In situ conservation strategy for wild lima bean ( Phaseolus lunatus L.) populations in the Central Valley of Costa Rica: a case study of short-lived perennial plants with a mixed mating system.

Abstract

Results are presented of studies conducted in the Central Valley of Costa Rica to support the in situ conservation of wild Lima bean, Phaseolus lunatus, prone to extinction as a result of growing urbanization and changes in agricultural and land use practices. To achieve the conservation objective, several investigations were conducted in the following areas: (i) ecogeography and metapopulation dynamics; (ii) population demography and phenology; (iii) floral biology and gene flow; (iv) genetic structure of populations using morphological, biochemical and molecular markers; and (v) in situ conservation methodologies. These investigations were made under the project 'Studies on breeding systems: the case of a short-living perennial, alternatively outbreeder-inbreeder species (P. lunatus) and its consequences for germplasm conservation', which ran in 2- to 4-year phases from 1992 to 2000 with funding from Belgium's Directorate General for Development Cooperation. It was a collaboration among three partners: International Plant Genetic Resources Institute's Regional Office for the Americas in Cali, Colombia, the Escuela de Biología of the Universidad de Costa Rica and the Unité de Phytotechnie tropicale et d'Horticulture of Gembloux Agricultural University, Belgium. Recommendations are given.

Legume Crops Phylogeny and Genetic Diversity for Science and Breeding

“…at Akna Lich, on the Geghama mountain ridge, Yerevan province, Armenia and other legumes within the Erebuni Reserve near Yerevan, Armenia (Avagyan, 2008); and for wild bean populations (Phaseolus spp.) in Costa Rica (Baudoin et al, 2008). However, admittedly none of these genetic reserves to date meets the minimum standards for managing CWR genetic reserves proposed by Iriondo et al (2012), though the in situ conservation now in place is an important step forward.…”

Genetic erosion and in situ conservation of Lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus L.) landraces in its Mesoamerican diversity center

“…Using eight microsatellite loci, Martínez-Castillo (2005) observed very high levels of gene flow among domesticated Lima bean populations within each of the four agricultural regions (CEQROO, Nm = 18.1; SEYUC, Nm = 10.7; NECAMP, Nm = 6.1; SYUC, Nm = 2.9). Although Lima bean is mainly an autogamous species, crossing rates of up to 48% have been reported, depending on genotype, growth conditions, plant spacing, prevailing wind direction, and native insect populations (Baudoin et al 1998). There are recent reports of crossing rates of up to 73% in domesticated populations from CEQROO, values probably due to the plant spacing (usually zero meters between neighbor plants due to the indiscriminate growth pattern of landraces) and the high diversity and abundance of local pollinator insect species in the region (Chimal Chan 2008).…”

Grain Legumes

“…Depending on genotype, growth conditions, plant spacing, prevailing wind direction and native insect populations the outcrossing rate can vary significantly and may reach 48 % (Baudoin et al 1998cited by Martínez-Castillo et al 2007). …”