomeric units which facilitates more uniform light interception throughout the canopy. We caution that this generalized morphological description of a high yielding plant type is not to be taken as the complete specification of a yield ideotype in field beans.

Key Words: Ideotype • Correlations of traits • Patterns of traits

² Formerly graduate research assistant and professor of crop science, respectively, Michigan State Univ., East Lansing, MI 48824.

Received for publication December 31, 1975.