FINAL PROJECT REPORT: Selection and Release of Climate Resilient Common Bean Germplasm for the Highlands and Dry Corridor of Central America
All activity under this project has concluded. The project’s final project report is provided here.
Selection and Release of Climate Resilient Common Bean Germplasm for the Highlands and Dry Corridor of Central America
Location: Central America
Contact: Dr. Phil McClean, North Dakota State University, phillip.mcclean@ndsu.edu
The project has a specific emphasis on ensuring crop improvement efforts are guided by relevant product profiles (varieties with high yield and adaptation to the different crop systems).
The objectives of this Legume Systems Innovation Lab quick start activity are to:
- Release the Bolonillo-type climbing bean variety ICTA-Quiché for the highlands of Guatemala. Seed for this release are being produced on a 1.5-hectare plot. (see photo; San Jerónimo, Guatemala)
- Release the bush type variety ICTA-Patriarca adapted to the Dry Corridor and lowlands of Guatemala. Seed for this release will be produced on a 1.0-hectare plot.
- Continue field testing/selection of four advanced bruchid-resistant black bean breeding lines on 1.0 hectare (0.25 hectare each) and lab screening of the lines.
ICTA-Quiche is a climate resilient, Bolonillio variety. Bolonillo beans serve as a cash crop for the bean/corn milpa intercropping system managed by smallholder farmers in the highlands of Guatemala.
ITCA-Patriarca is a climate resilient black bean with the preferred bush growth habit adapted to the monoculture system of the dry corridor of Guatemala and Honduras. Importantly, it is tolerant to Bean Golden Yellow Mosaic Virus, one of the main regional production constraints. Around 3,000 kg of seed of ICTA-Patriarca have been produced already.
Both ICTA-Quiche and ICTA-Patriarca are near “ready-to-release” varieties with improved climate resilience that has been evaluated across many field trials and years and were shown to be adapted to the targeted cropping systems.
The release of improve varieties adapted to different crop systems (milpa and monoculture system) will enhance production for low-input farmers across all the bean growing regions. This germplasm will also enrich Central American climbing and bush bean breeding programs as they work to incorporate critical traits (virus resistance coupled with high seed yield and quality) in future releases.
Germplasm with improved seed yield and adaptation will provide resilience by reducing input expenditures and environmental impacts related to pesticide use. The higher yields associated with these varieties will increase the financial resilience of the targeted small holder farmers.