Bean Cultivars Research Articles

Ozone-induced oxidative stress alleviation by biogenic silver nanoparticles and ethylenediurea in mung bean (Vigna radiata L.) under high ambient ozone.

Ground-level ozone (O3) is the most phytotoxic secondary air pollutant in the atmosphere, severely affecting crop yields worldwide. The role of nanoparticles (NP) in the alleviation of ozone-induced yield losses in crops is not known. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated the effects of biogenicB-AgNPs on the mitigation of ozone-induced phytotoxicity in mung bean and compared its results with ethylenediurea (EDU) for the first time. Two mung bean cultivars (Vigna radiata L., Cv. SML-668 and PDM-139) were foliar sprayed with weekly applications of B-AgNPs (0 = control, 10 and 25ppm) and EDU (0 = control, 200 and 300ppm) until maturation phase. Morphological, physiological, enzymatic, and non-enzymatic antioxidant data were collected 30 and 60days after germination (DAG). The mean O3 and AOT40 values (8hday-1) during the cultivation period were approximately 52ppb and 4.4ppm.h, respectively. More biomass was accumulated at the vegetative phase due to the impact of B-AgNPs and EDU, and more photosynthates were transported to the reproductive phase, increasing yield. We observed that the 10ppm B-AgNPs treatment had a more noticeable impact on yield parameters and lower Ag accumulation in seeds for both cultivars. Specifically, SML-668 cultivar treated with 10ppm B-AgNPs (SN1) showed greater increases in seed weight plant-1 (124.97%), hundred seed weight (33.45%), and harvest index (37.53%) in comparison to control. Our findings suggest that B-AgNPs can enhance growth, biomass, yield, and seed quality, and can improve mung bean ozone tolerance. Therefore, B-AgNPs may be a promising protectant for mung bean.

Chromosome-level reference genome and resequencing of 322 accessions reveal evolution, genomic imprint and key agronomic traits in adzuki bean.

Adzuki bean (Vigna angularis) is an important legume crop cultivated in over 30 countries worldwide. We developed a high-quality chromosome-level reference genome of adzuki bean cultivar Jingnong6 by combining PacBio Sequel long-read sequencing with short-read and Hi-C technologies. The assembled genome covers 97.8% of the adzuki bean genome with a contig N50 of approximately 16 Mb and a total of 32 738 protein-coding genes. We also generated a comprehensive genome variation map of adzuki bean by whole-genome resequencing (WGRS) of 322 diverse adzuki beans accessions including both wild and cultivated. Furthermore, we have conducted comparative genomics and a genome-wide association study (GWAS) on key agricultural traits to investigate the evolution and domestication. GWAS identified several candidate genes, including VaCycA3;1, VaHB15, VaANR1 and VaBm, that exhibited significant associations with domestication traits. Furthermore, we conducted functional analyses on the roles of VaANR1 and VaBm in regulating seed coat colour. We provided evidence for the highest genetic diversity of wild adzuki (Vigna angularis var. nipponensis) in China with the presence of the most original wild adzuki bean, and the occurrence of domestication process facilitating transition from wild to cultigen. The present study elucidates the genetic basis of adzuki bean domestication traits and provides crucial genomic resources to support future breeding efforts in adzuki bean.

Identification of QTLs and validation of molecular markers associated with reaction to Fusarium wilt in the common bean cultivar BRS FP403

AbstractFusarium wilt, caused by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. phaseoli, is one of the most prevalent diseases in the common bean crop (Phaseolus vulgaris). However, there is little information regarding the genetics of reaction to this disease. Thus, the aims of this study were to estimate genetic parameters, identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with reaction to Fusarium wilt, and validate the markers identified. A total of 165 progenies of the population BRS FP403 × BRS Horizonte were evaluated. Evaluation was made in 2016 and 2017 in field trials in an area infested with the pathogen in Santo Antônio de Goiás, Brazil. Genotyping of single nucleotide polymorphism and SilicoDArT, where DArT is Diversity Arrays Technology, markers using the DArTseq technology was performed in the F2 generation. Analyses of the phenotypic data indicated the presence of variability among the progenies and the possibility of success from selection, with high estimates of heritability (90%) and gain from selection (37%). A genetic map was obtained with 702 markers and spanned 3069 cM. Five QTLs associated with reaction to Fusarium wilt were identified on five chromosomes. There was interaction between the QTLs and years. Through joint analysis, four QTLs were identified on chromosomes Pv01, Pv02, Pv03, and Pv04, explaining 5.8%–40.5% of the variation. The QTL FOP2.3403H explained 40.5% of phenotypic variation and was stable over the 2 years. From this QTL, two hydrolysis probes were developed for genotyping in a panel of lines for validation. Selection efficiency was over 92%, indicating considerable potential for use in marker‐assisted selection.

