Common beans, biodiversity, and multiple stresses: challenges of drought resistance in tropical soils
Stephen E. Beebe A C , Idupulapati M. Rao A , Mura Jyostna Devi B and José Polania A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT), A. A. 6713, Cali, Colombia.
B Crop Science Department, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA.
C Corresponding author. Email: s.beebe@cgiar.org
Crop and Pasture Science 65(7) 667-675 https://doi.org/10.1071/CP13303
Submitted: 31 August 2013 Accepted: 8 January 2014 Published: 12 May 2014
Abstract
Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is the grain legume with the highest volume of direct human consumption in the world, and is the most important legume throughout Eastern and Southern Africa, cultivated over an area of ~4 million ha. In Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) drought is the most important production risk, potentially affecting as much as one-third of the production area. Both terminal and intermittent drought prevail in different production regions. The Pan-African Bean Research Alliance (PABRA), coordinated by the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT by its Spanish acronym), has participated in projects for both strategic and applied research to address drought limitations, with research sites in six SSA countries. Bean originated in the mid-altitude neo-tropics, and by its nature is not well adapted to warm, dry climates. Efforts at genetic improvement of drought resistance have a long history, exploiting variability among races of common bean, as well as through interspecific crosses. Useful traits are found both in roots and in shoots. Many authors have stressed the importance of harvest index and related parameters to sustain yield of common bean under drought stress, and our field studies substantiate this. Additionally, in tropical environments, soil-related constraints can seriously limit the potential expression of drought resistance, and it is especially important to address multiple stress factors to confront drought effectively in farmers’ fields. Poor soil fertility is widespread in the tropics and constrains root and shoot growth, thus limiting access to soil moisture. Phosphorus and nitrogen deficiencies are especially common, but are not the only limiting soil factors. Soil acidity and accompanying aluminium toxicity limit root development and inhibit access to moisture in lower soil strata. Soil physical structure can also limit root development in some soils, as can poor soil management that leads to compaction. We review efforts to address each of these constraints through genetic means in combination with drought resistance per se.
Additional keywords: genetic resources, harvest index, PABRA, research networks, soil fertility.
References
Abate T (Ed.) (2012) Enhancing common bean productivity and production in Sub-Saharan Africa. In ‘Four seasons of learning and engaging smallholder farmers. Progress of phase 1’. (International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics: Nairobi, Kenya)Akibode S, Maredia M (2011) Global and regional trends in production, trade and consumption of food legume crops. Department of Agricultural, Food and Resource Economics, Michigan State University. Report Submitted to SPIA, CGIAR, 27 March 2011.
Amsalu Fenta B (2012) Investigation of the physiological responses in soybean and common bean to water deficit. PhD Thesis, University of Pretoria, Pretoria. Available at: http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-05042013-151442/
Asfaw A, Blair MW (2012) Quantitative trait loci for rooting pattern traits of common beans grown under drought stress versus non-stress conditions. Molecular Breeding 30, 681–695.
| Quantitative trait loci for rooting pattern traits of common beans grown under drought stress versus non-stress conditions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Asfaw A, Almekinders CJM, Blair MW, Struik PC (2012) Participatory approach in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) breeding for drought tolerance for southern Ethiopia. Plant Breeding 131, 125–134.
| Participatory approach in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) breeding for drought tolerance for southern Ethiopia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Assefa T, Beebe SE, Rao IM, Cuasquer JB, Duque MC, Rivera M, Battisti A, Lucchin M (2013) Pod harvest index as a selection criterion to improve drought resistance in white pea bean. Field Crops Research 148, 24–33.
| Pod harvest index as a selection criterion to improve drought resistance in white pea bean.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Basu P, Zhang Y, Lynch J, Brown K (2007) Ethylene modulates genetic, positional, and nutritional regulation of root plagiogravitropism. Functional Plant Biology 34, 41–51.
| Ethylene modulates genetic, positional, and nutritional regulation of root plagiogravitropism.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2sXosFOjtg%3D%3D&md5=f831ac69e9479c19cbe2467752f3d753CAS |
Beebe SE (2012) Common bean breeding in the tropics. Plant Breeding Reviews 36, 357–426.
