A new yam bean (Pachyrhizus spp.) interspecific hybrid

The yam bean (Pachyrhizus spp.) is a legume tuber / root crop locally grown in Central America, South America and Asia. The tuber is usually consumed raw for its refreshing taste and high moisture content. A recently found P. tuberosus type from a small ecogeographic region in the tropical lowlands of Peru has a high tuber dry matter content and this so-called Chuin-Type is consumed like manioc. This study was conducted to determine the possibility to use the Chuin-Type as a source to incorporate high dry matter into the remaining yam bean gene pool. Three P. tuberosus (Chuin) accessions were crossed with 15 P. ahipa accessions from the Andean highlands resulting in six successful interspecific hybridisations. Successful crosses were confirmed by morphological and agronomical traits as well as multivariate statistics. All hybrid plants were fertile and vigorous. Owing to the fertility and vigour of interspecific hybrids it is assumed that a hybrid between P. tuberosus and P. ahipa might already evolved in the area of origin and that interspecific hybridisation is appropriate to improve the tuber dry matter content in the yam bean which might give the crop new forms of food and processing use.     

Origin,classification, variation and distribution of lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus L.) in the light of Cuban material

Summary Recent collecting activities have shown that Cuba is rich in plant genetic resources of lima beans. Seed characters of 173 Cuban accessions were measured. Principal component analysis and discriminant factor analysis were used to compare the accessions, which could be classified into seven groups: wild, weed, Potato, Potato-Sieva, Sieva, Sieva-Big Lima, Big Lima. The Sieva type is the principal group of Cuba. It has arrived to Cuba in pre-Columbian times via the Antilles arc. After the Conquest the Potato type was introduced from Central America. Introgressive hybridization with the Sieva group led to the intermediate Potato-Sieva type, whereas the Sieva-Big Lima type resulted from selection toward larger seeds within the Sieva group. The Big Lima type was introduced relatively late. Cuba occupies a key position in the distribution of Lima beans within the Americas and also to the Old World.     

Variation amongst protoplast-derived moth bean Vigna aconitifolia plants

Summary Protoplasts were isolated from leaves of a single plant of Vigna aconitifolia, a drought resistant grain legume. The protoplasts regenerated and formed colony and calli from which 50 entire plants were regenerated and transferred to field conditions. Only 7 plants survived upto maturity and they flowered and produced pods with seed. The protoplast derived plants showed variation in important characters. Two groups of characters (one with 7 sets and another with 6 sets) were studied in the protoclones. In first group protoclones showed variations in seed germination, maturity age, pod length, pod and seed colour, number of abortive seed per pod and response to field rots, however, not much difference was recorded in pollen stainability and meiotic behaviour in these protoclones. In second group analysis of variants showed significance difference for plant height, rachis-length, length and breadth of mature odd leaflets, seed per pod and weight of seed. The results indicate that protoplast can be source of variation in this crop. However, detailed biochemical and genetical analysis of protoclones are required.     

Effect of plant density on selection for seed yield in two population types of Phaseolus vulgaris L.

Summary Pedigree selection for seed yield, using early generation yield tests, was practiced from the F₂ to F₇ in two populations of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in three plant densities: 66, 133, and 266 thousand plants ha^-1 at CIAT-Palmira, Colombia. The six highest yielding lines selected from each plant-density, along with 13 parents, were evaluated in a 7×7 lattice design with three replications at the three densities utilized for selection, and at 399,000 plants ha^-1 in 1988 and 1989.Based on the mean performance of selected lines and the mean of the parents, selection for seed yield was effective in all densities in both populations. However, none of the lines selected from the population within the race Mesoamerica (TC 4673) significantly outyielded their best parent under any plant density. The highest yielding lines selected from the interracial population (TR 4635) outyielded their best parent irrespective of the plant-density used for selection. The highest yielding line originated from the highest density used for selection. Low density was neither good for selection nor for evaluation and identification of high-yielding cultivars of common bean. There was no significant difference between the mean yield of lines selected at the intermediate and high population densities. The effects of plant density, year, and their interactions were significant for seed yield.     

