Male sterility in beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Summary Male sterile bean plants were discovered at Embu Agricultural Research Station, Kenya. The character is controlled by one recessive gene.The Grain Legume Project is a joint project of the Kenya Ministry of Agriculture and The Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs.     

Inheritance of pod cross-section in beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Summary OSU 5062, a green bean line with a tendency for pods to become creasebacked (wider than deep) in cross-section, was crossed to near-round-podded cultivars Oregon 83 and Slenderette, oval-podded Bountiful, and flat-podded Roma, to further clarify the inheritance of pod cross-section. Differences among generations in pod cross-section index (PCS), calculated as pod width/depth, were small in the near-round x creaseback crosses (1.07 and 1.01 for Oregon 83 and Slenderette versus 1.20 for OSU 5062). Bountiful (0.63) and Roma (0.50) differed to a greater extent from 5062. Generation means of individual plant PCS of the F₁ and F₂ were almost identical, were almost exactly intermediate between parents, and strongly supported additive inheritance. Backcross data generally supported additive inheritance, but in some cases indicated degrees of dominance of higher PCS. A generation means analysis indicated additive gene action, but deviations from an additive-dominance model were significant in each cross.     

The kappa race of Colletotrichum lindemuthianum and sources of resistance to anthracnose in Phaseolus beans

Summary The utilization of American and European bean cultivars as host differentials for distinction of races of Colletotrichum lindemuthianum has been discussed. The new race occurring at Ebnet. Germany, since 1973 is named kappa. It broke down resistance derived from the Are gene originating from Cornell 49–242. Resistance to this kappa race appeared to be present in some European and Asiatic bean cultivars as well as in some American bean accessions.     

Inheritance of resistance to angular leaf spot (Isariopsis griseola Sacc.) in french bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Summary Angular leaf spot (Isariopsis griseola Sacc.) is a serious disease of French bean in the hills of India and 40 to 70 per cent of the green pods are damaged and rendered unmarketable. Crosses were made between PLB 257, (Phaseolus coccineus L.), a red flowering pole tope, resistant to angular leaf spot, and Contender (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), a highly susceptible commercial cultivar. Studies of the F₁, F₂, and F₃ progenies indicated that PLB 257, carries a recessive gene imparting resistance to angular leaf spot.     

Acid PAGE procedure for detection of phaseolins in field beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Summary A procedure based on acid polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (acid PAGE) has been described. Resolution of phaseolin bands appears to be relatively superior to that obtained with basic PAGE system. The procedure discriminates S, T, C, M and B types of phaseolins; S, T and C have been reported previously while M and B types were identified in the present study.     

Genetic interpretations of the effects of bulk breeding on four populations of beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Summary The effects of bulk breeding on yield and its components in two high-yeilding and two low-yielding bean populations when grown at crop densities are interpreted in terms of gene action and selection. There was considerable additive variation in the crosses, dominance effects were variable but tended to be negative. The results were compared with results obtained at low density by another worker with the same populations, and this showed that interpretations of gene action in hybrid vigour depend on the test environment used. The interpretations were also compared with plant breeding interpretations made on the same material (Hamblin, 1977), and it was found that a single pattern of response to natural selection, in plant breeding terms, may be explained by more than one genetic interpretation and, conversely, a single genetic interpretation may result in different patterns of response in plant breeding terms. The value of composite crosses in plant breeding are discussed and it is concluded that there is a greater chance of producing improved lines from a large number of simple crosses than from a smaller number of composite crosses.     

Plant breeding interpretations of the effects of bulk breeding on four populations of beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Summary The effect of bulk breeding on yield and its components was studied in two high-yielding and two low-yielding bean crosses until the F₆ generation. It was found that bulk breeding on the whole did not alter the mean values in the high-yielding crosses, but that there was a steady increase in the mean values of the low-yielding crosses with generation. As well as mean values the use of variance as a determinant of cross potential was also studied. It was found for characters markedly influenced in their expression by the environment, of which grain yield is the prime example, that progeny variance did not differ significantly from parental variance. It was concluded that interplant competition was the factor of the environment responsible for this effect.     

