Research on the variation of morphological and agronomic traits in some common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) landraces from Romania

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate variability of morpho-phisiological and agronomic characters of some common bean landraces (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), well adapted to pedoclimatic conditions from different regions sites of the country, conditioned by the genetic factors of the species. All these local landraces were collected from local farmers, who prefer and grow them in their gardens due to the multiple uses in food and the adaptation to biotic and abiotic stress factors, in the context of current climate changes. The study was carried out at the Suceava Genebank and included 120 common bean local varieties. Morpho-physiological and agronomic traits were evaluated during the growing season in accordance with the IPGRI descriptors list of Phaseolus vulgaris. The investigations carried out showed differences between the populations for all the analyzed traits. All the local bean varieties collected showed high variability, representing potentially valuable genetic resources for breeding programs. Common bean crop is of great economic interest, being among the most used legumes in human nutrition. Also, it can use like organic crop, with great ecological plasticity, cultivated from the plains to high altitudes, also being a good precursor for other crops, leaving the soil rich in nitrogen. Therefore, we must give priority to the phenotypic characterization of local bean germplasm in order to provide breeders with valuable genetic sources, useful in creating of productive advanced cultivars, resistant to adverse environmental factors, to ensure food security.