Beebe SE, Skroch W, Tohme J, Duque MC, Pedraza F, Nienhuis J (2000) Structure of genetic diversity among common bean landraces of Mesoamerican origin based on Correspondence Analysis of RAPD. Crop Science 40, 264–273.
| Structure of genetic diversity among common bean landraces of Mesoamerican origin based on Correspondence Analysis of RAPD.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Beebe SE, Rao IM, Cajiao C, Grajales M (2008) Selection for drought resistance in common bean also improves yield in phosphorus limited and favorable environments. Crop Science 48, 582–592.
| Selection for drought resistance in common bean also improves yield in phosphorus limited and favorable environments.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Beebe SE, Ramirez J, Jarvis A, Rao IM, Mosquera G, Bueno J, Blair M (2011) Genetic improvement of common beans and the challenges of climate change. In ‘Crop adaptation to climate change’. 1st edn (Eds SS Yadav, RJ Redden, JL Hatfield, H Lotze-Campen, AE Hall) pp. 356–369. (Wiley: New York)
Beebe SE, Rao IM, Blair MW, Acosta-Gallegos JA (2013a) Phenotyping common beans for adaptation to drought. Frontiers in Plant Physiology 4, 35
Beebe SE, Rao I, Mukankusi C, Buruchara R (2013b) Improving resource use efficiency and reducing risk of common bean production in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. In ‘Eco-efficiency: From vision to reality’. (Eds C Hershey, P Neate) pp. 117–134. (CIAT: Cali, Colombia)
Bidinger FR, Mahalaksmi V, Durga Prasada Rao G (1987) Assessment of drought resistance in pearl millet [Pennisetum americanum (L.) Leeke]: II. Estimation of genotype response to stress. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 38, 49–59.
| Assessment of drought resistance in pearl millet [Pennisetum americanum (L.) Leeke]: II. Estimation of genotype response to stress.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bidinger FR, Nepolean T, Hash CT, Yadav RS, Howarth CJ (2007) Quantitative trait loci for grain yield in pearl millet under variable postflowering moisture conditions. Crop Science 47, 969–980.
| Quantitative trait loci for grain yield in pearl millet under variable postflowering moisture conditions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bonser AM, Lynch J, Snapp S (1996) Effect of phosphorus deficiency on growth angle of basal roots in Phaseolus vulgaris. New Phytologist 132, 281–288.
| Effect of phosphorus deficiency on growth angle of basal roots in Phaseolus vulgaris.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD3MnlvFOjtg%3D%3D&md5=96a005ba87ebcc120fae5c80f2bcae7cCAS | 11541132PubMed |
Butare L, Rao IM, Lepoivre P, Polania J, Cajiao C, Cuasquer JB, Beebe S (2011) New sources of resistance in Phaseolus species to individual and combined aluminium toxicity and progressive soil drying stresses. Euphytica 181, 385–404.
| New sources of resistance in Phaseolus species to individual and combined aluminium toxicity and progressive soil drying stresses.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3MXhtFGitrrJ&md5=8236bed94d8adeda3fd35eb7e080ae2bCAS |
Butare L, Rao I, Lepoivre P, Cajiao C, Polania J, Cuasquer J, Beebe S (2012) Phenotypic evaluation of interspecific recombinant inbred lines (RILs) of Phaseolus species for aluminum resistance and shoot and root growth response to aluminum-toxic acid soil. Euphytica 186, 715–730.
| Phenotypic evaluation of interspecific recombinant inbred lines (RILs) of Phaseolus species for aluminum resistance and shoot and root growth response to aluminum-toxic acid soil.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC38XhtFWhsr%2FK&md5=12e23d837b1a48dbbc1d3046252fb072CAS |
Castellanos JZ, Pena-Cabriales JJ, Acosta-Gallegos JA (1996) 15N-determined dinitrogen fixation capacity of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) cultivars under water stress. Journal of Agricultural Science (Cambridge) 126, 327–333.
| 15N-determined dinitrogen fixation capacity of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) cultivars under water stress.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
CIAT (2007) Improving Andean beans for drought tolerance. Improved beans for the developing world. CIAT Annual Report 2007, pp. 120–126.
