International Lima Bean Network: from the origin of the species to modern plant breeding

Abstract

Lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus L.) is the second most important domesticated species of Phaseolus in the world and could represent a precious alternative for food security and quality, as well as play a major role for sustainability in the face of climate change in Latin America and worldwide. Currently, many experts on conservation, domestication, genetic improvement, and plant-rhizosphere relationship of Lima bean have been working alone or in small groups. This situation has limited obtaining a greater bene t from their research and strongly prompts the study of the Lima bean worldwide. To increase the collaboration between experts in the study of the Lima bean, we present the Lima Bean International Network (LBIN). The main objectives of LBIN are to deepen the knowledge on this species and to promote its use worldwide. The success of LBIN will depend on the collaboration of the international scienti c community interested in the study of Lima bean. Hence, we invite people from different sectors of society (researchers, producers, companies, NGOs, governments) to participate in this initiative. To get more information, you can visit https://www.cicy.mx/sitios/red-internacional-frijol-lima