Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Before meeting was called to order, the Germplasm group held their meeting which was led by Dr. Ted Kisha. Administrative update was provided by Dr. Jim Meyers and who was connected to Washington State University. Role of Meyers is to be the director for the Bean Multistate the North Pacific Region. He emphasized the need for four; maybe five, new directors in the upcoming years for represent different regions. The responsibilities of the directors were to provide impedance to obtain external funding. He talked about crops and current status of cropping pattern in the Washington State and participation of Washington State University in different areas of crop research. He also mentioned about the importance of multistate program and sharing of information among researchers. 

The W-3150 meeting was called to order at approximately 10:15 am by Dr. Khwaja G Hossain (Mayville State University), Chair for W-3150 group.   Dr. Hossain welcomed everyone and introduced the Vice Chair Dr. Rubella Goswami (Delaware State University). A motion to recruit Vick Schlegel as the Secretary for W-3150 meeting was made by Dr. Hossain and second by Dr. Goswami. Dr. Schlegel was to serve in this capacity beginning at this meeting as she was elected for the 2015 term, but could not attend. A secretary for 2107 has yet to be determined. 

A deadline to send state reports to Dr. Hossain and other committee members was discussed, and it became clear that harvesting had to be finished first, it was determined that the deadline would have to be moved to mid to late October. However, progress report from last year was requested to be sent out to everyone. It was also mentioned that Ellen Yates and Karen Lucas from Colorado State University could help in compiling the report. 

Ted Kisha (Western Region Plant Introduction Station) then provided an overview of his collection highlighting the differences between the compositions in beans from different regions. He mentioned that he has been able to secure multiple heirloom beans. 

Pulse Initiative was passed but not approved, and may not occur during the Year of the Pulse (2016).

It was noted that some members have retired or will be soon and should be taken off the list for the 3150 Multistate Program and two new members were recommended to join the multistate group. 

A crop vulnerability statement and out line was provided in the meeting and plans to publish a paper was discussed with all of the members being authors. 

Dr. Jim Kelly mentioned about next BIC biennial meeting at East Lancing, MI from Oct. 29-31^st, 2017. 

State reports followed.  Click on the Attachments link to view the full State Reports

Puerto Rico (James Beaver, Mildred Zapata and Consuelo Estevez, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus):

The specific objectives of project H-351 are: 1) Conduct a bean breeding program by crossing promising parents and selecting lines in the F₂ to F₆ generations for adaptation, agronomic traits and disease resistance, 2) Evaluate the performance of advanced generation breeding lines on experiment stations and farms, 3) Screen breeding lines with molecular markers linked to disease resistance genes, 4) Study the inheritance of resistance to common bacterial blight, angular leaf spot and ashy stem blight, 5) Isolate and characterize pathogenic strains of bacteria and fungi.

F₂ populations; F_2:3 and F_3:4 generation nurseries; F_4:5 lines of some populations were planted at the Isabela Substation in October 2015 and January 2016. Pedigree selections were made for growth habit, pod set, seed yield potential and disease resistance. White-seeded bean lines with resistance to BGYMV, BCMNV and bruchids were selected in nurseries planted at the Isabela Substation. Several performance trials including promising bean breeding lines were conducted such as; pink bean F₆ lines with resistance to BGYMV, BCMNV and resistance to common bacterial blight were planted in field trials at the Isabela Substation in October and December 2015. White bean lines with resistance to BGYMV, BCMNV and angular leaf spot were selected in collaboration with Dr. Consuelo Estevez de Jensen. Snap bean breeding lines developed from a cross between a source of BGYMV and BCMV resistance and a snap bean with heat tolerance and rust resistance genes (Ur-4 and Ur-11) were advanced to the F₅ generation in trials planted at the Isabela Substation. These lines were screened with molecular markers for genes for resistance to BGYMV, and in the greenhouse for resistance to BCMV. Lines such as PR0806-80, 81, 82, 83 and 84 were evaluated and found to possess resistance to various diseases including bacterial blights and rust. UPR also participated in the release of the black bean cultivar XRAV-40-4 which is resistant to BGYMV, BCMV and BCMNV and is well adapted to local conditions. Additionally, the project planted 4,791 bean breeding lines in winter nurseries as a cooperative activity of Regional Hatch Project W-3150.

