Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

The W2150 meeting was called to order by Karen Cichy, Chairperson, at 8:17 AM. Janice Rueda volunteered and was unanimously voted as secretary and Kal Kalavacharla was the vice-chair for this meeting. Dr. Donn Thill gave an administrative update of the W2150 program. The W2150 records were good through 2011, so funding should continue through 2015. A 3-year review will be done in 2013, involving a multistate research committee to look at the W2150. State reports followed: University of Puerto Rico: Tim Porch reported that 10,000 lbs of the white seeded Verano and Moraz beans were produced this year at the Isabela Substation. Verano was rated 3-4 on resistance for common bacterial blight (CBB) while Moraz was very susceptible. Genetic work is being done with CBB and the initial data indicates a recessive gene originating from Vax 6. Porch is working with Beaver and Brick on the release of tepary bean lines with bruchid, CBB, and drought tolerance. Porch is working with Singh to develop white mold and CBB resistant cranberry beans. Porch completed evaluations with the Andean diversity panel for disease resistance and abiotic stress tolerance. Colorado State University: Mark Brick reported that funding for the IPM Legume PIPE will not continue, but the digital resources and web site will still be accessible to stakeholders. Links to new USDA-NIFA projects will also be provided, including international programs to reduce losses from root rot disease in Africa. Schwartz has ongoing work with Singh to pyramid white mold resistance from wild sources and related species into pinto bean. The breeding program evaluated 14,000 breeding lines and increased seed for 7 promising pinto lines in western Colorado. Fiber and oligosaccharides are being quantified through the BeanCap. There were differences in dietary fiber (16-27% dry weight). Mark has released a new pinto with Ur-6 for rust. It rates 3 on pustules, but it does not have Ur-5 resistance. It has the bc-2 gene. Brick has introgressed nuna popping beans into temperate germplasm and is developing 2 bush- habit, photoperiod insensitive releases. Washington: Phil Miklas said the National Cooperative Dry Bean Nursery (CDBN) reports are posted at (http://www.ars.usda.gov/pandp/docs.htm?Docid=21679) which also includes the Dry Bean Yield Trials, Dry Bean Multiple Stress Plot Trials, white mold trial data, SCAR markers for bean diseases, and a list of USDA Dry Edible Bean Releases. Juan has reports for the CDBN through 1980 that he will convert to PDF form for posting as well. Miklas stated that yield, 100 seed wt, and harvest maturity are minimum data that needs to be collected at your location if you are going to do CDBN testing. Stability of yield across locations was analyzed by geometric means in the CDBN. Andean types tended to have lower yield and stability across locations. The CDBN test included 20 lines this year, few pinks, few reds, and a few great northern. Miklas participated in the Western Regional Bean Trial (WRBT, includes CO, ID, NE, and WA, coordinated by Brick), and the Bean White Mold Nursery (BWMN coordinated by Steadman). He is evaluating breeding nurseries for BNF capacity. Miklas is performing white mold screening for the private industry, and working with Myers on fine QTL mapping for white mold resistance. Miklas is doing Marker Assisted Selection (MAS) for pintos for the common bacterial blight resistance gene, Ur-5 rust gene with Talo, and the Co-42 anthracnose resistance gene with Kelly. The Andean diversity panel was evaluated under stress conditions- compacted soil, low fertility, root rot pathogens and drought. Nebraska: Jim Steadman reported that for white mold/sclerotinia testing, 9 lines were tested across 7 sites, and 27 went into the nursery. Steadman is characterizing subspecies of sclerotinia, including those found in sunflower. In private company sunflower screens prior to going to oil, if the white mold is too high, it goes to bird seed. They don't know if the isolates have increased virulence, but they are probably being spread all over the world through bird seed. Previous studies indicate that cattle destroy sclerotinia in their intestinal tracts, but they do not know if birds destroy white mold. Carlos Urrea reported that the production quality is looking good this year. The industry is looking at direct harvest and narrow row spacing (15") for production. Growers are making $400/acre when baling bean straw. Drought experiments were conducted on 330 F3:4 lines. They are screening for resistance to Bacterial Brown Spot which is a problem in Nebraska. Nebraska has 11,000 acres in Coyne, which has a large seed and looks good in the field. Carlos thought it would replace Beryl-R. Maryland: Talo Pastor-Corrales reported that regarding rust, beans need 5 hours of low temperatures and high humidity at night to get it. In 2012 in Maryland they