Genetic control of low temperature tolerance in germination of the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Summary Cultivars tolerant to low temperature during the germination and emergence stages and carriers of the grain quality standards demanded by consumers are needed to increase the success of irrigated common bean in Southern Minas Gerais State. To study the genetic mechanisms controlling these traits and assess the possibility of generating the desirable materials, a diallel cross involving ten cultivars including introductions and pure lines from the breeding program of ESAL was carried out. Speed of germination of the F₂ generation from the crosses was assessed under laboratory conditions at 12°C. The diallel analysis was carried out using Griffing's method IV (1956) and predictions of the cross potential were made by the methodology developed by Jinks & Pooni (1986). The results indicated that the parents differed in germination speed at low temperatures with Small White, A-488 and Rio Vermelho being the most tolerant and Carioca, ESAL 591 the most sensitive. No effect of the reciprocal crosses was observed either for germination percentage or germination speed. The parents A-488, Small White and Rio Vermelho showed the greatest general combining ability. Additive genetic effects predominated for both traits. Our results suggest that cold tolerance can be bred successfully into commercially acceptable cultivars.     

The estimation of cross yield using early generation and parental yields in dry beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Summary The relationship between the yield potential of crosses for several generations and the yield of either the parental varieties or early segregating generations was studied. It was found that if plants were grown at crop densities then a high degree of prediction of cross potential was possible independent of year or generation. Prediction was much less efficient however if either the parents or the early generations were grown as spaced plants. It is concluded that at crop densities an accurate assessment of parental yields is sufficient to determine which crosses are most likely to have a high yield potential and that if any cross proves to be low yielding in early generations it may safely be rejected without fear of losing potentially high yielding crosses. Reasons for the failure of predictions, as reported in the literature, are discussed.     

Influence of high temperature on the performance of some Phaseolus species at different developmental stages

Summary The effect of short term high temperature exposure on the performance of five Phaseolus species and of long term (continuous) exposure on the performance of P. vulgaris was studied at three growth stages. Phaseolus species subjected to 26.7, 32.2 or 37.3°C for two days showed small differences in the number of pods produced and in visual leaf damage, but large differences in leaf heat killing time, as measured by conductivity. P. coccineus had the shortest heat killing time (20–60 minutes) and P. acutifolius and P. lunatus the longest times (180 and 153 minutes), respectively. The P. vulgaris genotypes were intermediate in killing times to P. acutifolius and P. coccineus. Species response was not consistent with temperature within developmental stage. On average, the number of pods decreased as temperature increased from 32.2 to 37.3°C. Heat killing time and leaf damage also increased with temperature. CO₂ exchange rates of plants grown at prolonged high temperatures (30–40°C/20–30°C, day/night) decreased with the age of the plant. Shoot lenght was decreased as high temperature. P. vulgaris genotypes differed on the basis of either short term exposure or of continuous exposure. These results suggest that there may be useful germplasm in Phaseolus for improving heat tolerance.Scientific Journal Series Paper Number 13,8000 of the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station, USA.     

Isoenzyme and cotyledon protein variation for identification of black beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) with similar seed morphology

Summary Methods developed to identify genetically diverse varieties of beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) were applied to closely related lines that were difficult to distinguish on the basis of seed morphology. Seedling tissues and seeds of black beans, were examined electrophoretically for isoenzyme and cotyledon proteinn protein patterns. Seven enzymes, extracted from seeds or from seedling stem, root or leaf tissues, were compared for polymorphism. Peptidase, polyphenol oxidase, phosphoglucoisomerase and glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase patterns were the same for all lines. Some differences were observed for acid phosphatase, peroxidase and esterase patterns, but complete discrimination of the six selected lines was not possible on the basis of isoenzyme patterns alone. Using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) of dissociated 0.1 M acetic acid soluble proteins at pH 3.1 (acid-PAGE), or sodium dodecyl sulphate PAGE (SDS-PAGE) of residual protein extracts, all but one pair of samples in each case could be distinguished from the other samples. Using both techniques all of the lines could be identified unequivocally.     

Effect of photoperiod and temperature on common blight disease of common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Summary Although common blight disease is serious in many dry bean production areas, there is only limited information on the influence of photoperiod on the disease. Experiments were conducted in growth chambers and in the field (Nebraska, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico) to investigate the influence of photoperiod × temperature and photoperiod, respectively, on the reaction of cultivars/lines to the causal bacterium Xanthomonas campestris pv. phaseoli. A split-plot design was used in all experiments except in the DR experiment where cultivars/lines were replicated within each photoperiod treatment. The disease reactions were more severe on cultivars/lines under short photoperiod and under higher temperature than under longer photoperiod and lower temperature in the growth chamber. Disease reactions were also more severe under the short photoperiod in the field experiments. No interactions were detected among these factors. These results have important implications for plant breeders in the evaluation of common blight disease reactions in different latitudes.     