Enhancing phenotyping efficiency in faba bean breeding: integrating UAV imaging and machine learning

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) equipped with high-resolution imaging sensors have shown great potential for plant phenotyping in agricultural research. This study aimed to explore the potential of UAV-derived red–green–blue (RGB) and multispectral imaging data for estimating classical phenotyping measures such as plant height and predicting yield and chlorophyll content (indicated by SPAD values) in a field trial of 38 faba bean (Vicia faba L.) cultivars grown at four replicates in south-eastern Norway. To predict yield and SPAD values, Support Vector Regression (SVR) and Random Forest (RF) models were utilized. Two feature selection methods, namely the Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC) and sequential forward feature selection (SFS), were applied to identify the most relevant features for prediction. The models incorporated various combinations of multispectral bands, indices, and UAV-based plant height values at four different faba bean development stages. The correlation between manual and UAV-based plant height measurements revealed a strong agreement with a correlation coefficient (R2) of 0.97. The best prediction of SPAD value was achieved at BBCH 50 (flower bud present) with an R2 of 0.38 and RMSE of 1.14. For yield prediction, BBCH 60 (first flower open) was identified as the optimal stage, using spectral indices yielding an R2 of 0.83 and RMSE of 0.53 tons/ha. This development stage presents an opportunity to implement targeted management practices to enhance yield. The integration of UAVs equipped with RGB and multispectral cameras, along with machine learning algorithms, proved to be an accurate approach for estimating agronomically important traits in faba bean. This methodology offers a practical solution for rapid and efficient high-throughput phenotyping in faba bean breeding programs.

Exploration of the Diversity of Vicine and Convicine Derivatives in Faba Bean (Vicia faba L.) Cultivars: Insights from LC-MS/MS Spectra.

While numerous Fabaceae seeds are a good nutritional source of high-quality protein, the use of some species is hampered by toxic effects caused by exposure to metabolites that accumulate in the seeds. One such species is the faba or broad bean (Vicia faba L.), which accumulates vicine and convicine. These two glycoalkaloids cause favism, the breakdown of red blood cells in persons with a glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency. Because this is the most common enzyme deficiency worldwide, faba bean breeding efforts have focused on developing cultivars with low levels of these alkaloids. Consequently, quantification methods have been developed; however, they quantify vicine and convicine only and not the derivatives of these compounds that potentially generate the same bio-active molecules. Based on the recognition of previously unknown (con)vicine-containing compounds, we screened the fragmentation spectra of LC-MS/MS data from five faba bean cultivars using the characteristic fragments generated by (con)vicine. This resulted in the recognition of more than a hundred derivatives, of which 89 were tentatively identified. (Con)vicine was mainly derivatized through the addition of sugars, hydroxycinnamic acids, and dicarboxylic acids, with a group of compounds composed of two (con)vicine residues linked by dicarboxyl fatty acids. In general, the abundance profiles of the different derivatives in the five cultivars mimicked that of vicine and convicine, but some showed a derivative-specific profile. The description of the (con)vicine diversity will impact the interpretation of future studies on the biosynthesis of (con)vicine, and the content in potentially bio-active alkaloids in faba beans may be higher than that represented by the quantification of vicine and convicine alone.

Nitrogen management in common bean cultivars in soil infected by Meloidogyne incognita

The selection of an appropriate nitrogen (N) source can mitigate the negative effect of root-knot nematodes on the yield of common beans. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to assess the application efficiency of four N sources (urea, ammonium sulfate, ammonium nitrate, and sodium nitrate) and inoculation with Rhizobium tropici on the yield components, chlorophyll, and total nitrogen (N) leaf contents of four common bean cultivars (IDR Curió, IDR Sabiá, IDR Tuiuiú, and IDR Bem-te-vi). These beans were cultivated in substrates both infected and uninfected with Meloidogyne incognita. In the soil containing phytonematodes, the IDR Curió cultivar exhibited the highest shoot and root dry weight yield, resulting in the greatest root volume, total N content, and grain yield. Among the N sources, the application of either urea or ammonium sulfate proved the most effective in enhancing common bean productivity in soil, irrespective of the cultivar or whether the soil was infected with Meloidogyne incognita.

