Collection, Characterization and Use of Genetic Bariation in Chilean Bean Germplasm (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Recently performed studies on the type of seed protein present from several origins and their morphological traits have shown that the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is native to America, being a species without a specific center of origin and with two areas of domestication: Central America and South America. In this last center, three strains were determined, one of them is called "the Chilean strain", which as noted is a sub-center of genetic diversity for this species. With the purpose of collecting and preserving the genetic diversity present in the Chilean ecotypes, a germplasm collection was made, from Arica to Chiloe, visiting 207 locations in 28 expeditions and collecting 1239 accessions. This material was seeded in two Regional Center of Research La Platina in Santiago, and Quilamapu in Chillan, to study the genetic variation of 11 morphological traits. Through an analysis of frequency distributions, great variability was observed: from growth habit I to IV with different shape of leaves, white to purple colored flowers, with different shapes and sizes of bracteoles; diversity in shape, size and color of pods with dorsally or centrally located beaks. The seed varied from a small to large size, with a round or oval shape and a large variation in the primary color and its combinations. Of all the accessions evaluated, it is estimated that 24% corresponded to Chilean ecotypes that had the typical characteristics of the Chilean strain. This material has been used for genetic improvement of the "tortola" and "coscorron" types, inheritability studies and molecular classification.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Bascur B.,Gabriel, Tay U.,Juan
Format:	Digital revista
Language:	English
Published:	Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias, INIA 2005
Online Access:	http://www.scielo.cl/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0365-28072005000200003
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