Breeding for yield, in mixtures of common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and maize (Zea mays L.)

Summary Despite the growing industrialization, technification and transformation that is happening in the agriculture around the world, and despite that agricultural research has always concentrated its effort on sole crops, multiple cropping systems have historically been important for common bean production in tropical countries. The reasons for this fact, are economical and social, as well as biological. Bean breeders have always been questioned on their work, because the development of new varieties is usually done in sole crop, but the varieties are grown in either systems. This paper addresses a set of questions that are usually presented to the breeders, in light of the evidence obtained from many trials conducted in Brazil and in the U.S.A.: Will the genotypes bred for sole crop conditions, perform well when grown in intercrop; How different should a genotype be, for cultivation in intercropping compared to genotypes developed for sole crop conditions; Is there a need for special breeding programs for intercropping and How could a breeding program focus the question of multiple (associated) cropping?     

Growth analysis in a reduced leaf mutant of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Summary A comparison between the Royal Red bean variety and a reduced leaf mutant on the basis of growth indices is reported. The mutants has lower leaf area index (LAI) and leaf area duration (LAD) (–43.7%), higher specific leaf weight (SLW) (on the mean +33.3%) and accumulates less dry matter (–7.7%) than the normal genotype. When the net assimilation rate (NAR) is considered, the mutant is superior to the normal (+62.3%). It is concluded that the unit area of the mutant leaves accumulates dry matter more efficiently than that of the corresponding normal variety.     

Phenotypic variation within a Hungarian landrace of runner bean (Phaseolus coccineus L.)

Summary A landrace seed lot of runner bean (Phaseolus coccineus L.), obtained from the Budapest region, Hungary, was separated into five seed groups according to seed coat colour. 131 plants were grown randomly, and observed for 27 morphological and physiological characters. The collected data were analysed by ANOVA.Numerical taxonomy of the data employed Principal Components Analysis to generate scatter diagrams and Cluster Analysis to generate dendrograms, both before and after removing data on the four anthocyanin colour characters (seed coat, calyx, stem and flower colour) as these characters are probably controlled by a single major gene. The progenies from the five distinct parental seed groups showed much overlap in characteristics, indicating that they were not distinct lines but comprised a largely panmictic population.Some character associations were detected: plants from white seeds matured significantly later than those from black seeds, plants from white seeds with a few dark spots produced seeds significantly heavier than average, whereas those from white or black seeds produced significantly lighter seeds, although the average seed yield per plant did not differ significatly.     

Breeding the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) for resistance to bean common mosaic virus: alternatives to backcrossing

A series of field experiments was undertaken in order to determine whether resistance to bean common mosaic virus (BCMV) could be incorporated into genotypes of the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) suitable for cultivation in Zimbabwe without recourse to backcrossing. Six inbred genotypes carrying the resistance-conferring alleles at the loci I and Bc-3 were crossed with five locally-adapted inbred genotypes. The first experiment comprised F₃ progeny rows, each derived from a single unselected F₂ plant, the second, F₃ bulks selected for resistance, and the third, a comparison of selected and unselected F₂-derived F₄ lines. The number of days to flowering and to maturity, the incidence of mosaic and necrosis symptoms, seed yield and seed size were recorded. There was evidence that late flowering and maturity were associated with BCMV resistance in some crosses, though not strongly enough to present an obstacle to plant breeding. The incidence of virus symptoms and seed yield were influenced by genetic factors additional to the major resistance genes, and variation in seed yield was present not only between bulk populations of crosses, but also between single-row plots of lines within crosses. This indicates that early-generation selection for yield in the presence of BCMV, even among progeny selected for BCMV-resistace, is likely to be effective. However, the variation in yield among F₄ lines was least in the highest-yielding crosses, which may represent a limit to successful selection for yield. Seed size was partly under additive genetic control, but there was also evidence of non-allelic interactions. There was no association between large seed size, preferred by consumers, and susceptibility to BCMV in the progeny, indicating that the association between these characters in the parent lines is fortuitous and will not present an obstacle to plant breeding. It is noted that a considerable amount of useful genetic information can be obtained without recourse to elaborate crossing schemes, provided that unselected progeny are included in experiments as controls. The evidence presented indicates that resistance to BCMV can be combined with appropriate values of maturity date, yield and seed size without the need for backcrossing.     