Effect of Mulching as a Weed Management Strategy in Field Production of French Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L) in Western Kenya

There has been a 2% decrease on French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L) production in Kenya due to factors such as weeds, pests and diseases and the challenge of controlling them using chemicals that result in high rejection rate or interception in the export market because of chemical residues. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effect of different mulching materials on the growth and yield of French bean cultivars and to determine the effect of different mulching materials on weed density. Field experiments were carried out at KALRO Kitale, Trans Nzoia county Kenya. Season 1 was carried out during long rains of April and June 2021 and season two during the short rains of August and October 2021. Black polythene and grass mulch were compared with two hand weedings and no weeding in a Randomized Complete Block Design experiment with three replications. Data on growth and yield of French Beans were collected and subjected to ANOVA using GenStat to determine the significant differences between the treatments. The means were separated using Fisher’s Unprotected LSD at 5% significance level. Growth and yield of French Beans was significantly influenced by the treatments (p≤0.05). Plants grown under black polythene and grass mulch had the tallest height and the highest number of leaves and branches as well as number of pods and cumulative pod yield as compared to those that were hand weeded and unweeded. The highest yield of 2138 and 2597 kg/ ha was obtained under black polythene mulch in season 1 and 2 respectively. This was significantly higher than that obtained from grass mulch, hand weeding and unweeding. In conclusion polythene and grass mulch improved growth and yield of French beans and reduced weed density. It is therefore recommended that farmers should adapt mulching as a cultural weed management strategy.

Use of plant extracts (Ricinus communis) to control undesirable insects in the cultivation of caupi beans

The objetive was to evaluate the action of the extracts from the castor bean plant, the shells of the seeds, the seeds and the leaves of the castor bean plant on the insects that are likely to cause damage in the caupi-bean plant. The experiment was carried out at the Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Pará (IFPA- Campus Bragança) located in the municipality of Bragança, located in the northeast region of the state of Pará. The trials were conducted in the first half of 2023, namely: 1-Screening of castor bean by-products, seed hulls, seeds and castor bean leaves using ethanol as solvent; 2- Dose response curve extracting bioactive substances from seed, seed and leaf hulls with ethanol. Casualized blocks (CBD) with three repetitions and four treatments, divided into four blocks, each block had 50 plants with plant spacing of 20cm and 50 cm between rows with local breaded bean cultivar. Treatments were applied once/week after the infestation appeared, after filtering dilution was done for each case in a single spray. Testing of formulates with an interval of one week in each treatment were applied: witness, MSM, SM and FoM, all using ethanol at 92.8° INPM in the preparation of SE and applied in the dosage of 10%(m/v). Evaluation of treatments was performed 48 hours after spraying by counting live and dead insects. The effects of oil and leaf and shell extracts from the castor bean plant on mortality of aphids, caterpillars, bedbugs and cowpeas in beans were investigated using second order regression analyzes. The analyzes were carried out in the Past 4.14 program. As the concentration of oil extracted from castor bean seeds is increased, there is an increase in the mortality rate. The concentrations of aqueous extracts from the castor bean leaves, more efficiency in the results. Thus, the plant extracts tested are a viable alternative for the control of Aphis craccivora, Bemisia tabaci, Diabrotica speciosa, Spodoptera eridania and Nezara viridula, being affordable products for easy preparation and application.