Devi JM, Sinclair TR, Vadez V (2010) Genotypic variability among peanut (Arachis hypogea L.) in sensitivity of nitrogen fixation to soil drying. Plant and Soil 330, 139–148.
| Genotypic variability among peanut (Arachis hypogea L.) in sensitivity of nitrogen fixation to soil drying.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3cXktFequ7g%3D&md5=c17a24477dd15698ddfe2c4cd1bd9baaCAS |
Devi JM, Sinclair TR, Beebe SE, Rao IM (2013) Comparison of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) genotypes for nitrogen fixation tolerance to soil drying. Plant and Soil 364, 29–37.
| Comparison of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) genotypes for nitrogen fixation tolerance to soil drying.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3sXit1GltbY%3D&md5=de349c10540fe170e8379fbad8fa3d46CAS |
Evans LT (1993) ‘Crop evolution, adaptation, and yield.’ (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK)
Frahm MA, Rosas JC, Mayek-Pérez N, López-Salinas E, Acosta-Gallegos JA, Kelly JD (2004) Breeding beans for resistance to terminal drought in the lowland tropics. Euphytica 136, 223–232.
| Breeding beans for resistance to terminal drought in the lowland tropics.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Freytag GF, Debouck DG (2002) ‘Taxonomy, distribution and ecology of the genus Phaseolus (Leguminosae-Papilionoideae) in North America, Mexico and Central America.’ Sida, Botanical Miscellany No. 23. (Botanical Research Institute of Texas: Fort Worth, TX, USA)
Habibi G (2011) Influence of drought on yield and yield components in white bean. World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology 55, 244–253.
Hardarson G, Bliss FA, Cigales Rivero MR, Henson RA, Kipe-Nolt JA, Longeri L, Manrique A, Pena-Cabriales JJ, Pereira PAA, Sanabria CA, Tsai SM (1993) Genotypic variation in biological nitrogen fixation by common bean. Plant and Soil 152, 59–70.
| Genotypic variation in biological nitrogen fixation by common bean.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ho M, Rosas J, Brown K, Lynch J (2005) Root architectural tradeoffs for water and phosphorus acquisition. Functional Plant Biology 32, 737–748.
| Root architectural tradeoffs for water and phosphorus acquisition.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2MXmvVOgsLw%3D&md5=f60425a0655e1b632419ee3a361e8aceCAS |
Kaizzi KC, Byalebeka J, Semalulu O, Alou IN, Zimwanguyizza W, Nansamba A, Odama E, Musinguzi P, Ebanyat P, Hyuha T, Kasharu AK, Wortmann CS (2012) Optimizing smallholder returns to fertilizer use: Bean, soybean and groundnut. Field Crops Research 127, 109–119.
| Optimizing smallholder returns to fertilizer use: Bean, soybean and groundnut.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Katungi E, Sperling L, Karanja D, Farrow A, Beebe S (2011) Relative importance of common bean attributes and variety demand in the drought area of Kenya. Journal of Development and Agricultural Economics 3, 411–422.
Kelly JD (2004) Advances in common bean improvement: some case histories with broader applications. Acta Horticulturae 637, 99–122. [ISHS]
Klaedtke SM, Cajiao C, Grajales M, Polania J, Borrero G, Guerrero A, Rivera M, Rao I, Beebe SE, Léon J (2012) Photosynthate remobilization capacity from drought-adapted common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) lines can improve yield potential of interspecific populations within the secondary gene pool. Journal of Plant Breeding and Crop Science 4, 49–61.