In a study on resistance to angular leaf spot involving 63 lines twelve lines that exhibited a susceptible reaction, 31 lines with an intermediate reaction and 16 lines that showed a resistant reaction with no symptoms were identified. Five lines were identified with the SCAR marker SBA16 linked to resistance genes (Phg-ON) and the resistance was confirmed through phenotypic evaluation. Another study identified eight resistance lines.

Studies on the resistance to ashy stem blight showed that virulence varied among the three isolates and the genotypes evaluated differed in their response to the pathogen depending on the isolate. Of the 93 genotypes evaluated, only six genotypes had low disease severity.

USDA-ARS-TARS (Tim Porch):

The USDA-ARS was among institutions that collaborated with the University of Puerto Rico in the development of several disease resistant common bean lines that were released. This included PR1146-138, a yellow bean with resistance to BCMV, BGYMV and leaf hoppers; PR0806-80 and PR0806-81, white beans with resistance to BGYMV, BCMV, BCMNV and rust; and AO-1012-29-3-3A, a red kidney bean line with resistance to bean weevil, BCMV, and BCMNV. The unique contribution of weevil resistance was introgressed from tepary bean into common bean by collaborators at Oregon State University and Sokoine University. Breeding lines for drought tolerance from a second cycle of recurrent selection and new bulk breeding Durango populations (collaboration with U. of Nebraska) are currently being considered for release. Over 70 Andean bulk breeding populations were evaluated and single plants selected for heat tolerance and root rot resistance (collaboration with ARS-Prosser). Initial identification of several QTLs for heat tolerance was also conducted. A data collection cart was developed and implemented for high throughput evaluation of canopy height, canopy temperature, and NDVI (collaboration with ARS-Arizona). Additionally, a collaborative effort between ARS researchers, Colorado State University and the University of Puerto Rico found that Tepary bean has similar cooking time and nutritional composition as common bean. It also showed that Tepary bean had reduced fat and ash concentration, and higher sucrose concentration as compared to common bean. It is believed that the variability for seed composition and cooking traits found within tepary bean can be exploited for its improvement.

New York (P. Griffiths, SIPS-Horticulture Section, Cornell NYSAES, Geneva NY):

A major emphasis of the variety testing program was on light red kidneys developed with resistance to white mold including ‘Cornell 605’, ‘Cornell 612’, DRK-1 and LRK-1. One of the primary purposes of the breeding program was to identify LRK lines with yield and canning quality comparable to or higher than ‘RedKanner’, but with earlier maturity similar to CELRK. New populations that were developed to transfer and select upright vine architecture in red kidney breeding lines were also planted in Geneva/Ithaca NY and thirty selected lines were planted and evaluated in Freeville and Geneva NY in 2016. Previously selected heat tolerant germplasm were incorporated in crosses and field-tested in June 2016 at sites in Western Kenya.  These genotypes were evaluated for yield under heat stress in collaboration with USDA-TARS Mayaguez, Puerto Rico and with ACL in Homabay Kenya.  Snap bean breeding lines with rust resistance (Ur4 and Ur11) were also increased and tested in Kenya in 2016.  New upright types have been identified based on field, greenhouse and seed quality selections based on 2016 field trials. These include new black kidney lines with excellent canning and color retention being advanced as a potential new market class of dry beans. Virus resistance in snap bean breeding lines has been selected in multiple greenhouse screens in 2016. 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 the viruses has been introgressed into the same recurrent parent type, and the pyramided genes provide resistance to CMV, not seen in any other genotypes.  This is currently being stabilized and advanced in F₈ lines. Populations of the Andean market classes of snap beans and red kidney beans are also being developed with the upright vine architecture for increased yield and as options for smallholder growers.  Lines developed will be tested in Mayaguez Puerto Rico in collaboration with Tim Porch and in Kenya in collaboration with Charles Wasonga.