Effects of Organic Amendments on Productivity and Profitability of Bell Pepper–French Bean–Garden Pea System and on Soil Properties during Transition to Organic Production

A transition period of at least 2 years is required for annual crops before the produce may be certified as organically grown. There is a need to better understand the various management options for a smooth transition from conventional to organic production. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of different organic amendments and biofertilizers (BFs) on productivity and profitability of a bell pepper–french bean–garden pea system as well as soil fertility and enzymatic activities during conversion to organic production. For this, the following six treatments were established in fixed plots: composted farmyard manure (FYMC, T₁); vermicompost (VC, T₂); poultry manure (PM, T₃) along with biofertilizers (BF) [Rhizobium/Azotobacter + phosphorus solubilizing bacteria (Pseudomonas striata)]; mix of three amendments (FYMC + PM + VC + BF, T₄); integrated nutrient management (FYMC + NPK, T₅); and unamended control (T₆). The yields of bell pepper and french bean under organic nutrient management were markedly lower (25.2–45.9% and 29.5–46.2%, respectively) than with the integrated nutrient management (INM). Among the organic treatments, T₄ and T₁ produced greater yields of both bell pepper (27.96 Mg ha^?1) and french bean (3.87 Mg ha^?1) compared with other treatments. In garden pea, however, T₄ gave the greatest pod yield (7.27 Mg ha^?1) and was significantly superior to other treatments except T₅ and T₁. The latter treatment resulted in the lowest soil bulk density (1.19 Mg m^?3) compared with other treatments. Similarly, soil organic C was significantly greater in all the treatments (1.21–1.30%) except T₂ compared to T₆ (1.06%). Plots under INM, however, had greater levels of available nitrogen–phosphorus–potassium (NPK) than those under organic amendments. T₁ plots showed greater dehydrogenase and acid phosphatase activities compared with other treatments. However, T₄ and T₅ plots had greater activities of β-glucosidase and urease activities, respectively. The cost of cultivation was greater under organic nutrient management (except T₂) compared with INM. The latter treatment gave greater gross margin and benefit/cost (B/C) ratio for all vegetables, except that T₂ gave greater B/C ratio in garden pea compared with other treatments. We conclude that T₁ and T₄ were more suitable for enhancing the productivity of bell pepper–french bean–garden pea system, through improved soil properties, during transition to organic production.     

施氮量和蚕豆/玉米间作对土壤无机氮时空分布的影响

在田间条件下于2006—2007年研究了不同氮水平下（N 0、75、150、225、300 kg/hm2）蚕豆/玉米间作体系与其相应单作体系土壤无机氮的时空分布规律,旨在为河西走廊灌区蚕豆/玉米间作体系的氮素管理提供理论依据。用土钻法采集土壤剖面样品,CaCl2浸提,流动分析仪测定土壤无机氮的方法研究了施氮量和蚕豆/玉米种间相互作用对土壤无机氮时间和空间变化特点。结果表明:灌漠土无机氮以NO3--N为主。蚕豆和玉米无机氮含量在蚕豆收获前种植方式间均无显著性差异,蚕豆收获后至玉米收获,间作显著降低了两种作物各层无机氮含量;无机氮含量随着施氮量增加而显著增加。蚕豆收获后间作体系0—100 cm土层无机氮累积量略高于单作体系,且0—100 cm 土层无机氮累积量高于100—160 cm土层;玉米收获后,间作蚕豆和玉米土壤无机氮累积量在0—100 cm土层分别平均降低了51.7%和16.6%,在100—160 cm土层平均降低了42.1%和6.1%;与不施氮相比,施氮蚕豆和玉米无机氮累积量在0—100 cm土层分别平均增加了40.1%和81.5%,在100—160 cm土层分别增加了69.6%和40.6%;与单作体系相比,间作体系0—100 和100—160 cm土层土壤无机氮分别降低43.4%和34.1%。因此,施氮肥显著增加土壤无机氮的累积,而豆科/禾本科间作减少了土壤无机氮的残留。     

