Performance of Mesoamerican bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) lines in an unfertilized oxisol

Authors: BEAVER, JAMES - University Of Puerto Rico; GONZALEZ, ABIEZER - University Of Puerto Rico; Lorenzo, Giovanni; MACCHIAVELLI, RAUL - University Of Puerto Rico; Porch, Timothy - Tim; ESTEVEZ DE JENSEN, CONSUELO - University Of Puerto Rico

Submitted to: Agronomia Mesoamericana (Mesoamerican Journal of Agronomy-Agriculture and Livestock) (ISSN:2215-3608)
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/22/2021
Publication Date: 9/1/2021
Citation: Beaver, J., Gonzalez, A., Lorenzo Vazquez, G., Macchiavelli, R., Porch, T.G., Estevez De Jensen, C. 2021. Performance of Mesoamerican bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) lines in an unfertilized oxisol. Agronomia Mesoamericana (Mesoamerican Journal of Agronomy-Agriculture and Livestock) (ISSN:2215-3608). 32(3). https://doi.org/10.15517/AM.V32I3.44498.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15517/AM.V32I3.44498

Interpretive Summary: The performance of 27 Mesoamerican common bean lines from the Bean Abiotic Stress Evaluation 120 panel was evaluated in an unfertilized soil at Isabela, Puerto Rico over five growing seasons. The beans were inoculated with a mixture of Rhizobium symbiotic nitrogen fixation bacteria. The pedigrees of the Mesoamerican bean lines in this study indicate that a large amount of genetic diversity was utilized by breeding programs in Central America and the Caribbean to develop improved cultivars with resistance to major biotic and abiotic constraints. Four lines produced mean seed yields > 1,200 kg ha-1 and had estimates of nitrogen derived from atmosphere (NDFA) > 50%. Greater nodule number was positively correlated with % NDFA, later maturity and seed yield. The black bean cultivar ‘Hermosa’ produced among the highest seed yield but had poor nodulation scores and low % NDFA. This suggests that Hermosa may possess other mechanisms that allow greater acquisition of soil nutrients. The heat and drought tolerant small red cultivar ‘Rojo Chortí’ and the heat tolerant white cultivar ‘Verano’ had among the smallest apparent C isotope discrimination values suggesting greater water use efficiency. Among the elite lines in the trial, root rot damage was minimal and basal root growth angles were intermediate (40-60%), which favored the uptake of water and soil nutrients. Superior lines from this study and the results generated will serve to improve and guide bean production on low fertility soils.

Technical Abstract: The performance of 27 Mesoamerican bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) lines from the Bean Abiotic Stress Evaluation (BASE) 120 panel was evaluated in an unfertilized soil at Isabela, Puerto Rico over five growing seasons. The beans were inoculated with a mixture of Rhizobium etli and R. tropici to promote symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF). The pedigrees of the Mesoamerican bean lines in this study indicate that a large amount of genetic diversity was utilized by breeding programs in Central America and the Caribbean (CAC) to develop improved cultivars with resistance to major biotic and abiotic constraints. Four lines produced mean seed yields > 1,200 kg ha-1 and had estimates of nitrogen derived from atmosphere (NDFA) > 50%. Greater nodule number was positively correlated with % NDFA, later maturity and seed yield. The black bean cultivar ‘Hermosa’ produced among the highest seed yield but had poor nodulation scores and low % NDFA. This suggests that Hermosa may possess other mechanisms that allow greater acquisition of soil nutrients. The heat and drought tolerant small red cultivar ‘Rojo Chortí’ and the heat tolerant white cultivar ‘Verano’ had among the smallest apparent C isotope discrimination values suggesting greater water use efficiency. Among the elite lines in the trial, root rot damage was minimal and basal root growth angles were intermediate (40-60%), which favored the uptake of water and soil nutrients.