Here, we aim to provide a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of the most significant outcomes in the literature regarding the origin of Phaseolus genus, the geographical distribution of the wild species, the domestication process, and the wide spread out of the centres of origin. Phaseolus can be considered as a unique model for the study of crop evolution, and in particular, for an understanding of the convergent phenotypic evolution that occurred under domestication. The almost unique situation that characterises the Phaseolus genus is that five of its ~70 species have been domesticated (i.e., Phaseolus vulgaris, P. coccineus, P. dumosus, P. acutifolius, P. lunatus), and in addition, for P. vulgaris and P. lunatus, the wild forms are distributed in both Mesoamerica and South America, where at least two independent and isolated episodes of domestication occurred. Thus, at least seven independent domestication events occurred, which provides the possibility to unravel the genetic basis of the domestication process not only among species of the same genus, but also between gene pools within the same species. Along with this, other interesting features makes Phaseolus crops very useful in the study of evolution, including: (i) their recent divergence, and the high level of collinearity and synteny among their genomes; (ii) their different breeding systems and life history traits, from annual and autogamous, to perennial and allogamous; and (iii) their adaptation to different environments, not only in their centres of origin, but also out of the Americas, following their introduction and wide spread through different countries. In particular for P. vulgaris this resulted in the breaking of the spatial isolation of the Mesoamerican and Andean gene pools, which allowed spontaneous hybridization, thus increasing of the possibility of novel genotypes and phenotypes. This knowledge that is associated to the genetic resources that have been conserved ex situ and in situ represents a crucial tool in the hands of researchers, to preserve and evaluate this diversity, and at the same time, to identify the genetic basis of adaptation and to develop new improved varieties to tackle the challenges of climate change, and food security and sustainability.

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Beans (Phaseolus ssp.) as a model for understanding crop evolution

Applications of Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy to edible oils

Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) and a semi-random PCR system were used to analyze the genetic diversity of 16 Italian common bean landraces and their relationship to four commercial cultivars. Of the primers tested, 8 ISSR, 6 RAPD and 7 semi-random primers produced polymorphic and reproducible DNA fragments. A higher proportion of polymorphic bands were observed using ISSR (85%) and semi-random (90%) primers than RAPD (69%) method. The combination of any two semi-random markers allowed the identification of all 20 bean genotypes. In contrast ISSR (except for primer (CAC)3GC) and RAPD markers appeared to be less informative as more than two markers were necessary to achieve the same diagnostic level. Moreover, 7 ISSR, 2 RAPD and 8 semi-random exclusive bands were identified as putative population-specific markers. Semi-random and ISSR derived dendrograms showed similar tendencies in terms of genetic relatedness, whereas clustering of genotypes within groups was not similar when compared with the RAPD technique. Despite the different ability to resolve genetic variation among the investigated landraces, two major clusters with less than 60% (ISSR) and 40% (RAPD and semi-random) genetic similarity were formed with all three marker systems. The two groups were correlated with the phaseolin patterns and seed size of the landraces. The analysis showed that the cultivar ȁ8Lingua di Fuocoȁ9 and most of the landraces (13 out of 16) collected in Italy belong to the Andean gene pool, whereas only the three populations from Pratomagno belong to the Middle American gene pool.

Characterization of Some Italian Common Bean (Phaseolus Vulgaris L.) Landraces by RAPD, Semi-random and ISSR Molecular Markers

RAPD analysis of genetic diversity among and within Portuguese landraces of common white bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

This study was undertaken to estimate the level of variation among and within 33 local populations belonging to seven Italian common bean landraces, by analysing the polymorphism of seed storage proteins, simple sequence repeat (SSR) and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) molecular markers. The nutritional seed quality of the landraces studied was also investigated. Results showed that the landraces retain a considerable level of heterogeneity. Use of both biochemical and molecular approaches provided a picture of the genetic diversity of each landrace. Cluster analyses based on Nei's genetic distances and Jaccard's similarity index as defined by SSR and AFLP markers, respectively, showed that all populations clustered into two groups corresponding to the Andean and the Mesoamerican gene pools. Knowledge of the genetic structure of a landrace is fundamental in elaborating strategies, which involve the local farmers, allowing us to improve and, at the same time, safeguard the genetic integrity of landrace genetic resources.