Washington (David Gang, Theodore Kisha and Philip Miklas, USDA-ARS):

David Gang and Theodore Kisha: Approaching at the end of FY2106, the collection totaled 17,302 accessions, 13, 092 of which have a PI number, while 4,213 are listed in the W6 category and are pending decision for PI assignment. The program is on track to regenerate about 700 accessions this year and all accessions are regenerated in the greenhouse to avoid virus contamination. So far, no virus testing was performed and a more modern ELISA system is being investigated to streamline the process. This group received 28 new accessions, including 166 heirloom varieties, distributed 4579 accessions (4075 to 46 states, 504 to 18 countries). 4336 accessions were sent to Svalbard. Also, 8032 images and 38,679 data points from 36 descriptors from 14,170 accessions were added to GRIN. The program received a grant for the collection of Phaseolus polystachios in the State and National Forests in Ohio. The collection trip proceeded in October of last fiscal year in partnership with a botanist of the Smithsonian Institution and found seven populations in Ohio, two populations in Indiana, two in Missouri, and one more in West Virginia. Several of the sites had either no seed, or the seed had been weevil infested, and may not germinate. The populations are currently being increased in the greenhouse and will be available for distribution. Molecular marker analyses showed each population is genetically distinct, prompting the need for continued collection in intermediate states from the Midwest to Florida. In collaboration with the Washington State University Food Science and Human Nutrition Department, about 100 accessions were sampled for protein, phenolics, antioxidant activity, raffinose, stachyose, and sucrose and descriptors for nutrients have been added to GRIN. Information contained in the GRIN web-page descriptor site has been updated and continues to be monitored and changed as additional data is obtained.  Descriptors for Phaseolus can be found at: http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/crop.pl?83. A targeted region amplified polymorphism (TRAP) and AFLP study has been completed on the 200 accessions of Phaseolus acutifolius. Additionally, an AFLP study of the populations of Phaseolus polystachios collected in the Midwest has also been completed.

Phillip Miklas - Participated in four cooperative trials of dry bean nurseries along with Carlos Urrea and obtained the drought intensity index of 68% indicating severe drought stress. Two pintos UI35-37 from Univ of Idaho and PT9-5-6 from USDA-ARS (Prosser) were identified as the best performers in this nursery. A slow darkening breeding line SF103-8 was released as Palomino in collaboration with J. Osorno (NDSU). In collaboration with NDSU (McClean), OSU (Myers), and international partners form Spain and Brazil. Thirty seven QTLs for white mold resistance were identified which condensed into 17 named loci and nine of them were defined as meta-QTLs with confidence intervals that ranged from 0.42 to 5.89 Mb. The meta-QTLs were recommended as potential targets for MAS for partial resistance to white mold in common bean. In Halo blight resistance research; this group identified a new QTL for resistance on Pv04 in Rojo/CAL 143 and Canadian Wonder/PI 150414 RIL populations that showed resistance to all nine differential races including the problematic Race 6. This group also identified a minor QTL on Pv05 in both populations which conferred resistance solely to Race 6. Three thousand single plant selections were obtained from 150 F4 bulk PIC (Phaseolus Improvement Cooperative) populations with abiotic and biotic stress resistance traits. These selections will be used to improve stress tolerance in U.S. large seeded market classes.

Nebraska (James Steadman, Carlos Urrea and Vicki Schlegel, University of Nebraska):