had 2 weeks at 105-109 degrees F and were very dry. Flowering was severely affected by the heat. For the CDBN, rust showed very late with 4 inoculations. Very few Andean materials have broad resistance. In the greenhouse, they used races 56 and 108 to quickly eliminate progeny. For black bean, in Guatemala, they have resistance to races infecting important rust resistance genes, unique from PI 260418 (susceptible to race 84) and Ouro Negro (susceptible to race 108). PI 181996 (108 sus) is called Ur-11. PI 260418 and Ouro Negro are both resistant to race 85. Pinto 114 is resistant to races 38 and 39 but very susceptible to other races. Wisconsin: Jim Nienhuis is studying flavor and nutrition in snap beans. They found that as sieve size increases, fructose and glucose decrease. They also found different results for dry bean backgrounds. They are planning to use an inbred backcross population and SNPs in the future for this project, and they sent the material to Cregan (BeanCAP) for screening. Nienhuis is studying N use efficiency to increase yields in organic production. There are also root rot and seed corn maggot issues in organic production. Spinosad (Entrust is trade name) is used as an organic insecticide and it improves germination. In his root rot research (purgatory selection plot at Hancock, WI) this year, they had Fusarium with the drought condition. They have Eagle x Puebla 152 inbred backcrosses and using SNPs for mapping. Nienhuis is working on the identification of genes associated with snap bean domestication. Michigan: Jim Kelly reported that in the MI bean growing region there were high temperatures and below normal rainfall this year. Good rains in August helped the bean crop. MSU breeding program conducted 24 yield trials in 10 market classes of dry bean and participated in the CDBN, MRPN, and the National Sclerotinia Nurseries in MI and a winter nursery in Puerto Rico. Releases: Eldorado pinto - has been the top yielder since 2007 in MI; also the top yielder with variety trials since 2009; it is full season (100-105 day bean); tolerant of white mold, and upright, they have it direct harvested in yield trials. Rosetta - upright type pink bean, has nice color, doesn't have stem snap off problem of Sedona. Snowdon - early season white kidney, brighter seed, better yield; inadequate seed is available at the moment. Zorro - upright black bean has allowed growers to direct harvest the crop and thus reduce production costs. Karen Cichy is looking at the genetic basis for color retention in canned black beans. They are using Black Magic and Shiny Crow, and progeny for gene mapping. The shiny seed coat doesn't influence color retention (and it is on separate linkage group) but it affects/slows down water absorption during processing. Idaho: For Shree Singh's pinto breeding project he is making selections for moderate slow darkening. Singh transferred white mold resistance from P. coccineus to common bean (pintos). His backcrosses included Othello and Pinto UI-320. From the UI-320 class, he selected 42-48 lines, and then he selected 3 breeding lines of pintos with higher levels of white mold resistance. Singh is attempting to pyramid white mold resistance in Andean germplasm. Shree is working with Miklas on CBB in two RIL populations: Othello x VAX 1, and Othello x VAX 3. They found that SU91 gives good resistance in primary and trifoliate leaves but not in the pods. Eventually, they also plan to screen pods for CBB resistance. North Dakota: Juan Osorno reported that ND had record yields this year. They didn't have rains discoloring beans during seed harvest so that was good, besides not having flooded soils like they did the previous year. North Dakota has 680,000 acres total in beans which is 63% pintos, although black beans are increasing and pinto acreage is going down. Release: Rio Rojo - variety release of a new small red this year; it has the best levels of CBB resistance in a common red line and outyields most of the red beans; the seed quality is not as good as Merlot. New version of Stampede is resistant to new rust race. ND61106 - does well under fields with root rot (Fusarium and Rhizoctonia) in Minnesota; has infected field now. There is a new Pulse Pathologist at NDSU - Julie Pasche. Update on NDSU production guide will be coming out soon (last one was in 2003). There is now a new race of rust in late material (not Ur-3) in ND. It doesn't presently affect anything because it occurs during the dry down period prior to harvest. Delaware: Venu Kalavacharla reported that he is working on genomic resources in common bean, for rust and drought. He is using a transcriptome sequencing library from leaves, roots, and pods that will be published right after BIC 2011. The sequences are available for download. Many root specific transcripts are related to nodulation. His goal is to map these with populations of beans using ESTs SSRs, and he believes most are new