NUA 45, a dry bean cultivar, builds a subtle brand in Zimbabwe against all odds

Global business today is driven by brands, each with a unique story, but rarely of a product that is a public good. Building a brand requires careful planning, creativity, and an understanding of the target market. Borrowing from various brand concepts and frameworks, this paper explores how a government-bred common bean cultivar., NUA 45, defied the odds to create a new identity and association in Zimbabwe. Firstly, the cultivar overcame the general lack of promotion investment in government-bred (public) common bean cultivars. Secondly, being a red mottle-colored cultivar in a red-speckled (sugar type) bean-predominated country, NUA 45 had to break the preference typecasts. Thirdly, NUA 45 was among the first generation of biofortified bean cultivars enriched with iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn), some of the most sought-after micronutrients in a world ridden with hidden hunger. Overcoming these market barriers required a systematic approach to awareness creation, collaboration, and commercialization, avoiding the tragedy of the commons, and instead, achieving a win-win situation for all stakeholders. This entailed understanding the needs and preferences of different value chain actors, developing messages, and engaging local farmers, retailers, aggregators, and private and public sector partners to promote NUA 45. Lastly, developing compelling stories and leveraging digital channels to reach new customers that sought personal experiences, moved the cultivar name from a mere label to a spontaneously endorsed lifestyle and a brand that ‘spread like wildfire’ across the country and the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) region. The NUA 45 brand broke new ground for other biofortified bean cultivars and non-sugar bean cultivars. Following its release in seven other countries, NUA 45 pioneered listing on the SADC regional variety catalog.

Comparative phylogenetic analysis of the mediator complex subunit in asparagus bean (Vigna unguiculata ssp. sesquipedialis) and its expression profile under cold stress

BackgroundThe mediator complex subunits (MED) constitutes a multiprotein complex, with each subunit intricately involved in crucial aspects of plant growth, development, and responses to stress. Nevertheless, scant reports pertain to the VunMED gene within the context of asparagus bean (Vigna unguiculata ssp. sesquipedialis). Establishing the identification and exploring the responsiveness of VunMED to cold stress forms a robust foundation for the cultivation of cold-tolerant asparagus bean cultivars.ResultsWithin this study, a comprehensive genome-wide identification of VunMED genes was executed in the asparagus bean cultivar 'Ningjiang3', resulting in the discovery of 36 distinct VunMED genes. A phylogenetic analysis encompassing 232 MED genes from diverse species, including Arabidopsis, tomatoes, soybeans, mung beans, cowpeas, and asparagus beans, underscored the highly conserved nature of MED gene sequences. Throughout evolutionary processes, each VunMED gene underwent purification and neutral selection, with the exception of VunMED19a. Notably, VunMED9/10b/12/13/17/23 exhibited structural variations discernible across four cowpea species. Divergent patterns of temporal and spatial expression were evident among VunMED genes, with a prominent role attributed to most genes during early fruit development. Additionally, an analysis of promoter cis-acting elements was performed, followed by qRT-PCR assessments on roots, stems, and leaves to gauge relative expression after exposure to cold stress and subsequent recovery. Both treatments induced transcriptional alterations in VunMED genes, with particularly pronounced effects observed in root-based genes following cold stress. Elucidating the interrelationships between subunits involved a preliminary understanding facilitated by correlation and principal component analyses.ConclusionsThis study elucidates the pivotal contribution of VunMED genes to the growth, development, and response to cold stress in asparagus beans. Furthermore, it offers a valuable point of reference regarding the individual roles of MED subunits.

Genetic gain for mineral concentration in common bean cultivars released by the Southern Brazilian Common-Bean Network

Genetic gain for mineral concentration in common bean cultivars released by the Southern Brazilian Common-Bean Network

Mapping of adult plant recessive resistance to anthracnose in Indian common bean landrace Baspa/KRC 8.

The common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) has become the food of choice owing to its wealthy nutritional profile, leading to a considerable increase in its cultivation worldwide. However, anthracnose has been a major impediment to production and productivity, as elite bean cultivars are vulnerable to this disease. To overcome barriers in crop production, scientists worldwide are working towards enhancing the genetic diversity of crops. One way to achieve this is by introducing novel genes from related crops, including landraces like KRC 8. This particular landrace, found in the North Western Himalayan region, has shown adult plant resistance against anthracnose and also possesses a recessive resistance gene. In this study, a population of 179 F2:9 RIL individuals (Jawala ×KRC 8) was evaluated at both phenotypic and genotypic levels using over 830 diverse molecular markers to map the resistance gene present in KRC 8. We have successfully mapped a resistance gene to chromosome Pv01 using four SSR markers, namely IAC 238, IAC 235, IAC 259, and BM 146. The marker IAC 238 is closely linked to the gene with a distance of 0.29cM, while the other markers flank the recessive resistance gene at 10.87cM (IAC 259), 17.80cM (BM 146), and 25.22cM (IAC 235). Previously, a single recessive anthracnose resistance gene (co-8) has been reported in the common bean accession AB 136. However, when we performed PCR amplification with our tightly linked marker IAC 238, we got different amplicons in AB 136 and KRC 8. Interestingly, the susceptible cultivar Jawala produced the same amplicon as AB 136. This observation indicated that the recessive gene present in KRC 8 is different from co-8. As the gene is located far away from the Co-1 locus, we suggest naming the recessive gene co-Indb/co-19. Fine mapping of co-Indb in KRC 8 may provide new insights into the cloning and characterization of this recessive gene so that it can be incorporated into future bean improvement programs. Further, the tightly linked marker IAC 238 can be utilized in marker assisted introgression in future bean breeding programs. The novel co-Indb gene present in Himalayan landrace KRC 8, showing adult plant resistance against common bean anthracnose, is independent from all the resistance genes previously located on chromosome Pv01.

