Evaluation of Andean Diversity Panel in Honduras
The evaluation of bean golden yellow mosaic virus (BGYMV) in the ADP population was completed at the Escuela Agricola Panamericana (Zamorano) near Tegucigalpa, Honduras in August 2013. Participating were Juan Osorno (North Dakota State University), James Beaver (University of Puerto Rico), Karen Cichy (USDA-ARS), Tim Porch (USDA-ARS), and Juan Carlos Rosas (Zamorano).
BGYMV infection of ADP at Zamorano
The population was evaluated under severe BGYMV pressure. Several advanced lines from the U. of Puerto Rico, bred for BGYMV resistance, were the only genotypes showing resistance to this white fly transmitted virus. Although not a pathogen in Africa, BGYMV is common in Caribbean and Central American production areas and is an important breeding objective for Andean cultivars grown in the Caribbean. The visitors also toured the extensive breeding program of Dr. Rosas, regional common bean trials, and evaluated early generation breeding lines from Puerto Rico that are being advanced at Zamorano during the off-season in order to speed up the development of breeding lines for FtF countries in Africa.
Visit to common bean breeding programs in Guatemala
The ICTA breeding programs of Julio Cesar Villatoro and Fernando Aldana were then visited in Guatemala at the Chimaltenango and Quetzaltenango Research Stations.
Chimaltenango breeding program
The visitors met with Dr. Elias Raymundo, Director General of ICTA, regarding the progress with the different research projects and grants in the region. Dr. Raymundo then participated in the visits to the breeding programs. The program in Chimaltenango is working with breeding populations and there was a large seed increase of a new black bean cultivar ‘ICTA Super Chiva’.
The Quetzaltenango Station had plantings of bolonillo bean lines that are earlier in maturity and have a less aggressive climbing habit when intercropped with corn.
Diversity in intercrop system in Quetzaltenango
Drs. Osorno and Beaver are initiating Legume Innovation Lab projects (USAID) in Guatemala that take into account the diverse production systems of common bean that involve the intercropping of multiple species .