markers. Kal fast neutron bombarded Sierra seed which resulted in 2 susceptible plants with a mutation in Ur-3. Kal is also looking at epigenetics, a gene at 2 different locations in DNA with either changes in chromatin structure and CHIP-seq from Sierra, etc. in the leaves. He is looking for progeny from crosses or wide crosses with weird symptoms in the leaves, etc. Kal wants to develop a bridge between classical and molecular breeding fields for students. Funding is coming through 2007 NSF, and he is going for another round of funding. American Pulse Association: Janice Rueda updated the group on the activities of the American Pulse Association. She said the USDA Dietary Guidelines 2005 recommendations for pulse crops were 3 cups per week and were reduced by 50% in 2010 to 1.5 cups per week. She presented an update on the two pulse initiatives in the 2012 Farm Bill, the Pulse Health Initiative ($125 Million) and the Pulse School Food Pilot Initiative ($10 Million). The APA research program was also presented. The pea and lentil organization contributed $250,000 for fiscal year 2012-13 to jumpstart health and nutrition research on pulse crops. $100K is designated for the commission of research reviews which will aim to compare the nutritional characteristics of pulse crops to those of whole grains, which are currently associated with many health benefits by consumers, despite a distinct lack of conclusive scientific evidence. Final W2150 Meeting Notes: Steadman pointed out that the new secretary for the Portland W2150 will take care of the 5 year W2150 renewal as President in 2015. Osorno suggested that someone who receives money from the W2150 should be the new secretary in 2013, so they could be the President in 2015. Discussion followed. Group will vote on the new secretary at the next W2150 meeting in Portland, OR. The W2150 Meeting adjourned at 3:35 PM and was followed by the Phaseolus Crop Germplasm Committee Meeting (Mark Brick, Acting Chair), and the Genetics Committee Meeting (Tim Porch, Chair).

e-report ARIZONA: Nothing to report e-report CALIFORNIA: Nothing to report e-report COLORADO Participant: Brick, M., Schwartz, H. Colorado State University concluded the final year as coordinator for the IPM Legume PIPE national network of sentinel plots throughout 20 states of the U.S. to monitor for the occurrence of soybean rust (SBR), common rust, white mold, root rots, bacterial and viral diseases, and insect pests. Each State Coordinator established linkage with the State Diagnostician (National Plant Diagnostic Network contact) to share primary pest information on pest and disease monitoring in Sentinel Plots and/or commercial legume fields during the season; and established linkage with the USDA/CSREES PIPE Web Site and protocol to access resources and upload weekly survey data that was then made available to the public. Since its inception, the Legume ipmPIPE project has evolved in its scope and interactivity with state, regional, and national stakeholders and organizations involved with the production, pest management (emphasis upon IPM strategies including selection of disease resistant varieties, planting clean seed, suitable crop rotation, scouting and confirmation of economic threats from disease organisms and insect pests, and timely application of pesticides as needed) and marketing of legumes (emphasis on non-soybean crops). The Legume ipmPIPE web site and digital resources will be archived for access by stakeholders and linkage to new USDA-NIFA projects that will include international programs designed to reduce losses from root rot diseases in Africa. An ongoing germplasm improvement project with the University of Idaho (Shree Singh) is designed to pyramid white mold resistance from Phaseolus species of the primary and secondary gene pools and introgress the highest levels into pinto bean, the largest market class in the USA and North America. Agronomic studies during the last three years showed that planting double lines instead of single lines per bed increased yield an average of 10 percent for less prostrate pinto varieties such as Croissant and Stampede when compared to a prostrate variety Montrose grown at 84000 plants per acre. Commercial dry bean production in Colorado was estimated at 50,000 acres in 2012. The Dry Bean Breeding Project evaluated more than 14,000 lines in the breeding program and increased pure seed of seven promising pinto breeding lines in western Colorado. The breeding program collaborated with state experiment station personnel from MI, NE, and ND as well as the USDA and private seed companies in the Cooperative Dry Bean Nursery, Midwest Regional Performance Nursery, the Western Regional Bean Trials and the Colorado Crops Testing Program to evaluate elite lines. There continues to be a need to provide producers and processors with updated information on cultivars and pest control to maximize economic return and reduce pesticide