Characterization of Nutritional Quality Traits of a Common Bean Germplasm Collection

Abstract

Food legumes are at the crossroads of many societal challenges that involve agriculture, such as climate change and food sustainability and security. In this context, pulses have a crucial role in the development of plant-based diets, as they represent a very good source of nutritional components and improve soil fertility, such as by nitrogen fixation through symbiosis with rhizobia. The main contribution to promotion of food legumes in agroecosystems will come from plant breeding, which is guaranteed by the availability of well-characterized genetic resources. Here, we analyze seeds of 25 American and European common bean purified accessions (i.e., lines of single seed descent) for different morphological and compositional quality traits. Significant differences among the accessions and superior genotypes for important nutritional traits are identified, with some lines showing extreme values for more than one trait. Heritability estimates indicate the importance of considering the effects of environmental growth conditions on seed compositional traits. They suggest the need for more phenotypic characterization in different environments over different years to better characterize combined effects of environment and genotype on nutritional trait variations. Finally, adaptation following the introduction and spread of common bean in Europe seems to have affected its nutritional profile. This finding further suggests the relevance of evolutionary studies to guide breeders in the choice of plant genetic resources.

Grain Nutrients Variability in Pigeonpea Genebank Collection and Its Potential for Promoting Nutritional Security in Dryland Ecologies

“…The significant 72 11485, 15109, 13315, 11350, 15106, 14109, 8035, 7399, 7028, 13757 G × E interaction for most of the traits indicated the sensitivity of nutrients accumulation to the environment. This suggests for further evaluation of the germplasm in multiple locations and multiple years to have a better insight into the G × E interaction existing for the traits (Murube et al, 2021) and selection thereafter. Low G × E interaction and moderate-tohigh heritability for most of the traits studied suggest a better selection response.…”

Integrated breeding approaches to enhance the nutritional quality of food legumes

“…Genetic variation for micronutrient concentration has been well studied in legumes ( Table 1 ). Research on legume crops have revealed significant genetic variations for the essential micronutrients in chickpea ( Ray et al, 2014 ; Jha et al, 2015 ; Rezaei et al, 2016 ; Vandemark et al, 2018 ; Karaca et al, 2020 ), common bean ( Beebe et al, 2000 ; Ray et al, 2014 ; Murube et al, 2021 ), cowpea ( Gerrano et al, 2022 ; Sodedji et al, 2022 ), lentil ( Ray et al, 2014 ; Kumar et al, 2016 ; Vandemark et al, 2018 ), mung bean ( Dahiya et al, 2013 ; Kumar and Pandey, 2020 ), Pea ( Ray et al, 2014 ; Jha et al, 2015 ; Dissanayaka, 2019 ; Klein et al, 2020 ) and soybean ( Kumar and Pandey, 2020 ). The promising genotypes identified can be utilized in biofortification programs for mapping studies and development of breeding material rich in micronutrients.…”

Antinutritional factors, nutritional improvement, and future food use of common beans: A perspective

“…Pulses and common bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in particular, play a key role in the traditional diets, in less developed countries of the world ( Murube et al, 2021 ; Singh et al, 2021 ). Common beans are high in protein and low in fats, sodium and calories ( Celmeli et al, 2018 ; Kibar and Kibar, 2019 ).…”