MOLPHAS: Phaseolus molecular diversity database

The goal of this database is to systematically study common bean genetic resources with microsatellite markers for the discovery of useful allelic variability of value to bean researchers and breeders.

Contact: Matthew Blair

CIAT and other germplasm collections in Africa, Asia, Europe and North or South America hold over 75,000 accessions of common beans stored as seed samples most of these collected from farmers or markets in the primary and secondary centers of diversity. As part of our work at CIAT and within the Generation Challenge Program our goal has been to create tools and strategies for the characterization of this large amount of genetic diversity and apply these to international and national collections of common beans.

We have focused on developing and using microsatellite markers for this work given their high level of polymorphism. We have developed both genomic (BM) and cDNA-based (BMd) microsatellites as well as tested other available markers (both microsatellites and SCARs).

Training and capacity building in the use of microsatellite and SCAR markers has been and will continue to be an integral part of the research program.

The ultimate goal is to generate a better understanding of common bean genetic resources held in gene banks or in situ is to increase their utilization in breeding programs and promote their dissemination among farmers.

Ongoing studies include:

1. Parental survey for evaluating marker utility

2. Race structure in common bean for association mapping.

3. Evaluation of diversity in Bolivia.

4. Evaluation of diversity in Brazil.

5. Evaluation of diversity in Colombia.

6. Evaluation of diversity in China.

7. Working collection from Cuba.

8. On-farm diversity in Nicaragua

Future collaborations are welcome for evaluating diversity of collections from primary and secondary centers of diversity for common beans and for tagging or QTL studies.