use. e-report IDAHO Participants Shree Singh. Pinto Bean Breeding. Three hundred seventy-three families and breeding lines (F1:4 and F1:6) of pinto (the largest market class in Idaho and North America) derived from 19 populations that were harvested in bulk in 2011 and 7 controls were evaluated in the high input and compacted soil with continual bean production systems since 1950 at Kimberly, ID. Each plot consisted of 1 to 4 rows 12.5 feet long without replicates. These were tested for general adaptation, plant type, maturity, and seed characteristics. Harvested seed from 70 selected families and breeding lines was cleaned and stored at room temperature for characterizing for post-harvest seed coat color darkening. In early December 2012, all unacceptable darkened families and breeding lines will be discarded. Seed of surviving families and breeding lines will be sent to Puerto Rico for increase during the off season and for further evaluations in ID and other Western States in 2013.White Mold Resistance. Common bean has only partial or low levels of resistance to white mold caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Forty-two breeding lines with high levels of white mold resistance and seven susceptible and resistant controls were evaluated against an aggressive (ND) and less-aggressive (AR) isolates of S. sclerotiorum in the greenhouse at Kimberly. The 42 genotypes included interspecific breeding lines derived from Phaseolus coccineus and P. costaricensis, and breeding lines derived from crosses among white mold resistant large-seeded Andean germplasm and from multiple-parent crosses involving Phaseolus species of the primary and secondary gene pools. A randomized complete block design with three replicates was used. Each plant consisted of 6 plants, which were inoculated three times beginning at the fifth inter-node with 48 hours old culture of S. sclerotiorum and evaluated at 7, 14, 21, 28, and 35 days post the first inoculation. Three interspecific and four breeding lines with pyramided resistance were selected for further evaluations and release to public and private researchers. We also evaluated the parents, F1, and F2 of pinto Othello x A 195 and A 195 x G 122 against the less aggressive and aggressive isolates of S. sclerotiorum in the greenhouse at Kimberly. Othello is highly susceptible to white mold, and A 195 and G 122 are highly resistant. Data is being compiled and analyzed. Also, we will conduct follow up research to test genetic hypotheses developed from this inheritance study. Common Bacterial Blight Resistance. Common bean also has low levels of resistance to common bacterial blight caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. phaseoli. Also, there is a zero tolerance for that and other seed-transmitted bacterial diseases in ID. The highest levels of resistance occur in the tepary bean (P. acutifolius, a member of the tertiary gene pool of the common bean) and interspecific breeding lines derived from that such as VAX 1 to VAX 6. There are two known markers, namely BC420 and SU91, linked to the tepary bean derived resistance quantitative trait loci (QTL). The BC420 marker is linked with undesirable seed coat color such that seed color of genotypes carrying that QTL are unacceptably dark. Thus, the BC420 linked QTL could not be used in developing commercially acceptable colored beans (e.g., pinto, pink, and red market classes of bean) resistant to common bacterial blight. The resistance response of the SU91 linked QTL in the trifoliolate leaves is well documented. But, the response of SU91 linked QTL in pods is not known. We screened several dozen F6-derived F7 recombinant inbred lines from Othello x VAX 1 and Othello x VAX 3 crosses to identify new common bacterial blight resistance QTL derived from the tepary bean, and to determine the response of SU91 in the pod. Our results indicate that while SU91 linked QTL confers high levels of resistance in leaves it has no effects on pods when inoculated with aggressive as well as less aggressive bacterial isolates. We have identified several recombinant inbred lines resistant to common bacterial blight that do not carry any known markers including BC420 and SU91. These breeding lines should be of immense value for breeding common bean of all colored as well as various white market classes. The identification of new tepary bean derived resistance QTL is being carried out in collaboration with researchers at Prosser, WA; Beltsville, MD; and Fargo, ND. e-report MICHIGAN Participant: Kelly, James, Cichy, Karen, The MSU dry bean breeding and genetics program conducted 24 yield trials in ten market classes and participated in the growing and evaluation of the Cooperative Dry Bean, Midwest Regional Performance, and the National Sclerotinia Nurseries in MI and winter nursery in Puerto Rico in 2012. All yield trials at Frankenmuth were direct harvested except for 100-entry drought trial that