Genetic variability in cultivated common bean beyond the two major gene pools

It is generally accepted that two major gene pools exist in cultivatedcommon bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), a MiddleAmerican and an Andean one. Some evidence, based on unique phaseolin morphotypesand AFLP analysis, suggests that at least one more gene pool exists incultivated common bean. To investigate this hypothesis, 1072 accessions from acommon bean core collection from the primary centres of origin, held at CIAT,were investigated. Various agronomic and morphological attributes (14categorical and 11 quantitative) were measured. Multivariate analyses,consisting of homogeneity analysis and clustering for categorical data,clustering and ordination techniques for quantitative data and nonlinearprincipal component analysis for mixed data, were undertaken. The results ofmost analyses supported the existence of the two major gene pools. However, theanalysis of categorical data of protein types showed an additional minor genepool. The minor gene pool is designated North Andean and includes phaseolintypes CH, S and T; lectin types 312, Pr, B and K; and mostly A5, A6 and A4 types-amylase inhibitor. Analysis of the combined categorical data ofprotein types and some plant categorical data also suggested that some othergermplasm with C type phaseolin are distinguished from the major gene pools.     

Geographical distribution of the DL1 and DL2 genes causing hybrid dwarfism in Phaseolus vulgaris L., their association with seed size,and their significance to breeding

Summary Dwarlism in F₁ hybrids has been observed in over 100 crosses of dry beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) at the Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT), Cali, Colombia. In each cross, one parent always had small seeds and the other parent either medium or la ge ones. This apparent incompatibility between the two groups of germplasm was controlled by two complementary, dominant genes: DL₁ and DL₂. Smallseeded bean lines carried gene DL₁ and originated in Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala, and Mexico; medium for large-seeded bean lines carried gene DL₂ and were from Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Turkey, The United States, and West Germany. Thes two genes have probably played an important role in the evolution of dry bean forms of different seed sizes by serving as a genetic barrier or isolating mechanism, thus limiting free genetic recombination between the two germplasm groups.Apparent differences in the adaptiveness and yielding ability of the two groups of bean germplasm, smallys, medium- and large-seeded, and some breeding implications for manipulation of the genes causing F₁ hybrid dwarfism were also discovered.     

镍对蚕豆和冬小麦细胞毒害程度的超微结构观察

用透射电镜观察了镍化合物对蚕豆和冬小麦根端细胞超微结构的影响，结果表明，硫酸镍不同程度地引起蚕豆和冬小麦细胞的损伤。在１５μｇ／ｍｌ浓度下，镍化合物可诱导蚕豆根端细胞核变形，液泡内有凝聚物断续性附着于液泡膜内侧。在相同浓度下，硫酸镍对冬小麦根端细胞内部结构影响较小。在８０μｇ／ｍｌ浓度下，冬小麦细胞液泡有凝聚性变化，质壁有轻度分离。而蚕豆在此浓度处理下，核固缩，核膜崩解，细胞内部电子密度明显升高，结构呈凝聚状，欠清晰，液泡出现凝聚性变化，质壁出现重度分离。以上结果意味着镍化合物对蚕豆的损伤程度要高于对冬小麦的损伤程度。     

Phenotypic recurrent selection in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) based on performance of S2 progenies

Summary The effect of a recurrent selection procedure for improving seed yield per plant was evaluated in common bean. Progress was registered after three cycles of recurrent selection with S2 progeny evaluation performed on the grain yield/plant. Gain from selection was estimated by field testing 45 random S2 lines from each of the C0, C1 and C2 populations. Response to selection for seed yield/plant was 6 g from C0 to C1 and 4.4 g from C1 to C2. The seed yield improvement was due principally to an increase in pods/plant; little contribution was provided by the 1000-seed weight and seeds/pod traits. Broad-sense heritability and genotypic variance for grain yield remained high in all cycles which suggests further gain from additional selection cycles. Grain yield/plant is significantly correlated to pods/plant and seeds/pod traits in all cycles, indicating that plants with favourable combinations of these traits could be identified. The proposed recurrent selection procedure appears to be effective in improving the population and extracting superior genotypes for varietal development.