Unravelling the genetic control of combined biotic/abiotic stress resistance in Phaseolus vulgaris L.

Abstract

"Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is among the most important grain legumes for human consumption worldwide. Portugal has a promising common bean germplasm that resulted from more than five centuries of natural adaptation and farmers’ selection. Nevertheless, limited characterization of this resource hampers its exploitation by breeding programs. To support a more efficient conservation of the national bean germplasm and promote its use in crop improvement, we performed, for the first time, a simultaneous molecular marker and seed and plant morphological characterization of 175 accessions collected from Portuguese mainland and islands traditional bean-growing regions. Most of the Portuguese accessions grouped with the race representatives and wild relatives from the Andean region."