Andean beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) with resistance to the angular leaf spot pathogen (Phaeoisariopsis griseola) in southern and eastern Africa

Common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) are separated into two distinct groups: Andean and Middle American. We identified CAL 143 as the first Andean bean with resistance to angular leaf spot disease caused by Phaeoisariopsis griseola. Angular leaf spot is the most widespread and economically important bean disease in southern and eastern Africa, and it is especially severe on the extensively grown Andean beans. Cal 143 was resistant in Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zambia, but it was susceptible in Uganda. This was attributed to the presence of races of P. griseola in Uganda not present in the other countries. We identified two additional Andean bean lines, AND 277 and AND 279, with resistance to angular leaf spot in Malawi. We also characterized the virulence diversity of 15 isolates of P. griseola from southern and eastern Africa into nine different races. Five of six isolates from Malawi and two of seven from Uganda, obtained from large-seeded Andean beans, were characterized into four different races considered Andean. These were compatible only or mostly with large-seeded Andean cultivars. The other eight isolates from Uganda, Malawi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, obtained from a small- or medium-seeded Middle American beans, were characterized into five different Middle American races. These were compatible with Middle American and Andean cultivars. CAL 143 was resistant or intermediate under greenhouse conditions to all but one of the same 15 isolates from southern and eastern Africa, but it was susceptible to an isolate from Uganda obtained from a medium-seeded Middle American bean. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Expected correlated responses in selecting dry beans for tolerance to soil compaction

Summary Parents and F₂ progenies of an 8×8 diallel cross were grown under non-compacted and compacted soil conditions. Soil compaction reduced yield, pods per plant, and seeds per pod; however, an increase in seed wieght and no effect for pod length were observed. With the exception of pods per plant, the remaining traits had larger genetic variances under non-compacted soil conditions. Phenotypic correlations involving yield and related traits were similar under the two conditions. Tolerance to soil compaction and mean performance over the two soil conditions were defined. Genetic correlations in terms of: (1) the ratio of genetic variances under the stress and non-stress conditions, and (2) the correlation between performance under the two conditions, were calculated and discussed.Journal Article No. 10900 of the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station.     

Inheritance of temperature sensitivity of the photoperiod response in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Summary Photoperiod response of flowering in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is thought to be controlled by the genes Ppd and Hr. However, cultivars also vary in the degree that cooler temperatures reduces their sensitivity to photoperiod. To examine the inheritance of this temperature sensitivity, crosses of cvs. Gordo x de Celaya and Flor de Mayo × Rojo 70 were evaluated at two sites differing in mean temperature and using 12.5-h natural photoperiod or 18-h artificially extended photoperiod. Under 18-h photoperiod at the warmer site, Palmira, no plants of the parents or of the F₂ populations flowered, confirming that the parents were sensitive to photoperiod. Under 12.5-h photoperiod at the cooler site, Popayan, the parents for each cross flowered at similar dates and no segregation for days to flower was observed. However, under 18-h photoperiod, de Celaya and Rojo 70 and the F₁ populations did not flower within 100 days after planting, while the F₂ and F₃ populations showed segregation that was consistent with single gene inheritance, late flowering being dominant. Late flowering at Popayan under 18-h photoperiod indicates a lack of temperature sensitivity, so temperature insensitivity of the photoperiod response was dominant to sensitivity. The name Tip, for temperature insensitivity of photoperiod response, is proposed for this gene, with the recessive form of this gene conditioning earlier flowering at cooler temperatures with long daylengths. It is recognized that the observed segregation patterns could represent the effect of multiple alleles at the Ppd or Hr loci, and studies are proposed to test this possibility with molecular markers and recombinant inbred lines.     

Inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers as a tool for the assessment of both genetic diversity and gene pool origin in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

In this study, we report the use of ISSR to assess genetic diversity and to determine the relationships among ten cultivars of common bean developed in Argentina and three materials from France. ISSR markers resolved two major groups corresponding to the Andean and Mesoamerican gene pools of common bean. We compared the results of previous analysis, performed with RAPD markers (Galván et al., 2001), with the results generated by means of ISSR. It appears that ISSR are better tools than RAPDs to identify beans by gene pool of origin though they did not revealed as many differences between individuals as RAPDs. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.