Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Breeding

Scott Jackson, Jeremy Schmutz, Phillip McClean and colleagues report the genome sequence of the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) and resequenced wild individuals and landraces from Mesoamerican and Andean gene pools, showing that common bean underwent two independent domestications. Supplementary information The online version of this article (doi:10.1038/ng.3008) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Genomics research is generating new tools, such as functional molecular markers and informatics, as well as new knowledge about statistics and inheritance phenomena that could increase the efficiency and precision of crop improvement. In particular, the elucidation of the fundamental mechanisms of heterosis and epigenetics, and their manipulation, has great potential. Eventually, knowledge of the relative values of alleles at all loci segregating in a population could allow the breeder to design a genotype in silico and to practice whole genome selection. High costs currently limit the implementation of genomics-assisted crop improvement, particularly for inbreeding and/or minor crops. Nevertheless, marker-assisted breeding and selection will gradually evolve into 'genomics-assisted breeding' for crop improvement.