was rod-pulled. The drought trial showed good early moisture stress but late July rains resulted in high yields and later maturity throughout. In addition to yield and agronomic data, roots were sampled and rated and biomass and harvest index were recorded. Large-seeded kidneys, cranberry, and white mold trials at Montcalm were rod-pulled. Dry weather early in the season followed by ample rainfall delayed maturity at Frankenmuth. Plots at Montcalm had similar rainfall pattern but the stress was offset with supplemental irrigation and excellent yields were recorded in the kidney and cranberry trials. Screening for resistance to common bacterial blight was very effective in these nurseries. White mold infection developed well in 2012 and genotypic differences were observed. A total of 3,900 plots were harvested for yield in 2012 and 1,977 single plant selections were made in the early generation nurseries. Other studies included the evaluation of 130-entry black bean RIL population for nitrogen fixation, and certified organic variety trials at two locations. Identification of a low oligosaccharide bean: Mutagenized bean lines have been screened for seed oligosaccharide levels. In the first screening of 1000 lines, candidate lines were identified that were potentially low raffinose and/or low stachyose mutants. Based on second and third screening rounds, it appears that none of the lines with low oligosaccharide levels were heritable. Since no mutant was identified, screening continued for natural variation for this trait in 100 diverse Andean bean lines, and one red mottled line from Tanzania, Maulasi, had 64% less stachyose and 26% less raffinose in cooked seeds as compared to average levels of the 100 lines screened. Genetics of seed zinc accumulation in beans: A transcriptome of all the genes expressed and their level of expression has been developed for bean pods of three cultivars that accumulate different levels of zinc in their seeds, Albion, Voyager and T39. This data has been analyzed to identify differentially expressed genes related to zinc and iron transport. In addition all sequence variation in the form of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) has been identified. e-report NEBRASKA Participants: Steadman, James, Urrea, Carlos, One contribution to this multistate project is the coordination of national white mold (WM), caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, common bean resistance screening nurseries. Field nurseries of 9 lines and 3 checks located in areas with a WM history in six states representing the major USA bean production areas and a location in Belgium will provide data that we will analyze and summarize. Also, nine greenhouse straw tests will provide data for 27 bean lines in early generations, some with crosses to other Phaseolus species and lines with limited seed. A second contribution is the evaluation of a national bean rust nursery in cooperation with USDA-Beltsville. Agronomic traits and rust reaction evaluation data supported a number of pinto and great northern lines with excellent seed quality, yield potential, architecture and rust/common blight resistance that are candidates for on-farm trials and eventual release. No rust was reported or observed in NE and surrounding area in 2012. White mold was found in the Panhandle Research and Extension Center, but incidence was low. WM did not occur in the multistate nursery due to heat and irrigation availability. A total of 330 F3:4 lines from shuttle breeding between Puerto Rico and Nebraska were tested under terminal drought at Scottsbluff in 2012. About 1248 individual plant selections were made and will be tested in Puerto Rico for drought and heat tolerance in 2012-2013 growing season. A total of 16 lines from the shuttle breeding program between Puerto Rico and Nebraska were compared to 28 lines from CIAT and 4 referenced checks under terminal drought stress. The RIL populations Buster/SER 22 (345 lines), Buster/Roza (144 lines), and Stampede/Red Hawk (184 lines) were tested for terminal drought stress in Scottsbluff. A sub-set of Buster/SER22 will be evaluated in Juana Diaz, PR in December 2012. A protocol to screen bacterial brown spot was developed. Six bacterial brown spot isolates (GN2, 82 JL, 9907, PS 10, PSM 5, and PS 18) were screened in concentrations of 1.5 and 300 million cfu/ml using Neb. Sel.1 # 27 and Orion as resistant and susceptible checks, respectively. One leaflet of the first expanded trifoliolate leaf of each plant was inoculated using the multiple needle method. Two plants per accession were planted and inoculated. The plants were evaluated 7 and 14 days after inoculation using a 1-9 scale, where 1= immune and 9= highly susceptible. Reactions from 1 to 4 were considered resistant and from 5 to 9 were susceptible. This experiment is being replicated twice. C. Urrea participated in the regional bean trials MRPN, WRBT (coordinator), and the