The Effect of Plant Spacing and Type of Manure on the Growth and Yield of Green Beans (Vigna Radiata L) Cultivar Vima I

The objectives of this study are: (1) To determine the effect of the combination of planting distance and type of manure on the growth and yield of green bean plants (Vigna radiata L) cultivar VIMA-1, (2) To determine the combination of planting distance and type of manure that can have the best influence on the growth and yield of mung bean plants (Vigna radiata L) VIMA-1 cultivar. The research was conducted in Wirakanan Village, Kandanghour District, Indramayu Regency, from December 2020 to January 2021. The research method used is the Group Random Design (RAK) method. The treatment consists of three levels of planting distance (20x25 cm, 20x30 cm, and 20x35 cm) and three types of manure (chicken, goat, and cow) with a dose of 6 tons/ha for each manure and without manure. The combination is repeated three times so that there are 36 tiles. Variables observed include Plant height, number of leaves, number of pods, weight of 100 grains, weight of dry seeds per plant, and dry weight per plot. The results showed that: (1) the combination of planting distance and type of cow manure significantly affected plant height aged 15, 22, and 29 HST, number of leaves aged 15, 22, and 29 HST, total number of pods, and seed weight per plot. (2) the combination treatment of planting distance and type of manure produces plant height higher is produced by combination D (20x25 cm and cow manure) at the age of 15, 22, and 29 HST, the combination of planting distance and type of manure produces the number of leaves, the higher is produced by the combination of D (20x25 cm and cow manure) at the age of 15, 22 and 29 HST, the combination of planting spacing and type of manure produces the number of pods, the higher one is produced by the combination of D (20x25 cm and cow manure), the combination of planting spacing and type of manure produces the weight of seeds per plot, the higher one is produced by the combination of D (20x25 cm and cow manure). The combination of spacing treatment (20 x 25 cm) and manure (chicken, goat, or cow) at a dose of 6 tons/ha has the best effect on the weight of dry beans per plot, which is 0.64 kg or equivalent to 15.23 quintals/ha (80% effective land).

Genetic Relatedness in Elite Cultivars of Moth Bean using Morpho-agronomic and Molecular Markers

Background: Moth bean is a very nutritive and hardy crop, especially for resource poor-arid agriculture. The limited use of cultivars in moth bean breeding resulted into narrow genetic base. This study aimed to diversify the conical genetic base and developimproved cultivars, through molecular (RAPD) and morpho-agronomic characterization of commercially elite moth bean cultivars. Methods: Elite moth bean cultivars (15) were evaluated for 11 morpho-agronomic traits. Eleven RAPD markers were used to amplify genomic DNA and perform molecular characterization.Clustering approach was used for grouping of the cultivars. Result: RAPD markers revealed high polymorphism in 15 elite moth bean cultivars. The polymorphism information content (PIC) values varied within the range of 0.45 to 0.88, with an average of 0.77. The number of alleles at different loci ranged from 4 to 16, with an average of 10 alleles per locus. When employing UPGMA-based cluster analysis, utilizing 11 morpho-agronomic traits, the cultivars were grouped into four clusters. However, when RAPD markers were used, the cultivars were grouped into five clusters. The Jaccard’s similarity coefficient and Manhattan dissimilarity coefficient fell within the ranges of 0.18 to 0.70 and 0.02 to 0.42, respectively. These values signify the degree of genetic variability within the cultivars. Furthermore, a Mantel test was conducted to examine the correlation between agronomic traits and the RAPD-based matrix. The results showed a negative correlation, but it was not statistically significant.The high PIC values and the successful amplification of multiple loci demonstrate the efficacy of RAPD markers in assessing genetic diversity in moth beans. The study revealed enormous genetic variation among cultivars and crosses can be attempted between cultivars of different groups to create better recombinants in moth bean breeding programmes.