During 2016, Steadman and Urrea coordinated and participated in (1) the national CDBN with the 21 entries planted at 10 locations, (2) the regional WRBT trial with 13 entries planted at 4 locations (3) the regional MRPN trial planted at 3 states, and (4) the DBDN trial consisting of 14 of the 27 entries that originated in NE, while the remaining was distributed by MI, WA, CO for future planting in PR. One NE pinto entry was included in the CDBN trial, two great northern and two pinto bean lines were used in both the WRBT and MRPN trials. Additionally, a second generation of dry bean lines from the Shuttle Breeding between NE and PR was tested under drought stress and non-stress conditions. Another set of elite six great northern and six pinto lines were tested in growers’ fields under the ‘Mother and Baby’ Trial scheme by Urrea.  Trials are also in progress to evaluate the yield of different market classes (great northern, pinto, reds, blacks, light red kidney, and cranberries).  The lines within each market class have been identified with improved performance. Twenty-four pinto beans lines and 18 great northern lines were identified with resistance to rust and CBB, respectively.  The results of multi-year and multi-site tests have identified highly aggressive, low aggressive, white mold widely distributed in the U.S. and single location isolates (mycelial compatibility groups) that can be made available for screening bean germplasm/breeding lines. Research was also initiated on genotyping and fungicide sensitivity testing of 366 isolates from U.S., France, Mexico and Australia.  Importantly a great northern bean ‘Panhandle Pride’ was released as a cultivar based on its performance in Nebraska since 2010.  Moreover, field tests demonstrated that the recently released USPT-WM-12 and 039-A-5 pinto beans lines were rated much lower in disease severity than the susceptible control Beryl at some locations. Greenhouse tests across four states also confirmed moderate resistance for USPT-WM-12 and the great northern 031-A-11. Lastly, research conducted in the laboratory of Schlegel showed that different phenols present in most dry bean market classes act synergistically to remediate the pro-inflammatory state (M1) using a macrophage cell line to an inactive state or to an anti-inflammatory (M2) state. Research has also been initiated using macrophages derived from mouse bone marrow, as they elicit the M1-M2 switch more readily, with different cultivars of the same bean and/or the same market class grown in different places (i.e., Colorado vs Nebraska) to determine if locations thus this health benefit due to differences in phenol composition.    

Wisconsin (Jim Nienhuis, University of Wisconsin):

Research was conducted research on nitrogen use efficiency but findings were not convincing because the experiments were conducted in low nitrogen content soil. The other research conducted was to gain knowledge regarding variation in sugar and flavor content among a sample of dry bean and green pod-type PI accessions from the USDA Phaseolus Germplasm Core Collection, Pullman, WA. Ninety-four diverse Plant Introductions (PI) developed which characterized as snap beans, Romano-types, and other beans eaten as edible immature pods, and 20 dry bean PI accessions were used in this study. A large positive correlation was observed between the simple sugars Glucose and Fructose. In contrast, a large negative correlation was observed between the disaccharide sucrose with monosaccharides, glucose and fructose. Glucose concentration ranged from near zero to over 40 mg g-1 dry weights. P.I accessions with high concentrations of sucrose were generally both heirloom and modern commercial snap beans cultivars, e.g. Provider, Eagle, Cascade, Hystyle and BBL47. Fructose and sucrose concentration ranged from near zero to over 50mg g^-1 and from near zero to over 14 mg g^-1 dry weight respectively. Sugar content of snap beans was evaluated and association QTLs with high sugar content studied. Core samples of Phaseolus Germplasm were screened to identify the pod stage suitable for analyzing sugar content. Development of sequences for glucose, sucrose, and fructose changes over developmental stages was emphasized.

Michigan (James D. Kelly and Karen A. Cichy, Michigan State University):

The MSU dry bean breeding and genetics program conducted 14 yield trials in 2016 with ten market classes and participated in the growing and evaluation of the Cooperative Dry Bean, Midwest Regional Performance, National Drought and the National Sclerotinia Nurseries in Michigan and the winter nursery in Puerto Rico. GGE biplots were used to rank Mesoamerican Bean Panel according to environments and treatments (irrigated and rainfed) within environments. Rainfed environments were better at discriminating high performing genotypes in Michigan and significantly negative correlation was found between growth habit and seed yield. A composite linkage map using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers from the three RIL populations provided an improved version of the individual linkage maps with genome coverage 909 cM. QTLs for seed yield, seed size, days to flowering, days to maturity, lodging score, and canopy height were identified. GWAS was conducted on a group of 230 Andean beans for resistance to eight of anthracnose. Twenty-eight lines were resistant to six out of the eight races screened, but only one cultivar was resistant to all included in the study. A machine vision system was implemented and tested for automatic inspection of color (COL) and appearance (APP) and showed that machine vision system showed potential for the automatic evaluation of canned black beans by COL or/and APP as a professional visual inspection. The impact of extrusion cooking on the chemical composition and functional properties of bean powders was evaluated. No substantial change in the protein and starch contents was observed but extrusion cooking caused complete starch gelatinization and protein denaturation of the bean powders and thus changed their pasting properties and solvent-retention capacities. A set of 69 black bean breeding lines and cultivars from the major U.S. public bean breeding programs was analyzed for genotypic and phenotypic diversity. Each of the lines was grown in field trials in 2013 and 2014 and evaluated for agronomic, canning characteristics and anthocyanin profile of raw and canned seed. The anthocyanin malvidin-3-glucoside was found to be retained after canning more than the other two anthocyanins. Genome wide association analysis was conducted to determine genomic regions responsible for color retention and canning quality in black beans that were genotyped with 5398 SNP markers. A region on Pv05 at 39Mb was associated with color retention and was polymorphic and could be a candidate for MAS.