CDBN. A sampling of sunflower birdseed from 25 vendors found all bags/packages had sclerotia of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. e-report NEW YORK Participants: Griffiths, P., Halseth, D., A major emphasis of our variety testing program over the past ten years has been on light red kidneys. These include: 773-V98 (now named Wallace), 1062-V98, NY104 and NY105. Both of the NY lines have been sent to ID for commercial seed increase and limited seed should be available in 2013 for grower trials. One of the primary purposes underlying the breeding program has been to identify lines with yield and canning quality comparable to or higher than RedKanner, but with earlier maturity. Those that show the most promise will be increased and advanced in the greenhouse next winter and will be in more extensive yield and processing trials in 2013. White mold tolerant lines from the Griffiths program (Cornell 603, 605, 607, 608, 611 and 612) were included in Halseth/Sandsted field research plots in summer 2012 to compare their yield and maturity performance with other cultivars. Acceptable performance for quality, canning, maturity and yield could lead to the development and release of dry bean varieties with high levels of resistance to white mold. Breeding lines developed by the Griffiths project in 2012 trials conducted by the Halseth project, focusing on the LRK and DRK market classes. The light red kidneys included: Cornell 605, Cornell 611 and Cornell 612. The dark red kidneys included: Cornell 603, Cornell 607 and Cornell 608. Populations have subsequently been generated from Cornell 605, Cornell 607, Cornell 608, Cornell 611 and Cornell 612 to Wallace to improve yield and plant characteristics for production. New populations selected from crosses of the best LRK and DRK materials with Wallace were selected and increased in 2011/2012 and 44 selections were increased and tested in field trials with Halseth/Sandsted in 2012. The Extension dry bean program in 2012 evaluated 100 new and standard varieties and breeding lines, including those in the early stages of development from our own crosses. These included lines and varieties developed out of public programs and private commercial companies in the US and Canada. University and government cooperators include: Cornell University, Michigan State University/USDA, University of California (Davis), North Dakota State University, Colorado State University, University of Nebraska, University of Idaho, USDA-ARS and Agriculture Canada (Guelph). Private industry programs include: ADM, Gen-Tec, Idaho Seed Bean Company and Seminis Vegetable Seeds. The varieties and breeding lines tested consisted of the following classes: Light Red Kidney (62 varieties and lines), Black Turtle Soup (13), Dark Red Kidney (8), Pinto (8), Navy (1), Cranberry (1), Pink (3), Great Northern (2), Navy (1). Virus resistance in snap bean breeding lines was selected in multiple greenhouse screens in 2012, introgressing genes controlling resistance to CMV, BYMV, CYVV and BCMV/BCMNV. This work included introgression of known genes including a CYVV resistance gene from clipper, bc-3 and the I-gene, new genes introgressed from scarlet runner beans, great northern beans, black beans and navy beans. Differential reactions to multiple virus inoculations was also undertaken in breeding lines and cultivars to identify different gene segregations, optimal combinations, cross resistance and genetic control for re-assembling the optimal combination into commercial cultivars. Evaluating breeding lines selected for resistance to multiple viruses based on the sources initially selected for CMV, BYMV, CYVV and BCMV sources has resulted in a major step forward in understanding the genetic control mechanisms and the desirable gene combinations resulting in cross resistance (resistance to one virus providing resistance to other viruses) combinations for protection against the major viruses being studied. An understanding of the major genes involved with resistance to these viruses is now becoming clear, enabling a change in breeding strategy to fast-track introgression of these. e-report NEW YORK Participants: Fuchs, Marc, We investigated bean transformation parameters such as preconditioning of seeds (sterilization, germination medium and germination conditions), seedling explant (embryogenic axis, cotyledonary nodes and embryogenic callus), preculture of seedling explants with cytokinins, and composition of tissue culture medium (macronutrients, micronutrients, nitrogen supplements, vitamins, sugars and growth regulators) using fresh market snap bean, processing snap bean and dry bean cultivars. Following sterilization, seeds were either cultured on solid germination medium, or placed on moist filter paper in sterile Petri dishes or in liquid germination medium using sterile vermiculite and Styrofoam containers. Seeds were incubated either under fluorescent light (33-45 microE m/ /s with a 16/8 hr light/dark photoperiod) or in the dark, and at varied temperature regimes (25C, 28 C or 30C). The highest germination rates were obtained when seeds were incubated at 25C in the dark on solid medium or sterile vermiculite. Cotyledonary nodes and explants were excised from germinating seeds (6-7 days in dark) and their abaxial side was cultured on either the Gamborg or the Murashige and Skoog medium for 2-3 weeks to allow organogenesis. Individual shoots (> 1 cm in length) were excised and transferred to the Gamborg medium. Experiments were replicated at least twice to evaluate the optimal treatment for organogenesis. Cotyledonary nodes on Gamborg medium produced multiple shoots that elongated at low BA (2.5 mg/L) mainly from the apical meristem while at higher BA (7.5 mg/L) multiple shoots developed from both the apical and the cotyledonary nodes. Shoots that developed at lower BA concentration elongated on the same media (length average >5 mm) while at higher BA concentrations (7.5-10.0 mg/L) shoot primordia (<5mm) did not elongate until the cultures were transferred to media without BA or low BA (1 mg/L). Preliminary results indicate that Gamborg medium was the best for organogenesis (e.g. producing the higher number of primordial shoots per explant) for all the cultivars tested but the optimal BA concentration was specific to each cultivar. The next steps will consist of determining parameters for direct organogenesis from embryogenic axis, indirect organogenesis, elongation and rooting of shoots, as well as the effect of antibiotics of organogenesis. In parallel, the genetic variability of CMV was studied using 20 isolates collected in different snap bean and dry bean fields in NY from 2004 to 2009. The approach consisted of characterizing the coat protein and movement protein genes by reverse transcription - polymerase chain reaction using specific primers followed by sequencing. Sequence analyses showed a 95.1-100% and a 97.5-100% nucleotide sequence identity in the coat protein and movement protein genes, respectively. Based on nucleotide sequence alignments, two RNAi constructs were designed each in highly conserved regions of the coat protein and movement protein genes. RNAi constructs were cloned in the binary plasmid pGA482G and mobilized in A. tumefaciens strain C58 for plant transformation. The resistance inducing capacity of the four RNAi constructs was investigated in N. benthamiana. An average of 40 independent transgenic lines were developed per construct and screened for resistance following mechanical inoculation with a 1:50 dilution of CMV-infected snap bean extracts. Resistance was achieved in nearly half of the R0 lines with the RNAi CP-1 construct (47%, 15 of 32), 37% (15 of 41) of the R0 lines with RNAi CP-2 construct, 5% (2 of 43) of the R0 lines with the RNAi MP-1 construct, and in only one (2%, 1 of 42) of the R0 lines with the RNAi MP-2 construct. Resistance was expressed as an absence of CMV symptoms (leaf cupping, mosaic and stunting) and no detectable virus by double antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA) using specific antibodies over 3-4 weeks. Resistant R0 plants were self-pollinated and, as expected, most R1 lines screened so far are resistant to CMV following mechanical inoculation. These results are promising in terms of resistance to CMV in common bean. e-report NORTH DAKOTA Participants: Osorno, Juan, The main activities involving our station in this multistate project were related to three main areas: i) the improvement of resistance to the new race of bean rust found in Stampede, ii) the development of pinto cultivars with the slow-darkening gene, and iii) studies related to drought tolerance. In the case of Stampede pinto bean, progeny tests made in the greenhouses at NDSU and in collaboration with Dr. Talo Pastor-Corrales at USDA-ARS Beltsville-MD, allowed to increase the number of resistant plants from 50% to 90% by selecting for the Ur-11 gene. Seed increases have been made in collaboration with Dr. Phil Miklas at USDA-ARS at Prosser-WA and it will be released as a cultivar in 2013. Dr. Miklas is also the co-investigator in the slow darkening project. A total of 18 advanced lines and 80 Recombinant Inbred Lines (RILs) were tested during the 2012 growing season across multiple environments in ND and WA. Screening of genotypes tolerant to drought conditions and mapping of potential new QTLs in two RIL populations (Buster x SER-22 and Stampede x Redhawk) is underway in collaboration with Dr. Carlos Urrea at UNL and Dr. Tim Porch at USDA-TARS. A new pulse pathologist (Dr. Julie Pasche) has been recently hired at NDSU, which will enhance our breeding efforts on disease resistance. Additional activities involving this multistate project are the screening of breeding lines for white mold, root rots, common bacterial blight, halo blight, and brown spot, and drought tolerance, among