Llano A, Molina J, Guzmán M, Cuadra S, Duarte N (2008) Propuesta de liberación de una variedad de frijol rojo INTA SSAN Sequía. Presented to the Comisión de Liberación de Variedades. Managua, Nicaragua. Marzo 2008.
Lunze L, Buruchara R, Ugen MA, Nabahungu L, Rachier GO, Ngongo M, Rao I, Abang MM (2011) Integrated soil fertility management in bean-based cropping systems of Eastern, Central and Southern Africa. In ‘Soil fertility’. (Ed. J Whalen) pp. 239–272. (INTECH Open Access: Rijeka, Croatia)
Lynch JP (2011) Root phenes for enhanced soil exploration and phosphorus acquisition: tools for future crops. Plant Physiology 156, 1041–1049.
| Root phenes for enhanced soil exploration and phosphorus acquisition: tools for future crops.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3MXptFWlurY%3D&md5=3fc4146e6505f5b2d30a5652d8ae38daCAS | 21610180PubMed |
Makunde GS (2007) Combining ability for drought tolerance in common bean. MSc Thesis, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
Makunde G (2013) Quantification of genetic diversity for drought adaptation in a reference collection of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). PhD Thesis, University of The Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa.
Mejía-Jiménez A, Muñoz C, Jacobsen HJ, Roca WM, Singh SP (1994) Interspecific hybridization between common and tepary beans: increased hybrid embryo growth, fertility, and efficiency of hybridization through recurrent and congruity backcrossing. Theoretical and Applied Genetics 88, 324–331.
Miguel MA, Widrig A, Vieira RF, Brown KM, Lynch JP (2013) Basal root whorl number: a modulator of phosphorus acquisition in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris). Annals of Botany 112, 973–982.
| Basal root whorl number: a modulator of phosphorus acquisition in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3sXhsFyns7rP&md5=cd1233e4ee85a8629b9b7e1fffc43810CAS | 23925972PubMed |
Mohamed MF, Schmitz-Eiberger N, Keutgen N, Noga G (2005) Comparative drought postponing and tolerance potentials of two tepary bean lines in relation to seed yield. African Crop Science Journal 13, 49–60.
Mourice SK, Tryphone GM (2012) Evaluation of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) genotypes for adaptation to low phosphorus. ISRN Agronomy 2012, Art. No. 309614
| Evaluation of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) genotypes for adaptation to low phosphorus.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Muñoz LC, Blair MW, Duque MC, Tohme J, Roca W (2004) Introgression in common bean × tepary bean interspecific congruity-backcross lines as measured by AFLP markers. Crop Science 44, 637–645.
| Introgression in common bean × tepary bean interspecific congruity-backcross lines as measured by AFLP markers.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Nabhan GP, Felger RS (1978) Teparies in southwestern North America. Economic Botany 32, 3–19.
| Teparies in southwestern North America.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Payne WA (2000) Optimizing crop water use in sparse stands of pearl millet. Agronomy Journal 92, 808–814.
| Optimizing crop water use in sparse stands of pearl millet.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ramirez-Vallejo P, Kelly JD (1998) Traits related to drought resistance in common bean. Euphytica 99, 127–136.
| Traits related to drought resistance in common bean.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Rao IM, Beebe SE, Polanía J, Grajales M, Cajiao C, García R, Ricaurte J, Rivera M (2009) Physiological basis of improved drought resistance in common bean: the contribution of photosynthate mobilization to grain. In ‘Interdrought III: The 3rd International Conference on Integrated Approaches to Improve Crop Production under Drought-Prone Environments’. 11–16 Oct. 2009, Shanghai, China. (FAO: Rome)
Rao IM, Beebe SE, Polania J, Ricaurte J, Cajiao C, García R, Rivera M (2013) Can tepary bean be a model for improvement of drought resistance in common bean? African Crop Science Journal 21, 265–281.