Iowa (Donna M. Winham, Iowa State University):

At Iowa State, the Winham lab has been conducting research in two main areas: 1) In vitro iron bioavailability of tepary beans, and 2) consumer knowledge of the health benefits of beans.

Iron Bioavailability: In collaboration with Timothy Porch, ARS/Puerto Rico, Karen Cichy, ARS/Michigan State University, and Mark Brick, Colorado State University, a diverse sample of pinto, black, and tepary beans were received for analysis at Iowa State. The study purpose was exploratory with the intent to determine in vitro iron bioavailability, proximate analysis, polyphenol, and phytic acid content of the samples. Since iron deficiency remains an intractable public health problem in many developing countries, increased iron bioavailability in a bean with arid climate resiliency such as tepary, can offer a sustainable solution towards improving human nutrition and health. Both tepary white and tepary brown groups showed significant differences in PP content in comparison to the black and pinto (p≤0.05), whereas PA, amongst all groups, showed no significant differences (p>0.05). Iron content ranged from 29.8 µg/g to 78.47 µg/g, with pinto beans having significantly lower iron concentration (mean = 33.64 µg/g). Significant differences in percent solubility were found between the pinto bean and tepary varieties (p≤0.05), but not the black. Iron bioavailability of the tepary white showed a negative correlation with PP content (high iron, low PP). The tepary white showed significantly higher iron bioavailability (p≤0.02) in comparison to both pinto and black beans. Our data suggests that the low PP and PA contributes to higher iron bioavailability in the white varieties of Phaseolus acutifolius. Further studies to replicate these findings are needed, followed by clinical testing of tepary white iron bioavailability in humans. Preliminary results from this study were presented at the Pan African Grain Legume conference in Livingstone, Zambia, March 2016, and at the American Society of Nutrition, San Diego, California, April 2016. Manuscript submission is in progress.

Consumer knowledge of the health benefits of beans. Data on the knowledge of low-income women in Arizona on the health benefits of beans (Winham et al., 2016) was recently published. As part of the efforts to increase bean consumption as well as add to the body of evidence supporting the health benefits of beans in human nutrition, the group is assessing the knowledge, attitudes, and consumption practices of dry beans among low-income women in Iowa. Data collection for this survey will conclude in November 2016. Results will be reported at the American Society of Nutrition conference in Chicago, April 2017.

Upcoming projects. Glycemic response to tepary bean-and-rice meals among persons with type 2 diabetes in Spring 2017 will be evaluated. Protocol and human subjects approval are in progress. 