others. Germplasm exchange has been facilitated by some regional trials such as the Cooperative Dry Bean Nursery (CDBN) and the Midwest Regional Performance Nursery (MRPN), among others. Finally, breeding lines from the breeding program were screened for canning quality at our new canning facilities shared with the Northern Crops Institute. In the future, canning tests could be offered to other breeding programs and other institutions interested. Two lines with potential resistance to white mold have been shared through the National White Mold Nursery (NWM) with excellent results so far. In addition, a new small red cultivar (Rio Rojo) has been released because of its high seed yield, agronomic performance, and resistance to common bacterial blight. Some disease screening, canning/cooking quality, and seed increases of this new cultivar were made in collaboration with members of this multi-state group e-report OREGON: Nothing to report e-report, PUERTO RICO Participants: Beaver, J.S., White-seeded lines with resistance to BGYMV, BCMNV and bruchids were selected at the Isabela Substation. These lines will be multiplied for evaluation in future field trials. We also selected white-seeded lines with BGYMV and BCMNV resistance and earlier maturity. This will provide local growers with greater flexibility in the harvest of green-shelled beans. Pink lines with resistance to BGYMV, BCMNV and possibly resistance to common bacterial blight were also selected. White bean lines with resistance to BGYMV, BCMNV and rust were evaluated in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Haiti from 2008 to 2011 PR0806-80 and PR0806-84 had the best overall performance with low common bacterial blight scores and among the highest yields in the five test environments. White bean lines from the cross Verano//PR0003-124/Raven were selected for the presence of the bgm-1 gene and the QTL SW12 for resistance to BGYMV. The lines were also screened for the presence of the bc-3 resistance gene. Four of the most promising lines were screened in the greenhouse at the USDA-ARS Tropical Agriculture Research Station for reaction to two strains of the common bacterial blight pathogen and found to have useful levels of resistance. Andean pink beans with the bc-3 gene for resistance to BCMV and BCMNV were evaluated from 2007 to 2011 in field trials planted at the Isabela Substation. In January 2012, the project planted 1,923 bean breeding lines from Michigan State and North Dakota State Universities in winter nurseries as a cooperative activity of Regional Hatch Project W-2150. Lines from the cross PR0313-58 x VAX 6 were used to study the inheritance of CBB resistance associated with the SCAR marker SU-91. During the past year, the parents, F1, F2, BC1 and BC2 generations were screened for reaction to common blight in the greenhouse at the University of Puerto Rico using Xap strain 3353. F2:3 lines were evaluated in a screen house at the USDA-ARS-TARS and at the Isabela Substation for common bacterial blight reaction. Preliminary results suggest that two genes may confer high levels of resistance common bacterial blight found in VAX 6. Several black bean lines that combine erect architecture, heat tolerance and high levels of resistance to common bacterial blight were selected from the population. e-report PUERTO RICO Participants: Porch, Tim, Tepary lines were developed, TARS-Tep 22 and TARS-Tep 32, and are in the proves of release as germplasm. ARS participated in the U. of Puerto Rico release of PR0401-259 and Pro650-31, which combine virus, web blight, and CBB resistance. An advanced line with tropical sources of root rot and CBB resistance, and tolerance to low fertility, tested in collaboration with the U. of Puerto Rico and Cornell in Geneva, NY, is being considered for release. A cranberry germplasm line with CBB resistance, and potentially white mold resistance, is being considered for release in collaboration with U. of Idaho. A second cycle of recurrent selection for drought tolerance has been noted. The genetics of CBB resistance is being studied in collaboration with the U. of Puerto Rico. Progress is being made with the evaluation of ashy stem blight resistance in the greenhouse and field. Evaluations have been completed of the Andean Diversity Panel (ADP) for disease resistance and abiotic stress tolerance and on the AM 100 Drought population for heat and drought tolerance in Puerto Rico. e-report WISCONSIN Participants: Nienhuis, James, 1) Bean Improvement Cooperative, Biennial meeting held at Niagara Falls, Canada in November of 2012 2) Midwest Food Processors annual meeting held at Madison WI in Nov 28-29, 2012 3) American Society for Horticultural Science, annual meeting held in Miami, FL in July of 2012 4) Organic Farming Research Foundation, annual meeting held in spring of 2012 in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

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