Host plant resistance to bean common mosaic necrosis virus among snap bean cultivars in Kenya

Host plant resistance to bean common mosaic necrosis virus among snap bean cultivars in Kenya

Micronutrient diversity in pole and bush type Dolichos bean germplasm: identification of gene sources from biofortification perspectives

AbstractExploring the nutritional potential of underutilized legumes such as Dolichos bean (Lablab purpureus L.) is of great significance, particularly, in view of accomplishing the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goal number two, which emphasizes on improving food and nutrition security by 2030. A thorough understanding of genetic variability is crucial for developing biofortified cultivars of Dolichos bean. In this study, the Dolichos bean genotypes represented by pole and bush types (28 bush and 19 pole types) were assessed for genetic variability for Cu, Mn, Fe and Zn contents. Pole type genotypes had higher average contents for all micronutrients except manganese. Among micronutrients, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn, content ranged from 10.10–19.95, 77.13–331.93, 22.78–46.40 and 42.03–102.85 mg kg−1 in pole type, and 8.2–18.5, 50.8–99.3, 25.65–53.25 and 37.15–63.25 mg kg−1 in bush type beans, respectively. Strong positive correlations between Cu, Fe and Zn concentrations occurred, which indicates the possibility of simultaneous improvement of these nutrients. Pod pigmentation was positively correlated with contents of Fe and Zn. There was an association of micronutrients with yield. The pole genotypes VRSEM-1000, VRDB-01 and VRSEM 109 and bush type genotypes VRBSEM-3, VRBSEM-35 and VRBSEM- 200 are good source of microelements and high yielders. Gene sources with enhanced nutrients may be used as cultivated forms or as input material for breeding nutritionally rich biofortified varieties of bean.

Mapping yield and yield-related traits using diverse common bean germplasm.

Common bean (bean) is one of the most important legume crops, and mapping genes for yield and yield-related traits is essential for its improvement. However, yield is a complex trait that is typically controlled by many loci in crop genomes. The objective of this research was to identify regions in the bean genome associated with yield and a number of yield-related traits using a collection of 121 diverse bean genotypes with different yields. The beans were evaluated in replicated trials at two locations, over two years. Significant variation among genotypes was identified for all traits analyzed in the four environments. The collection was genotyped with the BARCBean6K_3 chip (5,398 SNPs), two yield/antiyield gene-based markers, and seven markers previously associated with resistance to common bacterial blight (CBB), including a Niemann-Pick polymorphism (NPP) gene-based marker. Over 90% of the single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were polymorphic and separated the panel into two main groups of small-seeded and large-seeded beans, reflecting their Mesoamerican and Andean origins. Thirty-nine significant marker-trait associations (MTAs) were identified between 31 SNPs and 15 analyzed traits on all 11 bean chromosomes. Some of these MTAs confirmed genome regions previously associated with the yield and yield-related traits in bean, but a number of associations were not reported previously, especially those with derived traits. Over 600 candidate genes with different functional annotations were identified for the analyzed traits in the 200-Kb region centered on significant SNPs. Fourteen SNPs were identified within the gene model sequences, and five additional SNPs significantly associated with five different traits were located at less than 0.6Kb from the candidate genes. The work confirmed associations between two yield/antiyield gene-based markers (AYD1m and AYD2m) on chromosome Pv09 with yield and identified their association with a number of yield-related traits, including seed weight. The results also confirmed the usefulness of the NPP marker in screening for CBB resistance. Since disease resistance and yield measurements are environmentally dependent and labor-intensive, the three gene-based markers (CBB- and two yield-related) and quantitative trait loci (QTL) that were validated in this work may be useful tools for simplifying and accelerating the selection of high-yielding and CBB-resistant bean cultivars.