Idaho (Alaxander Karasev- University of Idaho):

Strain composition of Bean common mosaic virus and Bean common mosaic necrosis virus isolates from field samples of common bean was studies. Between 2013 and 2016, over 30 samples were submitted to the University of Idaho Plant Virology laboratory from heirloom cultivars of common bean with symptoms of mosaic, leaf distortion, and stunting. All samples came from California or Oregon, and were subjected to species-specific serotyping suggesting that samples were infected with Bean common mosaic virus (BCMV) or Bean common mosaic necrosis virus (BCMNV). These field isolates of BCMV and BCMNV were typed using a panel of bean differentials to determine their pathotype, and subjected to partial sequencing. BCMNV isolates were grouped in pathogroups (PGs) III and VI, while BCMV isolates were grouped in PG-I, III, IV, and VI. PG-VI isolates of BCMV were found to have sequences closely related to the RU-1 strain of BCMV. This data confirms a wide presence of the RU-1 related isolates of BCMV in heirloom cultivars of common bean. Several BCMV field isolates represented mixtures between different PGs, which were successfully separated using bean differentials. In at least two cases, field samples contained both BCMV and BCMNV.

Maryland (Talo Pastor-Corrales, USDA-ARS Beltsville, MD):

Nurseries for rust are run in Beltsville, MD and it was reported that rust pathogens are diversified and a project to sequence genome of bean rust pathogen has been submitted. A student working with Pastor-Corrales found new sources of resistance rust. Research is being conducted towards identifying resistance gene for anthracnose in bean and it was reported that Andean genes provide resistance to rust in Mesoamerican beans. Pastor-Corrales has been collaborating with Phil Miklas of USDA-Prosser, WA and Phil McClean from NDSU and working on epistasis of different rust pathogens. 

North Dakota (Juan M. Osorno, Julie Pasche, Phil McClean, North Dakota State University):

The primary focus of research activities included collaborative work on: i) Midwest Regional Performance Nursery (MRPN), ii) development of pinto lines with Multiple Disease Resistance (MDR) to rust, anthracnose, and common bacterial blight (CBB), iii) Evaluation of the Andean Diversity Panel (ADP) and Mesoamerican Diversity Panel (MDP) for resistance to Rhizoctonia solani under greenhouse conditions, iv) evaluation of NDSU breeding lines for CBB resistance, v) development of slow darkening pinto lines, and vi) identification of genomic regions associated with plant architectural traits. As a result of these activities a new slow darkening pinto was jointly released between USDA-ARS and NDSU and named ND-Palomino. More than 6 pinto MDR breeding lines that offer moderate to high levels of multiple disease resistance and agronomic performances were identified. Potential new sources of resistance to the root rot complex and halo blight within the Andean gene-pool, which is the most susceptible group to this problem were identified. Several genomic regions associated with architectural traits such as lodging, stem diameter, stem stiffness, and plant height, were identified. Routine screening of NDSU breeding lines also led to the identification of breeding lines with high levels of resistance to CBB.

Oregon (Jim Myers, Oregon State University)

Around 10,000 acreage decrease for bean was reported along with the fact that white and gray mold are important diseases in that region. The group has evaluated 134 bush snap bean lines for white mold and identified several resistance lines. Bi-parental crosses have also been evaluated for white mold disease and six QTLs fairly tightly linked with the resistance gene identified. Correlation of roots traits with biomass and released a variety “Patron” was reported. 

Delaware (Venugopal Kalavacharla and Rubella Goswami, Delaware State University): Delaware State University is not a formal member of the W3150 Multi-state project, however, researchers in this institution have been involved in research on dry beans and work closely with several members of W3150. The common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) research in the Molecular Genetics and Epigenomics lab, headed by Venu (Kal) Kalavacharla, encompasses a multitude of skills and expertise spanning from molecular techniques to bioinformatics. Over the past year, several lab members have published work in common bean, including epigenetic mechanisms in histone modifications, methylome work, RNA-seq, and the release of a novel ChIP library, which is the first of its kind. Drought, cold tolerance, and disease resistance in bean are just a few of the focal points for these studies. Dr Goswami’s Plant Pathology laboratory, initiated towards the end 2015, was fully established and research initiated on dry beans evaluating the effect of abiotic stress on root diseases. Additionally, the laboratory has also been involved in the identification of pathogens on lima beans prevalent in the Mid-Atlantic region during the 2016 growing season and is in the process of reporting the detection of bacterial blight in lima bean fields in southern Delaware. 