Genetic diversity of some surviving on-farm Italian common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) landraces

In Poland oat breeding began at the late nineteenth century. During the World War II almost all of Polish breeding materials were lost, and then were replaced by German cultivars. The main aim of this paper was to show the level of genetic diversity of Polish oat cultivars which were bred before 1939. Simultaneously usefulness and informativeness of molecular and morphological methods were tested and compared. This study involved 23 cultivars, which were described by 25 morphological traits and three types of molecular markers (AFLP, ISSR and RAPD). Based on Dice coefficient, genetic distance between cultivars ranged from 0.17 to 0.44. The degree of morphological differentiation within the collection varied depending on trait. Nei’s genetic diversity for the combined results for the whole collection was equal to 0.202. Neither unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean nor principal coordinate analysis showed any discrimination of cultivars according to breeding period and morphological trait. Part of morphological diversity has been preserved in the Polish early oat cultivars, do not exist anymore in contemporary cultivars, and also in landraces. The interest of breeders in early cultivars germplasm stored in genebank was and still is negligible. Breeding is confined to a few preferred by market morphotypes. So, it is very probable that the gene pools of early and contemporary cultivars could be separable.

https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007%2Fs10722-014-0087-4.pdf

Assessing genetic diversity in 23 early Polish oat cultivars based on molecular and morphological studies

The aim of our research was to evaluate the genetic diversity among 25 commercial varieties registered in Poland and 14 landraces of Phaseolus vulgaris var nanus Asch (the dwarf common bean) and Phaseolus coccineus L (the runner bean) maintained in the National Centre of Plant Genetic Resources in Radzikow An additional goal of this study was to compare the precision and efficiency of two techniques of PCR (RAPD and AFLP), used to estimation the genetic diversity of bean The breeding varieties of bean were registered in the period between 1950 and 2000 The landraces, collected during expeditions conducted from 1985 to 1988, mainly originated from the eastern and southern part of Poland In the plant genetic diversity research of RAPD and AFLP markers are commonly used Complex electrophoresis pictures of DNA fragments were taken, and revealed a considerable polymorphism The polymorphic fragments were obtained on the basis of 6 differentiating primers using the RAPD method and 15 differentiating primers using the AFLP method P vulgaris and P coccineus accessions formed distinct groups Each of the RAPD and AFLP analyses allowed for the unique distinguishing of all accessions

Molecular research on the genetic diversity of Polish varieties and landraces of Phaseolus coccineus L. and Phaseolus vulgaris L. using the RAPD and AFLP methods.

Here we focused on Polish oat landraces developed in the moderate temperature zone attempting to understand their genetic and phenotypic variability in context of the pressure of environmental constrains at the locations where they had evolved. Besides molecular markers and diverse phenotypic traits the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, enabling throughput metabolic fingerprinting, was used for the description of the germplasm collection. We used sophisticated multivariable analysis to integrate the data for structure analysis and to establish mutual relationships. We found that the accessions diversity across the eco-geographical variables was manifested differently depending on selected phenotypic, genetic, and metabolic criteria. Grain metabolic fingerprint derived from FTIR spectroscopy revealed the highest degree of germplasm diversity among all of the examined traits, particularly for spectral bands assigned to lipids. The landraces, which were collected in close geographical proximity, showed clear morphological and metabolic resemblances, although they represented quite different genetic backgrounds. All three levels of analysis showed the presence of selection resulting from environmental pressures and more specifically from the temperature at the landrace origin site. This research also proved that coupling of genetic polymorphism with the FTIR fingerprinting markedly extended the description of the oat landraces diversity.

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Environmentally-related genotypic, phenotypic and metabolic diversity of oat ( Avena sativa L.) landraces based on 67 Polish accessions

The aim of the work was characterization of morphological diversity and DNA polymorphism of common oat landraces. 25 Morphological traits and DNA polymorphism have been examined using AFLP methods. It has been found, that identification of oat landraces is possible based on the examined morphological traits. The examined accessions were differentiated by traits important for intraspecific taxonomy of oat: type of panicle, presence of awns, colour of grain, as well as other morphological traits, such as shape of panicle, rigidity of stem leaves, and type of awns. Relationships of morphological traits of leaves, grains, and stem with some DNA fragments suggesting presence of molecular markers of these morphological traits have been found. Morphological similarity of landraces doesn’t correspond to affinity complied with DNA similarity of these objects...

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Morphological diversity and dna polymorphism of common oat (Avena sativa L.) landraces cultivated in Poland.

The aim of the work was characterization of morphological diversity and DNA polymorphism of common oat breeding varieties. 25 morphological traits and DNA polymorphism have been examined using AFLP and RAPD methods. It has been found, that identification of oat breeding varieties is possible based on the examined morphological traits...

/pdf/morphological-diversity-and-dna-polymorphism-of-common-oat-vbft3j9ow4.pdf

Dorota Nowosielska

Papers

Assessing genetic diversity in 23 early Polish oat cultivars based on molecular and morphological studies

Molecular research on the genetic diversity of Polish varieties and landraces of Phaseolus coccineus L. and Phaseolus vulgaris L. using the RAPD and AFLP methods.

Environmentally-related genotypic, phenotypic and metabolic diversity of oat ( Avena sativa L.) landraces based on 67 Polish accessions

Morphological diversity and dna polymorphism of common oat (Avena sativa L.) landraces cultivated in Poland.

Morphological diversity and DNA polymorphism of common oat (Avena sativa L.) breeding varieties cultivated in Poland