Abstract
The runner bean is the third most economically important Phaseolus species, which is cultivated on small-scale agriculture for the production of immature pods or to obtain dry seeds. However, despite the economic importance and agronomic potential of this species, the runner bean has been little studied from the genetic standpoint. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to characterize ten selected lines of runner bean obtained from Central (Santiago) and Southern (Valdivia and Villarica) Chile based on morphological and agronomic traits. In addition, the genetic variability of these lines was determined using 12 Inter-Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) markers to evaluate the potential of this germplasm for breeding and commercial purposes. As a result, the lines from Central Chile were characterized, and had a higher number of pods per plant compared to the Southern lines, although the size and weight of their seeds were lower. Moreover, a low level of genetic diversity (He = 0.251) was encountered in this population. Finally, this is one of the first studies that generate relevant and novel information on the morphological, agronomic and genetic characterization of the P. coccineus germplasm present in Chile.
Highlights
IntroductionThe (scarlet) runner bean (P. coccineus L.) is the third most economically important Phaseolus species worldwide, after the common bean (P. vulgaris L.) and lima bean (P. lunatus L.) [2]
Germination type is often indicative of evolutionary changes among clades [23], and one of the most relevant morphological traits that differentiates species [24]
Six lines (1, 8, 19, 20, 27, and 28) showed hypogeal germination, while four lines (3, 4, 6, and 7) exhibited the epigeal type of germination, which is typical of P. vulgaris [4] (Table 1)
Summary
The (scarlet) runner bean (P. coccineus L.) is the third most economically important Phaseolus species worldwide, after the common bean (P. vulgaris L.) and lima bean (P. lunatus L.) [2]. It is a climbing long-day perennial legume species that is often cultivated as a small-scale annual crop for edible immature pods production or to obtain dry seeds [3]. Based on the color of the flowers, taxonomists described three botanical varieties of runner beans: P. coccineus var. Albiflorus with white flowers, P. coccineus var. Coccineus with red flowers and P. coccineus var. Bicolor with both colors (white and red) of flowers [5] Based on the color of the flowers, taxonomists described three botanical varieties of runner beans: P. coccineus var. albiflorus with white flowers, P. coccineus var. coccineus with red flowers and P. coccineus var. bicolor with both colors (white and red) of flowers [5]
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