Traits Related to Heat Stress in Phaseolus Species

Abstract

Traits related to heat stress in bean species (Phaseolus spp.) have been insufficiently explored to date, yet studies of these traits are needed given that heat stress is predicted to become more frequent and severe in many parts of the world because of climate change. In order to detect agro-morphological and physiological traits related to heat stress and selection for resistance to heat stress, a total of 196 bean genotypes including eight genotypes of tepary bean (P. acutifolius L.), five genotypes of scarlet runner bean (P. coccineus A. Gray), two genotypes of year bean (P. dumosus Macfady), five genotypes of lima bean (P. lunatus L.), and 176 genotypes of common bean (P. vulgaris L.) were evaluated in 2019 and 2020 under moderate (field) and extreme heat stress (greenhouse) conditions. Although most genotypes of P. acutifolius, P. lunatus, and P. coccineus were found to be more resistant to heat stress than most genotypes of common bean, some genotypes of common bean were shown to perform as well as P. acutifolius, P. lunatus, and P. coccineus. Biomass among agronomical traits had the highest significant direct effects on the resistance to heat stress score. The maximum quantum efficiency of PSII and SPAD values among physiological traits showed significant direct effects on the resistance to heat stress score. Biomass, leaflet size, the SPAD value and maximum quantum efficiency of PSII can be considered as heat stress-related traits, and, P. acutifolius, P. lunatus, P. coccineus, and some genotypes of P. vulgaris can be considered for exploitation in a heat stress tolerance breeding program.