Improving the Conservation and Use of Traditional Germplasm through Breeding for Local Adaptation: The Case of the Castellfollit del Boix Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Landrace

Abstract

The dramatic reduction in the diversity of crops in the last century is often attributed to the consolidation of scientific breeding, probably because the two processes have occurred at the same time. We carried out a breeding program to enhance the Castellfollit del Boix landrace of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in a low-input environment to determine the effects of breeding on a landrace at risk of disappearing. The program increased the number of accessions conserved ex situ and obtained more efficient genotypes that are less likely to be abandoned by farmer without altering the characteristics that consumers appreciate most. As a result, the availability of the product, its promotion, and its use have increased. We propose a Conservation Potential Index to measure the impact of changes in the crop’s epiphenotype, and also apply it to a set of landraces from several crops. We argue that scientific breeding and information gathered in the context of genetic improvement programs can help to conserve biodiversity when they aim to adapt materials to different local environments, rather than having a negative impact on the biodiversity of crops. This approach contrasts with the genetic erosion that results from efforts to homogenize environments by increasing inputs, so that a few improved varieties adapted to these environments can be grown.

Technological and socio-economic analysis of the local production system of the pink Zaragoza bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in the Caribbean of Colombia

“…They concluded that, given the particular economic returns, it is worth continuing to invest in research in this species. Casals et al (2019) carried out a study on the common bean (P. vulgaris) to help conserve genetic variability, avoid erosion and guarantee adaptation processes to changes in the climate and the environment.…”

Characterization and Enhancement of Genetic Resources for the Improvement of Nutritional and Organoleptic Quality in Solanaceae Vegetable Crops

“…On the other hand, local varieties of vegetables have been associated to the "taste of the past" (Casals et al, 2011;Causse et al, 2010). In this way, they have been reported to produce more flavourful, nutritious fruits than modern varieties in several studies (Casals et al, 2019a;Celmeli et al, 2018;Cortés-Olmos et al, 2014;Medina-Lozano and Díaz, 2021;Meza et al, 2020;Parisi et al, 2017;Sánchez et al, 2018). For instance, the Almagro eggplant landrace showed higher values for protein, vitamin C, glucose and total phenolics compared to commercial cultivars in San .…”