Wyoming (Jim Heitholt- University of Wyoming)

In 2015, 50 cultivars were screened at two locations for tolerance to drought. At Lingle, canopy temperature was negatively correlated to yield. In 2016, studies with 24 entries were conducted at Lingle and another study with 36 entries was conducted at Powell (Andi Pierson, Vivek Sharma, Camby Reynolds). Entries from the drought nursery were supplied by Urrea at Lingle; whereas Mike Moore conducted the CDBN at Powell and Heitholt conducted the CDBN at Lingle. Although a hail storm on 28 July 2016 at Lingle completely destroyed all plots, some data was collected some data prior to that time. At Powell in 2016, canopy temperatures were recorded mid-morning and early-afternoon on one day during bloom (18 July) for all 216 plots, half well-watered, half subjected to drought. No cultivar-by-irrigation interactions were detected. Within the drought plots, mid‑morning and early-afternoon canopy temperatures for the 36 cultivars were correlated (r = 0.82 and r = 0.75) for the drought and well-watered plots, respectively. Plant stand was rated visually in June. Plant stand varied across cultivars and was negatively correlated to early‑afternoon canopy temperature indicating that hotter canopies could have been partly caused by poor stands (possibly due to albedo from exposed soil surface). ) (Refer to the original reports for more data correlation to the Lingle experiment and those published below.) In Powell, for a given cultivar, canopy temperatures for the two times of day were correlated. Within drought‑treated plots, late-morning and mid-afternoon canopy temperatures were correlated (r = 0.39; n=24) but the in well-watered plots the correlation was stronger (r = 0.79). Throughout 2015 and 2016, Alhasan and Heitholt have launched greenhouse and field studies to identify genotypes with greater N use efficiency.   So far, no conspicuous N-by-genotype interactions have been observed. Nevertheless, significant and consistent differences occurred among cultivars in leaf chlorophyll and other physiological/ morphological traits associated with N. In the greenhouse (spring/summer 2016), cv ‘Othello’ was grown at six N rates but it did not effect seed yield, pod number, or seed size significantly. Pod harvest index negatively correlated with N yields of from 82% at the two lowest N levels (0 and 20 pounds per acre) to 79% at the two highest N levels (80 and 100 pounds per acre. At 30 and 33 days after planting (DAP), leaf chlorophyll was positively and linearly related to N rate ranging from 38 to 43 SPAD units for 0 and 100 pounds of N, respectively. At 36 and 41 DAP, the same trend was observed with SPAD readings increasing from 35 to 42 at 36 DAP and from 39 to 44 at 41 DAP. At other dates, no effect of N rate was observed except at 54 DAP when the two highest N rates showed slightly reduced leaf chlorophyll. Mid-season specific leaf weight was unaffected by N rate as was average leaf area, length, and width in the Lingle field. Hail destroyed all plots in July and thus, no yield data was obtained. Overall, there continues to be some evidence to suggest that Wyoming producers could use less N fertilizer on dry bean than the current rate.

Nitirogen: In one greenhouse study, ammonium nitrate, urea, and potassium nitrate (and an unfertilized check) were compared using three cultivars (Rio Rojo, CO-46348, UI -537). As was observed in the first N source greenhouse experiment, few effects of N source were found.   A significant interaction between N source and cultivar was observed for specific leaf weight (SLW). Four cultivars exhibited a slightly higher SLW when fertilized with ammonium nitrate but UI-537 had an SLW of 4.22 with urea and 3.64 with ammonium nitrate. Chlorophyll concentration was highest in Poncho and CO-46348 and lowest in Rio Rojo. Rhizobia strain-by-genotype tests are planned for 2017.

Other Andrew Kniss is conducting tests that will give us a better understanding of how Wyoming might utilize direct harvest more frequently. In 2016, his lab has measured cotyledon height and unifoliate height among 18 cultivars and found significantly higher values in several pinto releases from North Dakota as compared to other entries.

e-reports

Alhasan, A, A. Piccorelli, and J. Heitholt. 2016. Effect of two nitrogen levels on growth traits of nine dry bean cultivars in the field. Univ. Wyoming Agr. Exp. Stn. Field Days Bull., p. 25-26. http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2016-field-days-bulletin.pdf.

