The project “Trait discovery in bean wild relatives and their use in crop improvement for tolerance to major abiotic constraints”, is implemented by the International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Cali, Colombia; Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria (CORPOICA), Mosquera, Colombia and El Zamorano, Francisco Morazán, Honduras.
Cultivated common bean, Phaseolus vulgaris L., represents a valuable source of nutrients especially for populations living in developing countries in regions of Central and South America, and East and southern Africa, hence referred to as “meat for the poor”. Common bean is cultivated globally in nearly 28 million ha of land with an annual production of about 20 million tons. The production of common bean is influenced by both biotic and abiotic stresses. In spite of efforts made by breeders in developing better varieties able to withstand multiple biotic and abiotic constraints, the challenges of maintaining bean production calls for continuous research on the discovery of sources of new genes. Wild relatives of common bean represent an under-exploited source of diversity with valuable traits for abiotic and biotic stress tolerance and resistance such as heat, drought, waterlogging and disease like root rot.
A primary purpose of this research is to develop a medium-scaled greenhouse methodology with which to evaluate the response of Phaseolus accessions to abiotic stress. This methodology will be used to screen 100 Phaseolus accessions under greenhouse conditions to identify sources of tolerance to heat, waterlogging and root rot (pythium) and the results will be validated using field trails. Additionally, crosses will be initiated between common beans and wild relatives showing tolerance and/or resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses. The project will also contribute to building capacities of partners in Phaseolus phenotyping and breeding.