Richards RA (1997) Defining selection criteria to improve yield under drought. In ‘Drought tolerance in higher plants: Genetical, physiological and molecular biological analysis’. (Ed. E Belhassen) pp. 79–88. (Kluwer Academic Publishers: Dordrecht, The Netherlands)
Schneider KA, Rosales-Serna R, Ibarra-Perez F, Cazares-Enriquez B, Acosta-Gallegos JA, Ramirez-Vallejo P, Wassimi N, Kelly JD (1997) Improving common bean performance under drought stress. Crop Science 37, 43–50.
| Improving common bean performance under drought stress.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Shenkut AA, Brick MA (2003) Traits associated with dry edible bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) productivity under diverse soil moisture environments. Euphytica 133, 339–347.
| Traits associated with dry edible bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) productivity under diverse soil moisture environments.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Sinclair TR, Vadez V (2012) The future of grain legumes in cropping systems. Crop & Pasture Science 63, 501–512.
| The future of grain legumes in cropping systems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Sinclair TR, Purcell LC, Vadez V, Serraj R, King CA, Nelson R (2000) Identification of soybean genotypes with N2 fixation tolerance to water deficits. Crop Science 40, 1803–1809.
| Identification of soybean genotypes with N2 fixation tolerance to water deficits.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Singh SP (1995) Selection for water-stress tolerance in interracial populations of common bean. Crop Science 35, 118–124.
| Selection for water-stress tolerance in interracial populations of common bean.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Singh SP, Gepts P, Debouck DG (1991) Races of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris, Fabaceae). Economic Botany 45, 379–396.
| Races of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris, Fabaceae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Singh SP, Terán H, Gutierrez JA (2001) Registration of SEA 5 and SEA 13 drought tolerant dry bean germplasm. Crop Science 41, 276–277.
| Registration of SEA 5 and SEA 13 drought tolerant dry bean germplasm.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Sponchiado BN, White JW, Castillo JA, Jones PG (1989) Root growth of four common bean cultivars in relation to drought tolerance in environments with contrasting soil types. Experimental Agriculture 25, 249–257.
| Root growth of four common bean cultivars in relation to drought tolerance in environments with contrasting soil types.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Stamp P, Visser R (2012) The twenty-first century, the century of plant breeding. Euphytica 186, 585–591.
| The twenty-first century, the century of plant breeding.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Szilagyi L (2003) Influence of drought on seed yield components in common bean. Bulgarian Journal of Plant Physiology 2003, 320–330.
Terán H, Singh SP (2002) Comparison of sources and lines selected for drought resistance in common bean. Crop Science 42, 64–70.
| Comparison of sources and lines selected for drought resistance in common bean.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 11756255PubMed |
Toro O, Tohme J, Debouck DG (1990) ‘Wild bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.): description and distribution.’ (IBPGRI and CIAT: Cali, Colombia)
White JW, Castillo JA (1992) Evaluation of diverse shoot genotypes on selected root genotypes of common bean under soil water deficits. Crop Science 32, 762–765.
| Evaluation of diverse shoot genotypes on selected root genotypes of common bean under soil water deficits.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
White JW, Singh SP (1991) Sources and inheritance of earliness in tropically adapted indeterminate common bean. Euphytica 55, 15–19.
| Sources and inheritance of earliness in tropically adapted indeterminate common bean.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wortmann CS, Kirkby RA, Eledu CA, Allen DJ (1998) ‘Atlas of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) production in Africa.’ (CIAT: Cali, Colombia)
Yang Z, Rao IM, Horst WJ (2013) Interaction of aluminium and drought stress on root growth and crop yield on acid soils. Plant and Soil 372, 3–25.
| Interaction of aluminium and drought stress on root growth and crop yield on acid soils.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3sXmt1Wisrw%3D&md5=e812cca500997ebc69b88eed958be26bCAS |