Alhasan, A., A. Piccorelli, and J. Heitholt. 2016. Influence of nitrogen fertility level on growth, grain yield, and yield components of different dry bean cultivars. Bean Improv. Coop. Ann. Rep. 59:173-174 (http://bic.css.msu.edu/Reports.cfm).

Alhasan, A., and J. Heitholt. 2016. Effect of soil nitrogen rate on leaf chlorophyll and vegetative growth of dry bean. Univ. Wyoming Agr. Exp. Stn. Field Days Bull., p. 23-24. http://www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/_files/docs/2016-field-days-bulletin.pdf.

Beaver, J.S., E. Prophete, G. Démosthène, and T.G. Porch. 2016. Registration of PR1146-138 Yellow Bean Germplasm Line. J. Plant Registrations. 10:145-148.

Beaver, J.S., J.C. Rosas, T.G. Porch, M.A. Pastor-Corrales, G. Godoy-Lutz and E.H. Prophete. 2015. Registration of PR0806-80 and PR0806-81 white bean germplasm with resistance to BGYMV, BCMV, BCMNV and rust. J. Plant Reg. 9:208-211.

Berry, M., Wiesinger, J., Nchimbi-Msolla, S., Miklas, P., Porch, T., Fourie, D., and Cichy, K.A. (2016)  Breeding for a Fast Cooking Bean: Study of Genotypes across Environments to Determine Phenotypic Stability in Phaseolus vulgaris. Poster Presentation, Pan African Grain Legumes Research Conference, Livingstone, Zambia March 3.

Cichy, K.A. and Rueda, J.A. (2016). “Beans as Ingredients in “Better for You” Foods” at the Michigan Agri-Business Association Winter Conference, Michigan Bean Shippers. Dramadri, I. and J. D. Kelly. 2016. Genome wide association analysis for drought tolerance responses in Andean common beans, Poster presented NAPB conference, NCSU. Meeting  Jan 12.

Cichy, K.A., T.G. Porch, J.S. Beaver, P. Cregan, D. Fourie, R. Glahn, M.A. Grusak, K. Kamfwa, D.N. Katuuramu, P. McClean, E. Mndolwa, S. Nchimbi-Msolla, M.A. Pastor-Corrales and P.N. Miklas. 2015. A Phaseolus vulgaris diversity panel for Andean bean improvement. Crop Sci. 55:2141-2160.

Cichy, K.A., Wiesinger, J., Mendoza, F., Hooper, S., Grusak, M.A., Glahn, R., and Kelly, J. (2016) A Nutritional Profile of Fast Cooking Bean Germplasm. Poster Presentation, Pan African Grain Legumes Research Conference, Livingstone, Zambia March 4.

Crampton, M., Sripathi, V. R., Hossain, K, Kalavacharla, V. 2016. Analyses of Methylomes Derived from Meso-American Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Using MeDIP-Seq and Whole Genome Sodium Bisulfite-Sequencing. Front Plant Sci. 2016; 7: 447.

De Ron, A.M., Papa, R., Bitocchi, E., González, A.M., Debouck, D.G., Brick, M.A., Fourie, D., Marsolais, F., Beaver, J., Geffroy, V., McClean, P., Santalla, M., Lozano, R. Yuste-Lisbona, F.J. and P.A. Casquero. 2015. Common bean. P. 1-36. In Handbook of Plant Breeding: Grain Legumes. Springer-Verlag, New York.

Hagerty C.H., Cuesta-Marcos A., Cregan P., Song Q., McClean P., Myers J.R. 2016. Mapping snap bean pod and color traits, in a dry bean × snap bean recombinant inbred population. Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science, 141:131-138.

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Zhang L. Gezan S., Vallejos C.E., Jones J., Boote K., Clavijo-Michelangeli J., Bhakta M., Osorno J.M., Rao I., Beebe S., Roman-Paoli E., Gonzalez A., Beaver J., Ricaurte J., Colbert R., Correll M. 2016. Development of a QTL-environment-based predictive model for node addition rate in common bean. Theor. Appl. Genet. (Submitted).