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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Mayaguez, Puerto Rico » Tropical Crops and Germplasm Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #341557
Title: Advances in the improvement of tepary bean (Phaseolus acutifolius)

Author
item Porch, Timothy - Tim
item BRICK, M. - Colorado State University
item BEAVER, JAMES - University Of Puerto Rico
item ROSAS, JUAN - Zamorano, Panamerican School Of Agriculture

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/28/2017
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Climate change, high temperature and drought are increasingly critical factors affecting agriculture and specifically the production of common bean. Tepary bean, native to the Sonora desert located in the northern part of Mexico and southwest of the U.S., is heat and drought tolerant and is one of five cultivated Phaseolus species. A tepari breeding program was initiated in Puerto Rico using a diversity panel from the CIAT and USDA germplasm collections developed for the genetic and phenotypic characterization of this crop. This panel is being evaluated for important agricultural traits. Resistance to rust, bacterial blight, and common bean mosaic virus (BCMV) has been found; tolerance to bean golden yellow mosaic virus (BGYMV); and resistance to bruchids and leaf hoppers. Selection has also been made to improve the architecture, increase the seed size and for earliness. The selection of these characteristics is being conducted under high temperature and drought conditions. The release of varieties and improved germplasm of tepary bean can potentially increase the yield, quality and acceptance of this crop. Advanced lines are being evaluated for possible release following the release of the first improved germplasm, TARS-Tep 22. It is expected that with a better understanding of the genetics of disease resistance, and the development of markers in tepary beans, marker assisted selection can be employed for accelerating the breeding process.

Technical Abstract: Climate change, high temperature and drought are increasingly critical factors affecting agriculture and specifically the production of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Tepary bean (Phaseolus acutifolius A. Gray), native to the Sonora desert located in the northern part of Mexico and southwest of the U.S., is heat and drought tolerant and is one of five cultivated Phaseolus species. A tepari breeding program was initiated in Puerto Rico using a diversity panel from the CIAT and USDA germplasm collections developed for the genetic and phenotypic characterization of this crop. This panel is being evaluated for important agricultural traits. Resistance to rust, bacterial blight, and common bean mosaic virus (BCMV and BCMNV) has been found; tolerance to bean golden yellow mosaic virus (BGYMV); and resistance to bruchids and leaf hoppers. Selection has also been made to improve the architecture, increase the seed size and for earliness. The selection of these characteristics is being conducted under high temperature and drought conditions. The release of varieties and improved germplasm of tepary bean can potentially increase the yield, quality and acceptance of this crop. Advanced lines are being evaluated for possible release following the release of the first improved germplasm, TARS-Tep 22. It is expected that with a better understanding of the genetics of disease resistance, and the development of markers in tépari beans, marker assisted selection can be employed for accelerating the breeding process.