Beans

Introduction

Beans are the fourth most important source of protein in tropical America and surpass two popular regional root crops—potato and cassava–as a source of calories. Throughout the region the common bean is known as the "poor man's meat." Latin America is the most important bean producing region with 8 million hectares. 

Dry beans are a vital staple in sub-Saharan Africa providing the main source of dietary protein for more than 70 million people. Production is concentrated in densely populated eastern Africa, the lakes region, and highlands of southern Africa.

Nutritionists characterize the common bean as a nearly perfect food because of its high protein content and generous amounts of fiber, complex carbohydrates and other nutrients. A single serving (1 cup or 240 ml) of beans provides at least half the recommended daily allowance of–folate–a B vitamin that is especially important for pregnant women to prevent birth defects. It also supplies 25 to 30 percent of the recommended levels of iron and meets 25 percent of the daily requirement of magnesium and copper as well as 15 percent of the potassium and zinc requirement.

Biological information

Phaseolus vulgaris or common bean is a diploid (2n=2x11) species of the Fabaceae family. Its genome is about 656 Mbp. The common bean research community has advanced rapidly in recent years in genomic resources, with genetic maps, ESTs and BAC libraries, and is close to having a reference genome sequence for the species.  Numbers of markers, especially SSR, have increased, and large numbers of SNP will soon be available, thanks to the BeanCAP project and the GCP. The GCP-led project, Tropical Legumes-I, is closely linked to these and other efforts.

Genomics Resources

• SNP Markers for Common Beans
• SNP Marker Conversion to KASPAR System for Common Beans
• SSR Markers for Common Beans
• DArT Markers for Common Beans
• Genetic Maps for Common Beans
• QTLs for Common Beans
• Physical Maps for Common Beans
• Comparative Maps for Common Beans
• Transcriptomics for Common Beans
• Genome Sequencing for Common Beans

Phenotyping

• Link to crop ontology
• Download the common bean trait dictionary in English; in Spanish; in Portuguese; and, in French.

To obtain the Central Database for Beans (which provides historical phenotyping data, germplasm information, trait information, and some genotyping data), download the Breeding Management System. Data curator: Alberto Guerrero (CIAT).

Other Resources

• CIAT Bean Research Programme
• FAO Agricultural Vocabulary Thesaurus - AGROVOC
• Non-Chemical Pest Management - Mungbean
• Non-Chemical Pest Management - Stringbean
• Non-Chemical Pest Management - Soybean
• GCP Research Products Catalogue for Beans
• CGIAR Research Programme on Grain Legumes
• GCP Tropical Legumes Research Initiative
• Legume Information System
• SeedQuest® - Focus on Marker-Assisted Breeding
• IBP Common Bean Community of Practice

CGIAR Crop Lead Centre:

Sources:   webapp.ciat.cgiar.org/ciatinfocus/beans.htm