Effect of Sowing Date and Bean Cultivars (Ghaffar, Talash, and Sadri) on the Damage by Pod Borer (Helicoverpa armigera) in Agronomic Conditions of Iran

Legumes, particularly beans, are a crucial human food source, second only to grains. However, the presence of bean pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera Hubner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), poses a significant threat to beans, causing quantitative and qualitative damage each year. To evaluate the effect of sowing date and cultivar on bean pod borer damage in Markazi Province, Iran. A split plot experiment design based on a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications and nine treatments was conducted over two crop years (2020‐2021 and 2021‐2022). The main plot had three sowing dates: 15 days earlier than the conventional date (early sowing), the conventional date, and 15 days later than the conventional date (late sowing). The subplot focused on three pinto bean cultivars: “Ghaffar,” “Talash,” and, “Sadri.” General, “Sadri” showed the highest mean of the number of larvae in per plant (0.46–0.53) and infection rate, while “Ghaffar” had the lowest mean of number of larvae (0.24–0.30) in both years. The mean of damaged pods was highest (0.42–0.61) in “Sadri” for both years, but lowest in “Ghaffar” (0.27–0.3) for both years. Similarly, the mean of the highest (4.08–4.96) and the lowest (1.54–1.79) damage percentages were observed in “Sadri” and “Ghaffar,” respectively, in both years. “Sadri” had the highest mean number of damaged grains (0.58–0.61) in both years, with “Talash” having the lowest (0.30) in the first year and “Ghaffar” (0.30) in the second year. Moreover, despite the higher pest population and damage, early sowing (May 20) resulted in higher yields in both years. The highest yield was associated to early‐sown “Ghaffar” plants whose yield was 3581.00 ± 225.43 kg/ha in the first year and 3571.0 ± 223.40 kg/ha in the second year. Thus, since “Ghaffar” is more pest‐tolerant, it can be recommended for cultivation in infested areas.

Bean intercropping systems with small castor hybrids.

Research aimed at investigating the ideal plant arrangement system of common beans under intercropping with castor hybrids is necessary, as intercropping is a common practice in Brazil, and this practice affects the morphophysiological behavior of both crops. The objective of this study was to evaluate the consociation systems of common bean plants with small-sized castor hybrid, in three agricultural years, in the edaphoclimatic conditions of the Cerrado of Goiás, Brazil. In the three experiments, the randomized block design with four repetitions was used, involving the combination of five simultaneous sowing systems: beans sown on the castor row, on the inter-row, on the row + inter-row and beans and castor in monocropping. The bean cultivar used was Pérola; for castor the Agima hybrid was used. The plant height, primary yield components and the yield of the beans were evaluated, while for castor was evaluated the plant height, stem diameter, number of racemes per plant, plus the yield, in addition to the area equivalence index (AEI) to verify the efficiency of the intercropping. The arrangement of bean plants cv. Pérola on row and row + inter-row of the Agima 110204 castor hybrid provides higher yields of the legume. The yield of castor hybrids is not influenced by the common bean crop. The growing of common bean and the castor hybrid in the intercropping system is more efficient than the monocropping of both crops.

Genome-wide Association Study Identifies Candidate Loci with Major Contributions to the Genetic Control of Pod Morphological Traits in Snap Bean

Snap beans are cultivars of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) that are cultivated for their fleshy immature pods that exhibit a wide diversity of pod shapes and sizes. The genetic basis of the snap bean pod shape is complex and involves the interaction of multiple genes. This study used a snap bean diversity panel composed of heirloom and improved cultivars used in North America and genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to investigate the genetic basis of pod morphological characteristics, including length, width, height, width/height ratio, and coefficients of variation (CVs). The GWAS detected multiple genomic regions associated with each pod trait, with a total of 20 quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for pod length, 9 for pod width, 14 for pod height, and 10 for pod width/height ratio. Regarding the CV of each pod trait, genome-wide association analyses detected six QTL for length CVs, five for width CVs, 15 for height CVs, and six for width/height ratio CVs. Thirteen regions in seven chromosomes were associated with two or more pod traits. Eighteen QTLs for pod traits in this study colocated with previously reported QTLs for pod and seed traits. The QTL intervals encompass gene models with homologues in other species that are involved in the control of developmental processes. These results capture the complex nature of the genetic control of snap bean pod traits and confirm the significance of genomic regions harboring overlapping QTLs identified in this and other studies. The phenotypic expression of pod traits in snap bean appears to be under the control of a few genomic regions with a strong effect with additional contributions of multiple small-effect regions. Validation of the function of the candidate genes identified in associated regions will contribute to our understanding of legume pod development.